Intent of the Course
Although some art claims to represent the world as it really is, this course traces the ways in which the bizarre and the unexpected feature in the art, music, literature and film of the last hundred years or so. From Bram Stoker’s Dracula, to the nightmares of Freud’s patients in Vienna, from Moscow’s devils to Parisian hallucinations, we will look at the theory and the practice of “creepiness” and pair each of the older texts with a newly alarming one. Oscar Wilde will meet Nine Inch Nails; we shall investigate The Ring and The Grudge, and Salvador Dalì will spend time in The Matrix.
The course invites you to explore the interdisciplinary and multimedia connections among the arts with an emphasis on the cultural politics and aesthetic innovation of these tense moments in the course of several written, internet-based, and video projects. There will be extensive use of images and films. From the cinema to the internet, and back again.
The material for the course primarily comprises literary texts, films, music and paintings. You will be assigned readings to be done in advance for most meetings of the course (listed as “Reading” for the date by which it is to be completed). Some of the readings will be posted on the course website, and others may be purchased and/or accessed in line. Clips from films and music will be presented in class (listed as “Viewing” for the class day on which they will be discussed) and are also posted on the course website. All images and works of art are also posted on-line as powerpoints for you to consult. Music will be accessible through a class Spotify playlist.
You should consult the course website as the primary resource for course materials, information, and instructions. Canvas will be used for submitting assignments, posting grades, sharing feedback/comments and for email communications.
Please note: The precise film clips and images shown in class have been carefully chosen to illustrate the themes of the course. Portions of these materials, as well as other scenes from the complete films and/or other works by the artists on the syllabus, may be disturbing to some people.
Signature Course Mission and Course Essentials
Signature Courses at the University of Texas at Austin connect students with distinguished faculty members in unique learning environments. By way of this rigorous intellectual experience, students develop college-level skills in research, writing, speaking, and discussion through an approach that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, experiential and contemporary.
This course addresses the Signature Course essentials in the following ways:
Information Literacy
University Gems
Writing
Policy Statement and Course Requirements
TEACHING MODALITY INFORMATION
The course modality is in-person and requires in-person attendance both of lectures and discussion sections.
The course Canvas site can be found at utexas.instructure.com. Please email me through Canvas. You are responsible for ensuring that the primary email address you have recorded with the university is the one you will check for course communications because that is the email address that Canvas uses.
Outside of class time and posted office hours, please message your TAs and/or your instructor using Canvas with any questions or concerns.
For a list of important university policies and helpful resources that you may need as you engage with and navigate your courses and the university, see the University Policies and Resources Students Canvas page. The page includes the language of the University Honor Code, Title IX legal requirements for Texas employees, and information about how to receive support through the office of Disability & Access.
Course Requirements and Grading
Required materials include:
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
You should acquire the two texts listed above in hard copy, as etexts, or as audiobooks. You should remain current with the readings and be able to access a copy of the texts during both lecture and section. All additional required readings are posted on the course website as .pdfs. That webpage contains all materials used in class.
The URL for the course website is: https://uncanny.la.utexas.edu/
Please log in with your EID and password.
The music that is played at the start of class is compiled on a Spotify playlist.
Sharing of Course Materials is Prohibited
No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class without my explicit, my written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials may facilitate cheating. The University is aware of the sites used for sharing materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you, or any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in initiation of the student conduct process and include charge(s) for academic misconduct, potentially resulting in sanctions, including a grade impact.
Required Devices
Students will need to have access in class via a smart phone or laptop to Canvas and Canvas Instapoll.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF Class Recordings
Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are protected under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form.Violation of this restriction by a student could lead to misconduct proceedings.
Getting Help with Technology
Students needing help with technology in this course should contact the ITS Service Desk
Classroom expectations
Class attendance: Attendance in lecture will be taken using Instapoll and in section by the TAs.
Class participation: Active participation in lectures, discussion sections, office hours, etc. will be reflected in the final attendance and participation score. Students who attend but do not participate actively will receive the score for their formal assignments as their final grade.
Behavior expectations: You are expected to behave in a collegial and respectful manner during lectures and in the discussion sections. Texting, answering email, talking with other students, and in any way being disruptive of lectures or discussion sessions is not permitted. Using oppressive or offensive language will not be tolerated.
Content Warning
Our classroom provides an open space for the critical and orderly exchange of ideas through discussion. Some readings and other content in this course will include topics and comments that some students may find offensive and/or traumatizing. I will aim to forewarn students about potentially disturbing content and I ask all students to help to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.
Artificial Intelligence
The creation of artificial intelligence tools for widespread use is an exciting innovation. These tools have both appropriate and inappropriate uses in classwork. The use of artificial intelligence tools (such as ChatGPT) in this class is permitted on a limited basis. You should seek prior-approval to use AI writing tools on any assignment. AI writing tools should be used with caution and proper citation, as the use of AI should be properly attributed. Using AI writing tools without permission or authorization, or failing to properly cite AI even where permitted, is a violation of UT Austin’s Institutional Rules on academic integrity.
If you are considering the use of AI writing tools but are unsure if you are allowed or the extent to which they may be utilized appropriately, please ask.
Assignments
The following table represents how you will demonstrate your learning and how we will assess the degree to which you have done so.
| Assignments | Points Possible | Percent of Total Grade |
| 1. 2-page essay on a suggested topic | 20 | 20 |
| 2. 2-page research report | 10 | 10 |
| 3. Formal written prospectus (100 words) | 5 | 5 |
| 4. Video assignment | 30 | 30 |
| 5. Dream Analyses (submitted in two halves) | 15 | 15 |
| 6. Oral Report (group assignment) | 10 | 10 |
| 7. Attendance and Participation | 10 | 10 |
Late Work and Making up Missed Work
Late assignments are accepted but are held to a higher standard. Students who turn in their papers late have the unfair advantage of having more time to complete the assignment than their colleagues. Their work will be evaluated based upon that extra time, in fairness to those students who turn in their work on time. Since the assignments form a sequence, late assignments will not be accepted after the due date for the next assignment.
Absences
In addition to normal emergency accommodations, lectures will be recorded and students are permitted to view a recording and follow up with their TA to excuse up to 3 absences. There are no recordings available to excuse absences in the discussion sections. Absences beyond 3 will affect the participation portion of the final course grade.
Religious Holy Days
By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence for a religious holy day as far in advance as possible of the date of observance. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.
+/- GradIng Policy
+/- grades will be used for the final class grade.
Grade Breaks
| Grade | Cutoff |
| A | 94% |
| A- | 90% |
| B+ | 87% |
| B | 84% |
| B- | 80% |
| C+ | 77% |
| C | 74% |
| C- | 70% |
| D+ | 67% |
| D | 64% |
| D- | 60% |
| F | <60% |
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY EXPECTATIONS
Students who violate University rules on academic misconduct are subject to the student conduct process. A student found responsible for academic misconduct may be assigned both a status sanction and a grade impact for the course. The grade impact could range from a zero on the assignment in question up to a failing grade in the course. A status sanction can include a written warning, probation, deferred suspension or dismissal from the University. To learn more about academic integrity standards, tips for avoiding a potential academic misconduct violation, and the overall conduct process, please visit the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity website at: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/conduct.
Course Outline
All instructions, assignments, readings, rubrics and essential information will be on the Canvas website at utexas.instructure.com. Check Canvas regularly. Changes to the schedule may be made at my discretion if circumstances require. I will announce any such changes in class and will also communicate them via Canvas. It is your responsibility to note these changes when announced, and I will do my best to ensure that you are notified of changes with as much advance notice as possible.
You have a right to a learning environment that supports mental and physical wellness.
- You have a right to respect.
- You have a right to be assessed and graded fairly.
- You have a right to freedom of opinion and expression.
- You have a right to privacy and confidentiality.
- You have a right to meaningful and equal participation, to self-organize groups to improve your learning environment.
- You have a right to learn in an environment that is welcoming to all people. No student shall be isolated, excluded or diminished in any way.
With these rights come responsibilities:
- You are responsible for taking care of yourself, managing your time, and communicating with
the teaching team and with others if things start to feel out of control or overwhelming. - You are responsible for acting in a way that is worthy of respect and always respectful of others.
- Your experience with this course is directly related to the quality of the energy that you bring to
it, and your energy shapes the quality of your peers’ experiences. - You are responsible for creating an inclusive environment and for speaking up when someone is
excluded. - You are responsible for holding yourself accountable to these standards, holding each other to
these standards and holding the teaching team accountable, as well.
Personal Pronouns
Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Your TA and I will happily honor your request to address you by a name that is different from what appears on the official roster and by the gender pronouns you use (she/he/they/ze, etc). Please advise us of any changes early in the semester so that we may make appropriate updates to my records. For instructions on how to add your pronouns to Canvas, visit here.
Q Drop Policy
If you want to drop a class after the12th class day, you’ll need to execute a Q drop before the Q-drop deadline, which typically occurs near the middle of the semester. Under Texas law, you are only allowed six Q drops while you are in college at any public Texas institution. For more information, see: http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/csacc/academic/adddrop/qdrop.