CTCS 482 Transmedia Entertainment USC School of Units: 4.0 Fall—Monday—10:00 – 13:50 Location: SCA 216 Cinematic Arts Instructor: Kiki Benzon Critical Studies Division Office: SCI 101c Office Hours: Wednesdays, 14:00 – 15:00 or by appointment Contact Info:
[email protected] T.A.: Erendira Espinoza-Taboada Office: SCA 221 Office Hours: Thursdays, 5:15pm – 6:15pm Contact Info:
[email protected] Course Description This course investigates the historical, theoretical, and aesthetic dimensions of transmedia entertainment. Drawing from theories of multimodality and narratology, we will reflect on the formal complexity and narrative expansion potentiated by both digital and non-digital multimodal works. In thinking about how media forms converge to generate what Henry Jenkins calls “spreadable” and “drillable” storyworlds, we will examine contemporary transmedia products—from S tar Wars and The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead— as networked expressions across film, television, literature, games, the web, and other domains of representation and participation. Students will work analytically and creatively to build a critical understanding of transmedia entertainment—as both what it has been, and what it might become. Learning Objectives - understand theories of multimodality and mixed-media representation - analyze transmedia work in storytelling, journalism, advertising, education, activism, and art - consider the historical and aesthetic precedents for contemporary work in transmedia - examine the technological, design, and marketing strategies involved in creating successful transmedia works - critically assess the cultural forces governing the entertainment industry--and the nature and function of “entertainment” itself--from a variety of theoretical perspectives - work with team members to create a transmedia enterprise - discuss the creative, technical, and commercial components of transmedia entertainment with leading innovators in the industry 1 Required Readings and Supplementary Materials Jenkins, Henry, Sam Ford and Joshua Green.