Syllabus

Fall 2008
Combs 349, 9:00 - 9:50 MWF
teaching.zachwhalen.net/fake/

Instructor: Dr. Zach Whalen
zwhalen [at] umw.edu
Office hours: 10:00 - 11:00, M - F, Combs 308
www.zachwhalen.net

Objectives

This course is an exploration of New Media studies through the lense of a particular question: what do the dominant metaphors of Virtual Reality (in the 1980s and 1990s) and Alternate Reality (exemplified by Alternate Reality Games in the 2000s) tell us about the cultures of New Media. Our goal will be to interrogate the rhetoric of counterfactual world building within the discursive practices supported by New Media technologies, and we will proceed by examining texts that imagine Virtual Reality technology or Alternate Worlds.

Along the way, we will gain practical experience in creative expression through digital media, including HTML, Interactive Fiction, and the inherently hybrid genre of Alternate Reality Gaming.

The successful student will approach the material with an open mind and contribute his or her insights to the central questions of the course. The paths we pursue in developing answers will depend on the strengths and interests we each bring to the conversation.

Note on content: Some of the readings or screenings for this course will feature mature content which may be offensive or disturbing to some audiences. This may include content that is graphically violent or sexual in nature. Texts may also include controversial depictions of race, class or gender. In all cases, students are expected to approach the material with an academically appropriate level of maturity, including a commitment to civility and mutual respect in classroom and blog discussions.

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Requirements

Books

• Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash. Bantam Books, 1992.
• Szulborski, Dave. This Is Not A Game: A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming. Lulu.com, 2005.
• Stewart, Sean and Jordan Weisman. Cathy's Book: If Found Call 650-266-8233. Running Press Kids, 2006.
• Stewart, Sean and Jordan Weisman. Cathy's Key: If Found 650-266-8202. Running Press Kids, 2008.

Computing

• USB flash drive (a.k.a. "thumb drive," "jump drive," etc.) with at least 512MB capacity
• Access to a modern computer (you must be able to download and install software)

Other readings and/or electronic texts will be provided online, in class, or through the course website. Additionally, there will be at least two film screenings scheduled for a mutually convenient time outside of class. Students are not required to attend the screenings, but should make their own arrangements to see the film(s) in question before the next class meeting.

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Assignments

Participation

This class will rely heavily on in-class discussion, and as such, it is imperative that you attend all class meetings and contribute to the conversation. As an incentive toward this goal, you will be graded on your participation in the class. Factors contributing to a high participation grade include speaking up in class and posting comments on blog entries. Factors contributing to a low participation grade include non-attendance, disrupting class, and inappropriate use of lab computers (Facebooking during class, for instance).

Participation amounts to 10% of your final grade.

Blogs

Throughout the semester, students will be expected to maintain a weekly blog of responsive writing that reflects a critical engagement with the readings. Think of these as extensions of our in-class discussions or opportunities for you to raise an issue or pose a question that we didn't get to in class. These entries have no minimum or maximum word count, but will be graded on a pass/fail basis. A successful entry will be clearly written and interesting and will reflect an understanding of the texts. Occasionally, writing prompts and topics will be given in class. Students may also wish to read other students' blogs and post an entry in response. Commenting directly on blogs is also encouraged.

These blog entries will be created and posted through an account you create on the course website.

There are 13 weeks in the semester, and I will grade 10. This means that you may wish to write only 10, and if you choose to write more, I will drop the lower (fail) grades. If on a given week you have not posted an entry, you will receive a zero for that week. You cannot write "extra" entries later to make up for that zero, but that zero can be dropped and will not adversely affect your grade if you still complete 10.

The average of your blog grades will comprise 15% of your final grade for the semester.

Quizzes

I will give periodic quizzes throughout the semester to assess your comprehension of key terminology. Typically, these will fall every other week, and I will generally give advance notice of what each quiz will cover. However, I reserve the right to give quizzes at any time, so you should prepare for each day of class by making sure you know important terms and names from the assigned reading(s).

At the end of the semester, your quiz grades will be worth 10% of your final grade.

Web Project: Aleph

This, your first major assignment, will require you to create a personal homepage, with one condition. Craft this homepage as though it existed in a world where Lawnmower Man's prediction has come true. Accordingly, the subject and setting of the page will be fictional, and as such, the "person" of your page is necessarily someone other than your literal self, with needs and assumptions relative to the world he or she exists within.

This project is worth 15% of your final grade.

Interactive Fiction Project

For this project, you will create a short piece of interactive fiction using the authoring software, Inform. The subject, tone, and topic of your work is up to you, but it should somehow address the theme of virtual or alternate reality.

This project is worth 15% of your final grade.

ARG Project

This will be a project you complete as part of a group. As a team, you will be responsible for designing and prototyping a short Alternate Reality Game (ARG). In addition, your team will research and follow a current ARG campaign and deliver a report to the class.

This project is worth 15% of your final grade.

Final Project

The final project of the course is the culmination of our explorations. This is your answer to the central question, "What do Virtual Reality and Alternate Reality tell us about New Media culture." The project may be scholarly or creative, and may use any appropriate medium (subject to approval).

This project is worth 20% of your final grade.

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Grading

Grades will be recorded and reported through the course website, the same site where you will write and post your blogs.

Distribution

Participation	10%
Quizzes	10%
Blogs	15%
Web Project	15%
IF Project	15%
ARG Project	15%
Final Project	20%

Scale

Where applicable, the following letter-to-number equivalent will be in effect:

A	94 - 100
A-	90 - 93.9
B+	87 - 89.9
B	83 - 86.9
B-	80 - 82.9
C+	77 - 79.9
C	73 - 76.9
C-	70 - 72.9
D+	67 - 69.9
D	63 - 66.9
F	0 - 62.9

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Policies

Decorum

Students are expected to treat the instructor and fellow students with the appropriate degree of respect, both in class and in online discussions. Communication, either in person or through electronic media, that is deemed abusive, threatening, or harassing in nature will not be tolerated.

Late Work

Unless otherwise indicated, all assigned work is due at the beginning of class on the specified due date. Work that is submitted less than 24 hours after class on a due date may be penalized a full letter grade. No work will be accepted more than 24 hours after class on its due date. Extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances, but must be requested before the due date arrives.

Use of Electronic Devices in Class

Students are allowed, even encouraged, to bring laptops or other electronic devices to class for the purpose of taking notes. However, activities such as surfing the web, reading e-mail, or text-messaging are not allowed. Also, turn off your cell phone, and don't answer it if you forget and it rings. Failure to comply with this policy will negatively impact your participation grade.

Academic Dishonesty

The UMW Honor System is in effect for our course. I may authorize specific exercises as collaborative work, but all other work must be your own, as per Article 1, Sections 1 and 2 of the University of Mary Washington Student Honor Code.

Students with Disabilities

The Office of Disability Services has been designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you already receive services through the Office of Disability Services and require accommodations for this class, get in touch with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Please bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you have not contacted the Office of Disability Services and need accommodations, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), I will be happy to refer you. The office will require appropriate documentation of disability. Their phone number is 540-654-1266.

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Schedule

The schedule is available through the link at the upper right of each page on this website. It is also accessible through a calendar interface. Information about the next scheduled class meeting is always available in the block at the upper right, just below the search box.

Agenda items and non-class events such as screenings are subject to a number of variable factors and are, therefore, tentative.

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