Exploring Cultural Studies Through Steven Universe

In this class, students will use the animated television show Steven Universe as a foundation for a cultural studies education. Students will learn about the different ways to think critically about the TV shows we watch, and through episode analysis, we will learn about our own personal aesthetics, perceptions of media, and how these concepts are informed by our own lenses and knowledge.

Week 1, What is Cultural Studies?: Our first week will include a brief introduction to what cultural studies is made up of and how we can apply it to the media we consume. This lesson will give students key vocabulary terms to keep in mind as well as discuss why Steven Universe is a good medium to explore this topic in.
Week 2, Symbols and Structure: In this lesson, we will discuss symbols and the chain of signification as founded in poststructuralism. We will discuss different symbols throughout the show and how their appearance signifies different concepts as the plot develops. 
Week 3, Exploring Power Dynamics: Power struggle is a common thread that we will see throughout the show, and the way that power and strength shape characters is significant for characterization. This class will discuss character conflict, development, and relationship structures.
Week 4, What is Colonization?: Colonizing is a significant theme in Steven Universe, particularly the colonization of Earth. In this week's class, we will examine Steven Universe from a postcolonialist perspective and analyze the importance of the Crystal Gems' rebellion.
Week 5, Gender, Sexuality, and Fusion: Steven Universe is one of the most diverse and accepting animated shows of our era, and it is present in the queerness of the material. In this class, we will discuss topics like gender presentation and identity, gender nonconformity, and relationships between same-sex characters.
Week 6, Class Consciousness: Throughout the show, characters are shown as having specific jobs or positions, and those who defect are considered traitors. We will discuss class consciousness and awareness of hierarchy on Homeworld as juxtaposed to Earth.
Week 7, Dis/Ability Studies: In this lesson, we will discuss the concept of ability and the different ways that disability appear in Steven Universe. We talk particularly about the trope of being "defective" or "corrupted" and the negative connotations associated with being otherwise-abled in the media. 
Week 8, Real-World Applications: For our final class, students will discuss any real-world applications of the content learned in class that they would like to share. We will also go over the final paper and students can ask any questions regarding the assignment.