**UW-MadisonLIS571f99Dalbello*syllabus

17:610:549 Reading Interests of Adults
(Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
School of Communication, Information and Library Studies
Department of Library and Information Science) Instructor: Marija Dalbello

Spring2001Syllabus

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Course Objectives:

Comparison and contrasting of the cultural environment of contemporary mass society with the contemporary library and information agencies
Examination of the reading interests and the programming role of agencies responsible for creation and distribution of reading materials
Examination of the cultural environment in which choices are made for selection of reading materials and collection development in libraries
Examination of one or more adult reading interest genres in depth
Examination of students' own reading interests and evaluation of how they may affect evaluation of patrons' interests and selection of materials
Evaluation of reading materials for adult library users
Use of materials in programming in a variety of settings, with an emphasis on the public library

and students' expectations (recorded in the first class)

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Catalog Description:

This course focuses on the examination and evaluation of materials for adult library users, with special attention to fiction genres. Use of materials in programming. Emphasis on popular culture and adult literacy.

Pre- and/or Co-Requisite:

This course requires no pre- and/or Co-Requisites.

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Organization of the Course:

Module I - Cultural Production, the Society, and the Consumption of Texts

1. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture
2. The Cultures of Reading, Reading as Social Practice
3. The Structure of Genre
4. Reading Practices and Institutional Contexts
5. Publishers and the Literary Marketplace

Module II - Reading Genres and Genre Readers

1. Mystery/Detective Fiction
2. Science Fiction, Fantasy
3. Romances
4. Westerns
5. Horror
6. Christian Reading
7. New Age
8. Comics
9. Tabloids

Module III - Programming and Collection Development

1. The Public Library (Reader's Advisory Services; Genre Guides; Collection Development)
2. Reading Spaces and Reading Communities in Transition

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Texts:

The required readings used in class are in the Alexander Library Reserves. The required texts and additional texts are available from Recto & Verso Bookshop, 90 Albany St., New Brunswick, N.J. 08901, tel. 732 247 2324 (next to "Old Man Rafferty's" restaurant.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Carla Freccero. 1999. Popular Culture: An Introduction (New York University Press)

John Storey. 1998. An Introduction to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. (University of Georgia Press)

Jonathan Boyarin. 1993. The Ethnography of Reading. (University of California Press)

Alberto Manguel. 1996. A History of Reading. (Viking)

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Arthur Asa Berger. 1992. Popular Culture Genres: Theories and Texts. (Sage)

George Dove. 1997. The Reader and the Detective Story (Bowling Green State University Press)

Camile Bacon-Smith. 1999. Science Fiction Culture. (University of Pennsylvania Press)

Janice Radway. 1991. Reading the Romance: Women, Patriarchy, and Popular Literature. Rev. ed. (University of North Carolina Press)

Jane Tompkins. 1992. West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns (Oxford University Press)

Noël Carroll. 1990. The Philosophy of Horror or Paradoxes of the Heart ( Routledge)

Paul Heelas. 1997. The New Age Movement (Blackwell)

Matthew J. Pustz. 1999. Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers (University Press of Mississippi)

S. Elizabeth Bird. 1992. For Enquiring Minds: A Cultural Study of Supermarket Tabloids (University of Tennessee Press)

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Course Outline:

This outline is based on Wayne Wiegand's course, Reading Interests of Adults (University of Wisconsin-Madison. School of Library & Information Studies) offered in Spring 2000.

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Readings Assignments

Week 1 (January 18) Introduction to the class
Overview of Course and Expectations

Cultural Production, the Society, and the Consumption of Texts

Week 2 (January 25) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture
DISCUSSION

(A-L)*
Freccero, Popular Culture

(M-Z)
Storey, An Introduction to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture (2nd ed.)

Personal Reading Profile due (1-2 pages)

Identify "Theme" and/or "Area of emphasis" for your journal

Week 3 (February 1) The Cultures of Reading, Reading as Social Practice, the Structure of Genre
DISCUSSION

(A-L) Boyarin, Ethnography of Reading

(M-L) Manguel, A History of Reading

whole class read Hall and Wiegand

Week 4 (February 8)
Reading Practices and Institutional Contexts

Genre Reading in the Marketplace: Publishers' Programming
whole class read Berger, Popular Culture Genres Statement of intent for the term project (historical analysis of genre) due

Reading Genres and Genre Readers

Week 5 (February 15) Mystery/Detective Fiction
(1) Dove, The Reader and the Detective Story
(2A, 3B)

whole class read handout

Week 6 (February 22) Science Fiction, Fantasy
(2) Bacon-Smith, Science Fiction Culture

(1B. 3A)

whole class read Killheffer

Week 7 (March 1) Romances
(3) Radway, Reading the Romance

(2B, 1A)

whole class read Rosen

Week 8 (March 8) Westerns
(1) Tompkins, West of Everything

(2A, 3B)

whole class read handout

Term Paper (historical analysis of genre) due

New due date: March 22

March15

(no class - Spring recess)

Week 9 (March 22) Horror
(2) Carroll, Philosophy of Horror

(1B, 3A)

whole class read handout

Term paper (historical analysis of genre) new due date

Field Study begins (moved to March 29)

Week 10 (March 29) Christian Reading
read one book sold in a religious bookstore (Christian, Jewish, etc.)

whole class read Fisher
Field Study begins

Week 11 (April 5) New Age
(3) Heelas, The New Age Movement

read one book fitting this category

whole class read "What to Look for in the Next Millenium," Garrett

Week 12 (April 12) Comics
(1) Pustz, Comic Book Culture

Groups 2 and 3 read three comic books

whole class read Waller (substituted for Colton), Morales

Week 13 (April 19) Tabloids
whole class read Bird, For Enquiring Minds

also read one tabloid sold at a grocery or convenience store (vary your selections)
Term paper (field study of reading community) due (new due date April 26)

Programming and Collection Development

Week 14 (April 26)
Reader's Advisory Services; Genre Guides
Reading Spaces and Reading Communities in Transition (the Library, the Bookstore, and the Online Alternatives)
Conclusion

Guest speaker: to be announced
whole class browse Pearl, Now Read This and browse Tixier Genreflecting
Hand in reading journals

Term paper (field study of reading community) due

Week 15 (May 3)

This session may be scheduled on a Friday afternoon preceding this date. Since this is not a mandatory session, your attendance will be optional.

Field trip to local bookstores

(including some of the following --Foul Play, Murder, Ink., Mysterious Bookshop, and Partners in Crime; Science Fiction Shop, Midtown Comics)
whole class read handout

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Explanation of codes:

(A-L) = Class members whose last names start with A-L; (M-Z) = Class members whose last names start with M-Z
1, 2 and 3 are student groups whose interest fall into a specific area of emphasis (to be assigned in the second week of class)
A= literature in a specific genre area published to 1990; B = literature in a specific genre area published from 1990-present

Weekly Reading Schedule:

Week 2

Carla Freccero. 1999. Popular Culture: An Introduction (New York University Press)

John Storey. 1998. An Introduction to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. (University of Georgia Press)

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Week 3

Jonathan Boyarin. 1993. The Ethnography of Reading. (University of California Press)

Alberto Manguel. 1996. A History of Reading. (Viking)

Hall, Brian. 1999. "The Group," New York Times Book Review, June 6, 1999.

Wiegand, Wayne A. 1997. " Misreading LIS Education," Library Journal (June 15, 1997): 36-38

Week 4

Arthur Asa Berger. 1992. Popular Culture Genres: Theories and Texts. (Sage)

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Week 5-13

George Dove. 1997. The Reader and the Detective (Bowling Green State University Press)

Camile Bacon-Smith. 1999. Science Fiction Culture. (University of Pennsylvania Press)

Killheffer, Robert K.J. 1997. "Fantasy Charts New Realms," PW (June 16): 34-40

Janice Radway. 1991. Reading the Romance: Women, Patriarchy, and Popular Literature. Rev. ed. (University of North Carolina Press)

Rosen, Judith. 1999. "Love is All Around You," PW (Nov. 8): 37-43.

Jane Tompkins. 1992. West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns (Oxford University Press)

Noël Carroll. 1990. The Philosophy of Horror or Paradoxes of the Heart ( Routledge)

"What to Look for in the Next Millenium," PW (June 14, 1999: 32-42

Fisher, Allan. 1998. "Evangelical-Christian Publishing: Where It's Been and Where It's Going," Publishing Research Quarterly 14 (Fall): 3-11

Paul Heelas. 1997. The New Age Movement: the Celebration of the Self and the Sacralization of Modernity (Blackwell)

Garrett, Lynn. 1999. "Is Spirituality the New Religion," PW (August 30): 53-59.

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Kress, Michael. 1999. "So Slackers are Spiritual After All," PW (August 30): S10-S14

Matthew J. Pustz. 1999. Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers (University Press of Mississippi)

Colton, Michael. 1999. "Cartooning for Christ," Brill's Content (November): 50-52

Morales, Robert. 1997. "That's Entertainment: Telling New Stories with Comics." PW (June 30): 49-55

Waller, Marguerite R. 1997. "If 'Reality is the Best Metaphor,' It Must be Virtual." Diacritics 27.3: 90-104.

S. Elizabeth Bird. 1992. For Enquiring Minds: A Cultural Study of Supermarket Tabloids (University of Tennessee Press)Arthur Asa Berger. 1992. Popular Culture Genres: Theories and Texts. (Sage)

Week 14

Pearl. Nancy. 2000. Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978-1998 (Libraries Unlimited)

Tixier Herald, Diana. 2000. Genreflecting. 5th ed. (Libraries Unlimited)

Additional Titles of Interest

Bleiler, Richard. 1999. Reference Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction (Libraries Unlimited)

Mary Kay Chelton. 2001. Readers Advisory Tools: A Selected Bibliography. Unpublished manuscript.

Mary Kay Chelton 2001. Young Adult Services Professional Resources: A Selected Five-Year Retrospective Bibliography with some classic *exeptions. Unpublished manuscript.

Fonsecca, Anthony J, and Pulliam, June Michele. 1999. Hooked on Horror: A Guide to Reading Interests in Horror Fiction (Libraries Unlimited)

Greenberg, Gerald S. 1996. Tabloid Journalism: An Annotated Bibliography of English-Language Sources. (Greenwood)

Heising, Willete L. 1996. Detective Women 2: A Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by Women (Purple Moon Press)

Herald, Diana Trixler. 1995. Fluent in Fantasy: A Guide to Reading Interests (Libraries Unlimited)

Hoffman, Frank. American Popular Culture: A Guide to the Reference Literature (Libraries Unlimited)

Ramsdell, Kristin. 1998. Romance Fiction: A Handbook for Readers, Writers, and Librarians (Libraries Unlimited)

Rotschild, D. Aviva. 1995. Graphic Novels: A Bibliographic Guide to Book-Length Comics. (Libraries Unlimited)

Swanson, Jean and Dean, James. 1998. Killer Books: A Reader's Guide to Exploring the Popular World of Mystery and Suspense (Berkeley Prime Crime)

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Marija Dalbello

Last revised January 18, 2001

comments to: dalbello@scils.rutgers.edu

		Readings	Assignments
Week 1 (January 18)	Introduction to the class Overview of Course and Expectations
	Cultural Production, the Society, and the Consumption of Texts
Week 2 (January 25)	Cultural Theory and Popular Culture	DISCUSSION (A-L)* Freccero, Popular Culture (M-Z) Storey, An Introduction to Cultural Theory and Popular Culture (2nd ed.)	Personal Reading Profile due (1-2 pages) Identify "Theme" and/or "Area of emphasis" for your journal
Week 3 (February 1)	The Cultures of Reading, Reading as Social Practice, the Structure of Genre	DISCUSSION (A-L) Boyarin, Ethnography of Reading (M-L) Manguel, A History of Reading whole class read Hall and Wiegand
Week 4 (February 8)	Reading Practices and Institutional Contexts Genre Reading in the Marketplace: Publishers' Programming	whole class read Berger, Popular Culture Genres	Statement of intent for the term project (historical analysis of genre) due
	Reading Genres and Genre Readers
Week 5 (February 15)	Mystery/Detective Fiction	(1) Dove, The Reader and the Detective Story (2A, 3B) whole class read handout
Week 6 (February 22)	Science Fiction, Fantasy	(2) Bacon-Smith, Science Fiction Culture (1B. 3A) whole class read Killheffer
Week 7 (March 1)	Romances	(3) Radway, Reading the Romance (2B, 1A) whole class read Rosen
Week 8 (March 8)	Westerns	(1) Tompkins, West of Everything (2A, 3B) whole class read handout	Term Paper (historical analysis of genre) due New due date: March 22
March15 (no class - Spring recess)
Week 9 (March 22)	Horror	(2) Carroll, Philosophy of Horror (1B, 3A) whole class read handout	Term paper (historical analysis of genre) new due date Field Study begins (moved to March 29)
Week 10 (March 29)	Christian Reading	read one book sold in a religious bookstore (Christian, Jewish, etc.) whole class read Fisher	Field Study begins
Week 11 (April 5)	New Age	(3) Heelas, The New Age Movement read one book fitting this category whole class read "What to Look for in the Next Millenium," Garrett
Week 12 (April 12)	Comics	(1) Pustz, Comic Book Culture Groups 2 and 3 read three comic books whole class read Waller (substituted for Colton), Morales
Week 13 (April 19)	Tabloids	whole class read Bird, For Enquiring Minds also read one tabloid sold at a grocery or convenience store (vary your selections)	Term paper (field study of reading community) due (new due date April 26)
	Programming and Collection Development
Week 14 (April 26)	Reader's Advisory Services; Genre Guides Reading Spaces and Reading Communities in Transition (the Library, the Bookstore, and the Online Alternatives) Conclusion Guest speaker: to be announced	whole class browse Pearl, Now Read This and browse Tixier Genreflecting	Hand in reading journals Term paper (field study of reading community) due
Week 15 (May 3) This session may be scheduled on a Friday afternoon preceding this date. Since this is not a mandatory session, your attendance will be optional.	Field trip to local bookstores (including some of the following --Foul Play, Murder, Ink., Mysterious Bookshop, and Partners in Crime; Science Fiction Shop, Midtown Comics)	whole class read handout