SPRING2015

CORE101:SYMBOLSANDCONCEPTUALSYSTEMS

ProfessorJohnBowlt,DepartmentofSlavicLiteraturesandLanguages

Lecture
Discussion

Lab

TTh
F
F
TBA

9:3010:50am
11am

12pm

63500D
63501D
63502D
63511R

ModernRussianArt(RussianArtoftheLate19thand20thCenturies)

ThecurrentvogueforRussianartisaclearindicationthatthesubjectofRussianartisnolongerdistant
andinaccessible,buthasbecomeanimportantpartofthepublicdomain.Currentconditions(e.g.,exhibition,
publication,andmovieprojects)pointtoanincreasing,universalinterestintheRussianvisualartsandtoa
reevaluationofthempreciselywithinaninternationalandcomparativeframework.Whatwerethelinks
betweenRussianandGermanRomanticism?WhatdidRealismmeanforRussian,French,andAmerican
painters(andwriters)ofthelate19thcentury?Whathappenstoartwhenasociopoliticaltransformation
occursofthemagnitudeoftheBolshevikRevolution?HowdoweexplaintheparallelsbetweenStalin's,
Hitler's,andMussolini'sRealisms?Isitfairtotalkofa"newwave"incontemporaryRussianart?Howhave
migrartistsandarchitectsaffectedourownartscene,righthereinLosAngeles?Thesearejustsomeofthe
manyquestionsthatwillbeaddressedanddiscussedwithinthecontextof"SymbolsandConceptualSystems:
ModernRussianArt"andthatwillconnectRussianart(whichhasoftenbeenregardedasthe"periphery")
directlytoWesterndevelopments(the"mainstream").

Readings

Bowlt,John.Moscow,St.Petersburg19001920:RussianArtandCultureintheSilverAge.
Gray,Camilla.TheRussianExperimentinArt,18631922.
Rzhevsky,Nicholas.TheCambridgeCompaniontoModernRussianCulture.


SPRING2015
CORE101:SYMBOLSANDCONCEPTUALSYSTEMS

ProfessorJosephDane,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh 23:20pm
63512D
Lab
TBA

63511R

PoetryandIntelligibility

Poetrycannotbereadindependentlyofothersystems,whetherlinguistic,rhetorical,oraesthetic.In
thiscourse,wewillexaminevariouswaysunderwhichpoetryandotherliteratureis,orbecomes,
intelligible.Wewillreadinsections.Whataretheconventionsandclichswithinwhichcourtpoemsby
Elizabethanpoetsareconstructed,andwhatweresomeofthearbitrarysystemsthatwereappliedtothemin
thenineteenthandtwentiethcenturies?ForBaudelaireandStevens:whatisthedifferencebetween
viewingartintheLouvreandusingartasastudyin"imagination"?L=A=N=G=U=A=G=Epoets:whatisthe
relationbetweentheprocessbywhichsomepoetsofthisveryilldefinedschoolclaimtoproduceand
certainarbitrarysystemsofmusicinthemidtwentiethcentury?

Readings

ReadingswillconsistofpoemsbyShakespeare,Donne,Baudelaire,ElizabethBarrettBrowning,Stevens,Eliot,
andvariouscontemporarypoets,aswellascriticalessaysbyasmanyinthisgroupwhochosetowritethem.


SPRING2015
CORE101:SYMBOLSANDCONCEPTUALSYSTEMS

ProfessorAlisonRenteln,DepartmentofPoliticalScience

Lecture
TTh
1112:20pm 63503D
Discussion
F
9am
63504D

F
10am
63505D
Lab

TBA

63511R

Law,Culture,andIdentity

Thisinterdisciplinarycourseexaminesthewaysinwhichindividualsandgroupsattempttocontrolsymbolic
representationsoftheiridentitiesthroughthelaw.Asafundamentalquestion,weaskwhetherthelawcanofferany
meaningfulwayofprotectingidentities.Asvariousbodiesoflawprovidemechanismsforsafeguardingtheimagesand
symbolsassociatedwithidentities,weconsidertopicsfromthefieldsofconstitutionallaw,employmentlaw,intellectual
propertylaw,andinternationalhumanrightslaw.

Individualshavechallengedtheuseoftheirimagesorthoseoftheirrelativesthroughrightofpublicity
lawsuits.Theyalsoseektocontrolthechoiceoftheirsurnamesincourt;thishasbeenanissueforwomeninmany
countrieswhoarerequired,uponmarriage,totakethenamesoftheirhusbands.Criminalstatutesonthegrowing
problemofidentitytheftserveasyetanotherillustrationoftheproblematicnatureofattemptingtoregulatetheuseof
individualidentitiesthroughthelaw.
Withrespecttothemaintenanceofgroupsidentities,weconsidercontroversiesoverdresscodes,Englishonly
policies,foodways,Indianmascots,theculturaldefense,andsacredsites.Aspartofouranalysisoftheroleoflawin
influencingcollectiveidentities,wealsotakeuplawsdesignedtopreventordiscouragetheexistenceofextremist
groups.TheseincludeantimaskinglawsintendedtooutlawKuKluxKlanmarches,antisectstatutesdesignedto
prohibitcultsornewerareligions,andhatespeechregulationsdraftedtopreventtheadvocacyofracehatred.
Amongthemoreimportantdebatesweanalyzeisinterethnicconflictintheinternationalarena.Theextentto
whichgroupsarewillingtoresorttoviolencetomaintainliteralandfigurativebordersisatopicofcrucialimportancein
themodernworld.Weconsidertheextenttowhichindividualsarewillingtorisktheirlivestoprotectnationalorethnic
identities.Inthefinalpartofthecoursewestudyrelevantinternationallegalinstruments.

Readingsforthecourseincludetheoriesofidentityforindividualsandgroups,jurisprudentialtexts,analytic
essaysonvariouspolicydebates,andcourtcases.

Readings

Ashmore,Richard,LeeJussimandDavidWilder,Eds.SocialIdentity,IntergroupConflict,andConflictResolution.
Barkan,ElazarandRonaldBush,Eds.ClaimingtheStones/NamingtheBones:CulturalPropertyandtheNegotiationof
NationalandEthnicIdentity.
Barth,Frederik.EthnicGroupsandBoundaries.
Caplan,JaneandJohnTorpey.Eds.DocumentingIndividualIdentity:theDevelopmentofStatePracticesintheModern
World.
Dundes,Alan.TheShabbatElevatorandOtherSabbathSubterfuges.
Dupuis,Martin.SameSexMarriage,LegalMobilization,andthePoliticsofRights.
Erikson,ErikH.IdentityandtheLifeCycle.
King,RichardC.andCharlesFruehlingSpringwood,Eds.TeamSpirits:TheNativeAmericanMascotsControversy.
Niec,Halina,Ed.CulturalRightsandWrongs.


SPRING2015
CORE101:SYMBOLSANDCONCEPTUALSYSTEMS

ProfessorVanessaSchwartz,DepartmentofHistory

Lecture
TTh 23:20 pm 63506D
Discussion F
9am
63507D
Discussion F
10am
63508D

Lab
TBA

63511R

Icons

MarilynMonroe,theEiffelTower,thePyramids,JohnWayne,andMickeyMouse.Fewwoulddisputethe
notionthatthemassvisualmediahavetransformedthesepeople,places,andthingsintoicons.Although
thesephenomenaexistapartfromtheirrepresentation,theirculturalsignificanceandimportanceisattached
totheirstatusaspictorialrepresentationsthatarewidelydisseminated.Thetermiconinitiallyinvokedan
objectworthyofreligiousdevotion;thatoriginalmeaningnowdenotesanuncriticalandpopulardevotion.
ThiscourseposesthequestionWhatbecomesalegendmost?Thatquestion,madefamousbythe
Blackglamafurads,conflatedbecominginthesenseofbeingvisuallypleasingwithbecomingalegend,a
modernprocessfueledbyimagemaking.Wewillexaminebasicwaysofthinkingaboutvisualsymbolsby
learningaboutsemiotics,symbolicandculturalanthropology,andwhatarthistorianshavecallediconology.
Thiscoursewilltracetheinterplaybetweenspecificiconsandthevisualculturethatmadethemiconic.
Particularemphasiswillbeplacedontechnologiesofrepresentationsuchasphotographyandfilmandthe
vitalroletheyhaveplayedinthecultureofmodernicons.TherewillbeaclassfieldtriptoDisneyland
(requiredSaturdayevent).

Readings

Berger,John.WaysofSeeing.
Danto,Arthur.AndyWarhol.
HarimanandLucaites.NoCaptionNeeded.
Lukas,Scott.ThemePark.
Kemp,Martin.ChristtoCoke:HowImagesBecomeIcons.
Rojek,Chris.Celebrity.
Sassoon,Donald.BecomingMonaLisa.
Sontag,Susan.OnPhotography.


SPRING2015
CORE103:THEPROCESSOFCHANGEINSCIENCE

ProfessorJimHaw,EnvironmentalStudiesProgram

Lecture
MW 23:20 pm 63516D

Lab
TBA

63524R

TheScienceoftheWaterEnergyNexusinSouthernCalifornia

Mostscientistswouldbetemptedtosaythatwaterandenergyarewellunderstood.Yetthefirstof
theseisanundeniablyurgentcrisisforCalifornia,reflectedinpartbytherecentandnearlyunanimous
passageofthewaterbondbythestatelegislature,thesecondiswidelyifnotunanimouslyregardedasan
urgentcrisis,andtheintersectionofthetwoisacomplexproblemthatgoeswellbeyondtheobviousimpact
offossilfueluseonclimateandprecipitation.Thiscourseusesscientificandquantitativeapproachesto
investigatethewaterenergynexusinthespatialandsocialcontextofSouthernCaliforniadesert
communities.Clearlywaterisbothamoleculeandthewellspringofendlessconflict,andwhileenergycanbe
formallydescribedbyphysicstoanarbitrarylevelofprecision,thisprecisionlacksallofthegeographicand
socialcontextthatdriveourusesofit.
Thiscoursewilllargelybedeliveredinatraditionalclassroomsetting,butitisplannedthattherewill
betwoweekendlengthfieldtripstoBorregoSprings,aruralCaliforniatownthatdependsexclusivelyon
groundwater,andispumpingthiswaterataratevastlyinexcessofreplenishment.Ithasbeenestimatedthat
ifpresentwaterusepracticescontinuetherewillbenopotablewaterwithin50years.BorregoSpringsis
completelysurroundedbytheAnzaBorregoStatePark,thelargestdesertparkinthecountry.Students
willstayattheUCDesertResearchStationwhichhasrecentlyopenedwithverybasicdormitoryrooms.One
nightwillbespentinthedesertonahostedexpeditionguidedbyCaliforniaOverlandDesert
Excursions.Therewillalsobemorninghikestofamousdesertoasiswatershedswhereencounterswith
BighornSheepandothercharismaticdesertfaunaarecommon.
Therewillbetwotraditionaltextbooksplusotherreadingssuppliedfromtheinstructorincludingvery
recentmaterialsfromtheBorregoSpringsWaterCoalitionorsimilaragenciesworkingtodevelopamore
sustainablewatersupply.

Readings

Hanak,Ellen,etal.ManagingCalifornia'sWater:FromConflicttoReconciliation.
Wolfson,Richard.Energy,Environment,andClimate,2ndEd.


SPRING2015
CORE103:THEPROCESSOFCHANGEINSCIENCE

ProfessorJasonGlenn,DepartmentofHistory

Lecture
TTh
1011:50am 63513D
Discussion
F
11am
63514D
Discussion
F
12pm
63515D

Lab

TBA

63524R

AConsilientApproachtotheStudyofthePast
CaseStudy:AngloSaxonEngland,c.400to1066

Thiscoursehasthreeprincipalaims:(1)tointroducestudentstothebasicskillsandapproachesofthehistorian;
(2)toexplorearangeofdevelopmentsinthenaturalsciencesthatwillchangeand,indeed,havealreadybegunto
changethewaysinwhichwestudythepast;and(3)toprovidestudentswithabasicunderstandingofthescientific
principlesthatunderlietheserecentdevelopments.
Toachievethesegoals,weshallfocusourstudyprincipallyonaparticularplace(England)andtime(theAnglo
Saxonperiod,c.400to1066).Weshallthereforebeginbystudyingoneofthegreattextualmonumentsoftheperiod
andreflectonwhatwecanlearnaboutthesocial,political,religious,andintellectuallandscapeinwhichitsauthor,a
monknamedBede(c.673735),wrote.Thistext,TheEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishPeople,shallbecomethe
touchstoneformuchofourstudyinthiscourseaswerangeforwardandbackwardsintime.
AfterstudyingBedesworldforafewweeks,weshallfocusourattentionononeofthehistoriographicalissues
ithasraised,thatis,howtheislandwastransformedfromthefourththroughthesixthcenturieswhentheRomanarmy
withdrewfromBritainand,subsequently,peoplesmigratedtoitfromlandstotheeast(whatisnowlowerScandinavia,
theNetherlands,andGermany).Weshallconsiderhowhistorianshave,untilrecently,understoodthisperiodandhow
developmentsinthenaturalscienceshavecreatednewdatathathelpsustorevisitoldhistoriographicalquestionssuch
asthisand,indeed,todevelopnewones.Weshallthenexpandourhorizonstostudyvarietyofwaysinwhichworkin
neuroscience,genetics,paleoanthropology,andvarioussubdisciplinesofarchaeology(namely,bio,paleo,andosteo
archaeology)nowpermitustoexplorethepastinnewandexcitingways.Anumberofcasestudiesdrawnfromarange
ofplacesinthenearanddistant(evenprehistoric)pastwillpermitustoreflectonthemethodologicalandtheoretical
implicationsofsuchworkbothwithintheparticulardisciplinesinwhichitisdoneandforinterdisciplinaryworkwith
humanistsandsocialscientists.Andthisworkwillsuggestchallengesthatscholarsinterestedinthepastmustnow
confrontasweconsidernewpossibilitiesforitsexploration.Allthewhile,weshallcontinuetoexplorethetextsand
imagesfromtheAngloSaxonperiodthathavebeenwellknowntohistoriansforgenerationsinordertodevelopamore
richandtexturedunderstandingoftheperiod.

Readings
Asser,John.AlfredtheGreat.
Bede.TheEcclesiasticalHistoryoftheEnglishPeople.
Campbell,James,ed.TheAngloSaxons.
Fleming,Robin.BritainafterRome:TheFallandRise,400to1070.
Hieatt,ConstanceB.,trans.BeowulfandOtherOldEnglishPoems.
Hills,Catherine.OriginsofEnglish.
Swanton,M.J.,ed.AnAngloSaxonChronicle.
Sykes,Bryan.Saxons,Vikings,andCelts:TheGeneticRootsofBritainandIreland.
Tacitus.AgricolaandGermania.
Wells,Spencer.TheJourneyofMan:AGeneticOdyssey.


SPRING2015
CORE103:THEPROCESSOFCHANGEINSCIENCE

ProfessorKennethNealson,DepartmentofEarthSciences

Lecture
TTh
121:50pm
63519D
Discussion
F
9am
63520D
Discussion
F
10am
63521D

Lab

TBA

63524R

SearchingforLifeintheUniverse:MarsandBeyond

Thiscoursewillfocusonthescienceoflifedetection,andhowthisisdonebyscientistsinthelab,inthefield,and
remotely,onMars.ThemajorfocuswillbeontheongoingMarsexplorationoftheCuriosityrover.Wewilldiscuss
topicssuchaswhatislife,howcanitbedefined,howdoesonesearchforit,theenergeticsoflife,thediversityoflife,
thetoughnessoflife,andotheraspects.Wewillhaveanumberofvisitinglecturesdealingwithvariousaspectsoflife,
rangingfromtheoriginoflife,totheevolutionoflife,toethicalissuessurroundingthesearchforlife,andmanyothers.
WewillhaveonefieldtriptoNASAsJetPropulsionLab(JPL)onaFridayafternoonTBA.

Readings

Therearenorequiredtextbooks.Thecoursewillbetaughtfromarticlesthatareassigned.Thesewillincludeoriginal
scientificpublicationsandNASAinternalpublicationsdealingwithplanetaryscience.Afewexamplesofsuch
publicationsfollow(theseareonlyexamplesmanypapersthatIhavepublishedbuttheysetthestageforwhatwe
willbereadingandtalkingabout):

Bakermans,C.,A.I.Tsapin,V.SouzaEgipsy,D.A.Gilichinsky,andK.H.Nealson.Reproductionandmetabolismat10oC
ofbacteriaisolatedfromSiberianpermafrost.
Conrad,P.G.,andK.H.Nealson.Anonearthcentricapproachtolifedetection.
Dorn,E.E.,G.D.McDonald,M.C.StorrieLombardi,andK.H.Nealson.Principalcomponentanalysisandneural
networksfordetectionofaminoacidbiosignatures.
Gaidos,E.J.,K.H.Nealson,andJ.L.Kirschvink.Lifeinicecoveredoceans.
Jakosky,B.M.,K.H.Nealson,l.C.Bakermans,R.E.Ley,andM.T.Mellon.Subfreezingactivityofmicroorganismsand
thepotentialhabitabilityofMarspolarregions.
Nealson,K.H.andP.GConrad.Life:past,presentandfuture.
Nealson,K.H.,andW.A.Ghiorse.Geobiology:exploringtheinterfacebetweenthebiosphereandthegeosphere.
Nealson,K.H.Searchingforlifeintheuniverse:LessonsfromtheEarth.
Nealson,K.H.andB.LeaCox.MicrobialmetalionreductionandMars:extraterrestrialexpectations?
Nealson,K.H.andW.Berelson.Layeredmicrobialcommunitiesandthesearchforlifeintheuniverse.
Tsapin,A.I.,M.G.Goldfeld,G.D.McDonald,andK.H.Nealson.Iron(VI):hypotheticalcandidateforthemartian
oxidant.
Tsapin.A.I.,M.StorrieLombardi,G.D.McDonald,andK.H.Nealson.Applicationofcomputertomography(CT)for
searchforlifeinextremeenvironments.


SPRING2015
CORE104:CHANGEANDTHEFUTURE

ProfessorPaulLerner,DepartmentofHistory

Lecture
TTh
9:3010:50am
63528D
Discussion
F
11am

63529D
Discussion
F
12pm

63530D
Lab

TBA

63534R

HistoricalPerspectivesonConsumerCulture

Whatisaconsumersociety?Whatroledoactsofconsumptionplayinshapingorexpressingouridentities?
Whatarethebroaderconsequencesofconsumptionandconsumerismonourpoliticalsystem,ourculture,our
environment?Doesconsumptionhaveahistory?Howhaveconsumption,taste,andstylebeenaffectedbydifferent
ideologies,regimes,andpoliticalsystems?

Theseareamongthequestionsthatthisclasswillexplore.Consumption,ofcourse,isanageoldphenomenon,
buttheradicaltransformationsofthenineteenthcenturyindustrialization,urbanization,etc.andthedevelopment
ofnewformsofretailaboveall,thedepartmentstoredramaticallychangedthewaysgoodsweresold,bought,and
usedinthemodernperiod.Thesechangesgeneratedakindofculturalanxiety:whilecertainauthorscelebrated
departmentstoresformakingluxuryandsplendorwidelyavailableandlevelingsocialdistinctions,othersfearedthe
erosionoftraditionalwaysoflifeandthetemptationsofadvertisinganddepartmentstoredisplays.Bytheendofthe
century,withthedevelopmentofthemassillustratedpressandthecinema,somecriticsobservedthatcultureitself
wasbecomingacommodity,athingthatwasmassproducedandconsumed,andthatthelinebetweenartand
commercewasbecomingtooblurry.Theseconcernsonlyintensifiedwiththearrivalofradio,recordedmusic,and
televisioninthetwentiethcentury.Midtolatetwentiethcenturythinkerscontinuedtodevoteconsiderableattention
tothisprocessofcommodificationanditsimpactonsociety,genderroles,andthebody,whileotherscholarsbeganto
pointtotheliberatingpossibilitiesofconsumption,thewaysinwhichstylesofconsumingcanhelpusreshapeour
identitiesandtranscendourlimitationsandmaterialconditions.

Fromtheeighteenthcenturysconsumerrevolutionthroughtodayscontroversiesaroundboxretailersandfast
food,fromearlyFrenchdepartmentstorestothemallificationofAmerica,consumptionanditsroleinformingour
ethnic,genderedandpoliticalidentitieshasbeenaflashpointforbroaderconcernsaboutmodernandpostmodern
societyandculture.

ThiscoursetracesourculturalengagementwithconsumptionfromeighteenthcenturyBritishsourcestoKarl
Marxsnotionofthecommodityfetishandthroughcurrentwritingsonshopping,style,andidentityformation.Our
sourceswillcomefromavarietyofperspectives,genresanddisciplines,includingliterature,film,sociology,economics,
andhistory.Throughoutwewillbeconcernedwiththegendereddimensionsofconsumption,theidea(andcritique)of
massculture,theputativepathologiesofconsumerism,andtheplaceofcontemporaryAmericainthecontextofglobal
consumption.

Readings

Clark,DavidB.,MarcusDoelandKateM.L.Housiaux,eds.TheConsumptionReader.
DeLillo,Don.WhiteNoise.
Marx,Karl.Capital,Vol.1.
Poster,Mark,ed.JeanBaudrillard:SelectedWritings.
Zola,mile.TheLadiesParadise.


SPRING2015
CORE104:CHANGEANDTHEFUTURE

ProfessorEdwinMcCann,DepartmentofPhilosophy

Lecture
TTh
3:304:50pm 63531D
Discussion
F
10am
63532D

F
11am
63533D
Lab

TBA

63535R

Authority,Liberty,Allegiance:ThemesinPoliticalPhilosophy

Humanbeingsneedtolivetogetheringroups,associations,localcommunities,nationstates,andtransnational
organizations.Itsnotjustamatterofgettingalongtogether(i.e.ofbeingfreeofthethreatofviolencefromothersaroundus);we
havetoengageinawidevarietyofcooperativeventureswithothers,andtodosowemustreasonablyexpectthatallwillhaveafair
shareinthefruitsoftheventure.Onwhatbasiscanwecoordinateouractionsandexpectationswiththoseofthepeoplewith
whomwewouldcooperate,sothatweandtheycanbesatisfiedthatwearecooperatingontermsthatarefairandjust?Thatisthe
basicquestionofpoliticalphilosophy.
Politicalphilosophyhasalonghistory.WellbeginwithPlatosclassicdialogueTheRepublic,inwhichhetriestoanswerthe
questionWhatisjustice?byparallelingjusticeinthestateandjusticeintheindividualsoul,endingupwithaninsistencethatthe
beststatewouldberuledbyphilosophers,theonlyoneswhohaveknowledgeoftheGood.Wellthenjumpaheadtothe
Renaissance,tothepoliticalphilosophyofMachiavelli.
Intheearlymodernperiodthepersonalauthoritarianismthatwasimplicitorexplicitinpreviouspoliticalphilosophywas
challenged,andanewemphasisontheconsentofthegovernedasthebasisoflegitimatepoliticalauthoritycametothefore.We
willstudykeyworksbythreesocialcontracttheorists:ThomasHobbessLeviathan,JohnLockesTwoTreatisesofGovernment,and
JeanJacquesRousseausOftheSocialContractandDiscourseonInequality.Wewillfindthatthethreetheoristsgiveverydifferent
accountsofthebasisandimplicationsofthesocialcontract.
Inthenextpartofthecourseweconsidertwonineteenthcenturyreconceptualizationsofpoliticalphilosophy.Thevery
influentialworkofKarlMarxandFriedrichEngelsrejectedpoliticalphilosophyastraditionallyconceivedandreplaceditwith
economicanalysis,focusingparticularlyonclassrelationsaskeytopoliticalconsciousness.JohnStuartMilldevelopedJeremy
Benthamstheoryofmorality,utilitarianism,andpaireditwithaliberaltheoryofpoliticalfreedomsinhisworksOnLibertyandThe
SubjectionofWomen.
The20thcenturysawarevivalandreconceptualizationofthesocialcontracttheory.JohnRawlsarguesforatheoryof
justicewhichsupportsaliberaldemocraticwelfarestate,withapluralisticaccommodationofdiversereligiouscommitmentsand
overallconceptionsofvalue.RobertNozick,ontheotherhand,fashionsanargumentforalibertarianpoliticalphilosophy
legitimatingonlyaminimalanightwatchmanstate,thefunctionsofwhicharetoprotectitscitizensfromcrimeandexternal
threatsandtoenforcecontracts.Giventhelibertarianemphasisonthemarketasalocusofliberty,itwillbeappropriatetoendthe
coursewithaveryrecentphilosophicalworkbyDebraSatz,inwhichsheprovidesathoroughanalysisofwhatshecallsthemoral
limitstomarkets.Shediscussessuchproblematicmarketsasthoseinhumanorgans(kidneys),voluntaryslavery,womens
reproductivelaborandwomenssexuallabor,andconsiderswhetherthemoralproblemssuchmarketsraiseextendtomarketsof
otherkinds.

Readings

Hobbes,Thomas.Leviathan.
Locke,John.PoliticalWritings.
Machiavelli,Niccolo.ThePrince.
Marx,Karl.SelectedWritings.
Mill,JohnStuart.TheSubjectionofWomen.
Nozick,Robert.Anarchy,StateandUtopia.
Plato,Republic.
Rawls,John.JusticeasFairness:ARestatement.
Rousseau,JeanJacques.TheBasicPoliticalWritings.
Satz,Debra.WhySomeThingsShouldNotBeForSale:TheMoralLimitsofMarkets.
Troyer,John,ed.TheClassicalUtilitarians:BenthamandMill.


SPRING2015
CORE104:CHANGEANDTHEFUTURE

ProfessorNataniaMeeker,DepartmentsofFrenchandItalianandComparativeLiterature

Lecture
MW 23:20pm
63525D
Discussion
F
12pm
63526D
Discussion
F
1pm
63527D
Lab

TBA

63534R

RevolutionsinTime

TimeandSpacediedyesterday.
F.T.Marinetti,TheFuturistManifesto

Wecanalreadyrecognizethattodaytimeissplitbetweenapresentthatisalreadydead
andafuturethatisalreadylivingandtheyawningabyssbetweenthemisbecoming
enormous.Intime,aneventwillthrustuslikeanarrowintothatlivingfuture.
MichaelHardtandAntonioNegri,Multitude

Thetermrevolutionhascometosuggestpoliticalupheavalofatransformativeandindeedirreversible
natureashocktothesocialsystem.Butthefirstmodernrevolutionmayhavebeenscientific,ratherthanpolitical
andtheearliestrevolutionsdesignatednotradicalchange,butitsopposite:theperiodicreturnofnaturalcycles,and
theebbandflowofanonlineartemporalityorganizedaroundaprincipleofrepetition.Inthisclasswewillposethe
question:howdothecyclicalrevolutionsoftheancientstheturnsofthewheeloffortunebecomethepolitical
revolutionsofourtime?Whatdoesthetransformationinthewaywethinkaboutrevolutiontellusabouthowour
experienceoftimeitselfhaschanged?Where,wewillask,mighttherevolutionsoftomorrowcomefrom?
Togetherwewillstudytheriseofthemodernrevolutionanditsdepictioninliteratureandartwhile
remainingattentivetotheoriginsoftheconceptinpremoderntheoriesoftemporality.Ourreadingswilltakeusfrom
ancientGreeceandRomethroughaseriesofmodernrevolutionarymomentsthatcontinuetoshapeourcollective
relationshiptopoliticsandthesocialorder.Beginningwithwhathasbeencalledthefirstmodernrevolutionthe
ScientificRevolutionourstudyofrepresentationsofrevolutioninthemodernerawilltakeusthroughtheFrench,
American,andHaitianRevolutionsofthelateeighteenthcentury,andintotheIndustrialRevolutionofthenineteenth.
Inthefinalsectionofthecourse,wewillturntowardtheproblemofrevolutionarychangeinourownlifetimes
includinganinvestigationoffeministrevolutionsandrevolutioninglobalcontexts.Throughouttheclass,ourfocuswill
beonrevolutionasitisreflectedthroughliteraryandartisticrepresentation,ontheonehand,and,ontheother,asit
servesasitsownreflectionofchangingnotionsoftemporality.Ourreadingswillinclude,butnotbelimitedto,worksby
thefollowingauthors:HannahArendt,Aristotle,FrancisBacon,SimonedeBeauvoir,FrantzFanon,KarlMarx,Thomas
Paine,Plato,WilliamShakespeare,MoniqueWittig,andmileZola.

Readings

Arendt,Hannah.OnRevolution.
deBeauvoir,Simone.TheSecondSex.
Fanon,Frantz.TheWretchedoftheEarth.
Marx,KarlandFriedrichEngels.TheCommunistManifesto:AModernEdition.
Paine,Thomas.CollectedWritings:CommonSense.
Plato.Timaeus.
Shakespeare.Coriolanus.
Wittig,Monique.LesGurillres.
Zola,mile.Germinal.


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

AnthonyAbboreno,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh 3:304:50pm
63560D

HowtoMakeaMonster:Outsiders,Institutions,andOgres

Weneverseeotherpeopleanyway,onlythemonsterswemakeofthem.
ColsonWhitehead

Everyonecarriesaroundhisownmonsters.
RichardPryor

Everybodylovesamonster.Orelse,theylovetohatemonsters.Wegotoseemonstermovies,forfun,
andthenrushtocondemnthoseweperceiveascriminal,cruel,ormonstrous.Ourculturescurrentinterest
inmonstersbothhumanandotherwiseisexpressedineverythingfromhorrorfiction,toretellingsof
mythsandfairytales,totruecrimestories.
Butwait:ifmonsterscanbesomanydifferentthings,howdowediscoverandidentifythem?They
cantjustbeeverywhereCanthey?Shouldwelookinthewilderness,inadungeon,orinthehousenext
door?Dowegotoplacesthatmonstersaredrawnto?Orplaceswherewethinkitwouldbeeasytobecome
monstrous?Arethemonsterswefindmadebytheirsurroundings,oraretheymadebyourowndefinitionof
whatamonsteris?
Thiscoursewilllookatthedifferentwaysourculturemakesmonsters,bothhumanandotherwise.We
willbeginwithtwotextsaboutmonstersthathavebeenbanishedtothemarginsGrendelandBrideof
Frankensteinandconsiderwhatitisaboutexistenceoutsideofthenormalcultureeitherbychoice,orby
necessitythatmakessomethingseemmonstrous.Wewillthenexaminetwotextsthatdealwithourown
institutions,thedungeonsinwhichweconfinemonstersIntheBellyoftheBeast,andTheDevilinSilver
andconsidertowhatdegreethethingsthatprotectusfrommonstersmayalsocreatethem.Finally,wewill
lookattwotextsfeaturinghumancharacterswhoseactionsseemmonstrousbyalmostanydefinition
ZombieandMonsterandquestionthelimitsofoursympathyforandresponsibilitytothemonstrous.

Readings

Abbot,JackHenry.IntheBellyoftheBeast.
Gardner,John.Grendel.
LaValle,Victor.TheDevilinSilver.
Oates,JoyceCarol.Zombie.

Films

Monster.Dir.PattyJenkins(2003).
BrideofFrankenstein.Dir.JamesWhale(1931).
TexasChainsawMassacre.Dir.TobeHooper(1974).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

MichelleBrittan,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh 56:20pm
63562D

EscapeArtists

ThegreatestescapeIevermadewasfromAppleton,Wisconsin.
HarryHoudini

[M]omentsofescapearenottobedespised.Theycometooseldom.
VirginiaWoolf

Thiscourseexaminesliteraryfigureswhofittheroleofescapeartist:someonewhobreaksfreefrom
restraints.ThemagicianHarryHoudiniescapedfromlockedtrunksandstraightjackets,butwhatdoesescape
looklikefortheeverydayperson?Whatmeansofescapeareavailabletothewarveteran,thehousewife,the
exile,thewidow?Thisclasswillexploretheseescapeartists,andthesocialnormsthatrestraintheirlives.
WebeginwiththetwoprimarycharactersinVirginiaWoolfsMrs.Dalloway:Septimusseeksfreedom
fromhismemoriesofwar,whileClarissalosesherselfintheobligationsofhighsociety.Otherescapeartists
wellmeetincludethewidowedLaureninDonDeLillosnovellaTheBodyArtist,whousesarttoescapepain.
TheprotagonistofToniMorrisonsSulaisdeterminedtofleeherimpoverishedcommunity,calledThe
Bottom,inordertomakeittothetop.David,whoescapestoParisinGiovanni'sRoombyJamesBaldwin,
mustconcealaforbiddenrelationshipwithinhislover'sbedroom.
FilmsincludeThePrestige,aboutanaccidentaldeaththatsetsoffalifelongrivalrybetweentwo
magicians,andPansLabyrinth,inwhichyoungOfeliaevadestheviolenceoftheSpanishCivilWarbyescaping
toaparallelworldoffairytalesandmonsters.
Bywhatmeansdothesediversecharacterssuccessfullyescape?Doestheirfreedomcomeatacost?
WewillconsulttheworkofCarlJunginoursearchforanswers.

Readings

Baldwin,James.Giovanni'sRoom.
DeLillo,Don.TheBodyArtist.
Morrison,Toni.Sula.
Woolf,Virginia.Mrs.Dalloway.

Films

ThePrestige.Dir.ChristopherNolan(2006).
PansLabyrinth.Dir.GuillermodelToro(2006).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

MeganHerrold,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 3:304:50pm 63544D

SuccessandItsExcesses

Thekeytosuccessistotakemassivedeterminedaction.
TonyRobbins

MyonlyfaultisthatIdontrealizehowgreatIreallyam.
MuhammadAli

Whatdrivessuccess?Dosuccessfulpeoplesimplyhavemoretalent,moregumption,andmore
willpowerthantherestofus?Ordoestheirabilitytoachieveatthetopoftheirgamebelieadarkerdrivea
compulsion,avisionofgrandeur,oraneagernesstosubdueothers?Inthiscourse,wewillconsiderthedark
sideofsuccessstoriesalongsidewhatmakesthemsoinspiring.Thecharacterswemeetnotonlydesireto
succeedatallcosts,buttoremaketheworldintheirownimage.Thiscoursewillurgeustoquestionwhywe
rootforthesecharactersandtheirexcessesevenaswerepudiatethem.
WewillbeginourinvestigationwithSammyGlickinWhatMakesSammyRun?,thestoryofa
Hollywoodscreenwriterwhodeceivesandmanipulateshiswayfromragstoriches.InThereWillBeBlood,
welltrackthedeterminationandruthlessnessofrobberbaronDanielPlainviewasheconquerstheoilmarket
intheAmericanWest.Electionshowsuswhathappenswhentheconflictingambitionsandcompulsionsof
bothhighschoolstudentsandtheirteacherscollideinthefervortoelectastudentcouncilpresident.Patrick
BatemanofBretEastonEllisAmericanPsychosucceedsonWallStreetbydayandbarhopsandmurdersby
night.ThefilmTheDevilWearsPradaoffersusaglimpseintotheheightsandhorrorsofmakingitinthe
fashionworld,whichispresidedoverbythehaughtyandoverbearingeditorofRunway,MirandaPriestly.
WellendthecoursebyconsideringtheclassiclamentforthefailedpursuitofsuccessinTheGreatGatsby.
Throughthesetexts,wewillexploretherewardsandpotentialperilsofsuccess,thepoliticaland
psychologicalissuesatstakeinthepursuitandadmirationofambition,andtheconflictingdefinitionsof
successandfailureofferedtous.Tostructureourdiscussions,wewillconsultexcerptsfromNietzscheand
Freud.

Readings

Ellis,BretEaston.AmericanPsycho.
Fitzgerald,F.Scott.TheGreatGatsby.
Maynard,Joyce.ToDieFor.
Schulberg,Budd.WhatMakesSammyRun?

Films

TheDevilWearsPrada.Dir.DavidFrankel(2006).
Election.Dir.AlexanderPayne(1999).
ThereWillBeBlood.Dir.PaulThomasAnderson(2007).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

AshleyKramer,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 56:20pm
63548D

TheDetectives

Understandthis,Imeantoarriveatthetruth.Thetruth,
howeveruglyinitself,isalwayscuriousandbeautifultoseekersafterit.
AgathaChristie

Whatthedetectivestoryisaboutisnotmurderbuttherestorationoforder.
P.D.James

Weareacultureobsessedwithdetectivestories.Butwhoisthedetectiveoftoday?Whathappenstothe
classicalfigureofSherlockHolmeswhenhesgivenaDNAlabandtheInternet?Thiscoursewilllookathowtodays
detectivesbuildonHolmesdeductiveinterpretationsbyusingablendoftechnologyandrawinstinct,particularlyhow
theinternetallowsforthecrowdsourcingofamateurdetectives.Wewillattempttolocatethedetectivesmoralityin
themurkyboundarybetweeneffectivemethodsandlegallimits.Howdoesobsessiondrivethedetectivetokeep
diggingwheneveryoneelseseemsmoreinterestedinmaintainingthestatusquothaninprovidingjustice?
WewillbeginthecoursebybrieflylookingathowrepresentationsofthemosticonicdetectivefigureSherlock
HolmeshavebroughtustothewildlypopulartelevisionseriesSherlock.WellcontinuewithTheFinalSolution,which
imaginesanelderlyHolmes,andTheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNightTime,whichpresentsanautisticfifteen
yearolddetectivewhoisobsessedwithHolmes.FromrefinedHolmestotoughguydetectives,wellmoveontowatch
theneonoirfilmBrick,whosecentraldetectiveisahighschoolstudentonthesocialfringes.TheLongFallwillgiveusa
detectivewhoseownpastlieswiththemob,whileBrokenMonstersoffersafemaledetectiveontheDetroitpoliceforce
taskedwithfindingaserialkiller.WellalsowatchPolice,Adjective,afilmaboutaRomanianpoliceofficerwhoisfaced
withanethicaldilemmawhenthecasehesolveswillresultinanarresthethinksisunfair.GoneGirlandThisAmerican
Lifewillshowushowaveragepeoplearedrawnintosolvingmysteries.
Throughthesestories,wellconsiderhowthedetectivesidentitiesaffecthowtheyapproachtheirmysteries
fromthemundanetotheviolent.Alongtheway,wellexpandourcontextbyreadingshortstoriesbyRobertoBolao
andHarukiMurakami,aswellasconsiderthetheoriesofinterpretationandcontrolposedbySigmundFreud,Michel
Foucault,RobertCaillois,andRolandBarthes.

Readings

Chabon,Michael.TheFinalSolution:AStoryofDetection(P.S).
Haddon,Mark.TheCuriousIncidentoftheDogintheNightTime.
Mosely,Walter.TheLongFall.
Beukes,Lauren.BrokenMonsters.

Media

Brick.Dir.RianJohnson(2006).
Police,Adjective.Dir.CorneliuPorumboiu(2009).
GoneGirl.Dir.DavidFincher(2014).
SelectionsfromSherlock(2010).
ThisAmericanLife:TheIncredibleCaseofthePIMoms.Dir.IraGlass(2011).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

LisaLee,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 45:20pm

63546D

GhostStories

NowIknowwhataghostis.Unfinishedbusiness,thatswhat.
SalmanRushdie,TheSatanicVerses

Noteveryonecancomebackasaghost.
NearlyHeadlessNick,HarryPotter

Doyoubelieveinghosts?Thisclassexploresthewaysinwhichaspectsofpersonalandpublichistories
thathavebeenhiddenorignoredreturnintheformofhaunting.Fromhauntedhousestocampfirestoriesto
worksofliteratureandfilm,wewillexplorethefunctionoftheghostinAmericanculture.Someghostshaunt
buildingsorsitesoftraumacemeteries,battlefields,crimescenes.Othersarenotphysicalmanifestations,
but,rather,psychologicalhauntings,existingonlyinourmindsorinthestoriesthatwetell.Inallthesecases,
ghostsserveasawaytorecoverlostandhiddenpiecesofourindividualandculturalnarratives.
Theghoststhatweencounterwillincludethatofamurderedchildwhoreturnstoforcehermotherto
confrontthepast(Beloved),andadepartedfatherwhooffershislivingdaughterunderstandingandadvice
(DreaminginCuban).WewillalsomeetagirlfromcolonialSouthAmericawhoissenttoaconventandis
consumedbythereligiousandromanticpassionofthepeoplewhosurroundher(OfLoveandOtherDemons).
Thosewhocareforherarehauntednotbyphysicalghostlymanifestations,butbypsychologicaldemons
ideasofsuperstition,sanctity,andreligionwhichinfluencetheiractionstowardher.Finally,inTracks,we
willencounterghostsofadifferentkind:ancientspiritswhoseroleisbothtoprotectand,attimes,toavenge.
Inadditiontothesetexts,wewillvisitRingu,aJapanesehorrorfilminwhichawomantriestoappease
avengefulspirit,andTheOthers,aretellingofHenryJamesghoststorynovella,TheTurnoftheScrew.To
structureourdiscussions,wewillreadexcerptsfromFreud,Jung,andGraceCho.

Readings

Erdrich,Louise.Tracks.
Garca,Cristina.DreaminginCuban.
GarcaMrquez,Gabriel.OfLoveandOtherDemons.
Morrison,Toni.Beloved.

Films

Ringu.Dir.HideoNakata(1998).
TheOthers.Dir.AlejandroAmenbar(2001).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

AlisonPearl,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 1011:20am 63540D

BloodandSand

Thelife,too,onthedesertisparticularlysavage.ItisashowofteethinbushandbeastandreptileEverything
isatwarwithitsneighbor,andtheconflictisunceasing.
JohnC.VanDyke,TheDesert

Thedesert,vastandinfertile,hasnotoriouslyhousedoutlaws,criminals,andthesocialwastethat
cantfindsuitablelivesinthecommunitiesofferedbymoredenselypopulatedareasofthecountry.Butwhat
isitaboutthisplacethatattractspeoplewhocommitactsofunspeakableviolence?Aretheinhabitantsofthe
desertsimplybloodthirstymonsters,oristheresomethingmoretotheircharactersthatmightofferusinsight
intotheirdestructivenatures?
ThiscoursebeginswithCormacMcCarthysBloodMeridian,inwhichabandofviciousmensetoutto
annihilateallotherhumanbeingsinsight,leavingbehindatrailofbloodthatspanshundredsofmiles.Among
thesandandscrubofNevada,thecharactersinClaireVayeWatkinsBattlebornfacedomesticviolence,rape,
physicalassault,andsuicideaspartoftheirdailylives.WellreadMichaelOndaatjesTheCollectedWorksof
BillytheKid,whichrecallsthenotoriousreallifeoutlawwhoisatonceakillerandalovesickchild.
ThesemesterwillendwithTheFlamethrowersfollowingRenoassheraceshermotorcyclethroughthe
desertandtriestoescape.Wewillexplorethisthemeofdesertviolencethroughthelensofavarietyof
fictionalandnonfictionaltexts,episodesofBreakingBad,afilmaboutthedisastrousSaltonSeaintheheart
oftheImperialValley,andexcerptsfromavarietyofkeyculturaltextsthataddressthisparticularlystrange,
beautiful,confusingareaoftheworld.

Readings

Didion,Joan.SlouchingTowardsBethlehem.
Kushner,Rachel.TheFlamethrowers.
McCarthy,Cormac.BloodMeridian.
Ondaatje,Michael.TheCollectedWorksofBillytheKid.
Watkins,ClaireVaye.Battleborn.

Films

BombayBeach.Dir.AlmaHarel(2011).
SelectedepisodesofBreakingBad.Prod.VinceGilligan(20082013).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

NathanPogar,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh 23:20pm
63558D

BodilyTransformation:ChangingIdentities

ButIwasnolongermeontheoutside.
LeslieFeinberg,StoneButchBlues

Thecharacterswewillencounterinthisclassundergoaradicalchangeintheiridentityasthey
reinventthemselvesandseekoutacommunitythatwillacceptthemfortheirdifferences.Ourcharacters
experienceatransformationofsortsthatwillleadthemtoembrace(orreject)thatnewidentity.
WewillbeginwithTheAutobiographyofanExColoredMan,whichpresentsuswithabiracialman
whomustfiercelyguardhissecretashepassesforwhiteandmovesthrougharacistsociety.InGiovannis
Room,DavidfleestoParisandbecomesengagedtoawomanonlytofindthathishomoeroticdesireshave
followedhim.HefallsinlovewithGiovanni,leadingtoafatalromance.JessGoldberginStoneButchBlues
failstofitinandmustcarveoutanew,morefluididentitywhilesearchingforanacceptingcommunity.
WrittenontheBodyisnarratedbyacharacterwhohasapassionate,allconsumingloveaffairwithawoman,
andtheireroticlifequestionsthereadersassumptionsaboutloveanddesire.Theirlovestorygivesusa
wonderfulnewformfortheromance.
TheAdventuresofPriscilla,QueenoftheDesertisafilmthatfollowsatroupeoftwodragqueensanda
transgenderwomanastheytravelacrossAustraliaintheirtourbusperformingatvariouslocalvenues.The
filmBoysDontCryisaboutthefinaldaysofBrandonTeena,atransgendermanwhofallsinloveandtriesto
liveinruralNebraska.Whatarethestakesinchangingonesracial,gender,orsexualidentity?Wewillbe
readingtheoristslikeMichelFoucaultandJudithButlerwhoprovidecompellingwaysofthinkingaboutthe
natureoftransformationandbodilychange.

Readings

Johnson,JamesWeldon.TheAutobiographyofanExColoredMan.
Baldwin,James.GiovannisRoom.
Winterson,Jeanette.WrittenontheBody.
Feinberg,Leslie.StoneButchBlues.

Films

ParisIsBurning.Dir.JennieLivingston(1990).
TheAdventuresofPriscilla,QueenoftheDesert.Dir.StephanElliott(1994).
BoysDontCry.Dir.KimberlyPeirce(1999).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

Dr.RyanShoemaker,ThematicOptionHonorsProgram

Lecture
MW 8:309:50am
63538D

TheBurbs:BreakinginandBreakingout

[Inthesuburbs],wearealllockedinourTowerofBabel
PeterRowe,MakingtheMiddleLandscape

MyGod,thesuburbs!Theyencircledthecitysboundarieslikeenemyterritory
JohnCheever,MovingOut

Depressed,potsmokingteenagers.Alcoholics.Thieves.Pedophiles.Virginsuicides.Suchisthetypical
castofcharacterswelldiscoverbehindthefaadeofsuburbandecorum.
FormanyAmericans,suburbiaswherewesituateourambitionsforupwardmobilityandeconomic
security,ouridealsoffreedom,andourlongingsforsocialharmonyandspiritualuplift.However,therealityof
theburbsisoftenquitedifferent:cookiecutterhouses,despotichomeownersassociations,keepingupwith
theJoneses,backbreakingmortgages,andxenophobia.Sadly,thepromisesanddreamsofsuburbiaareoften
illusiveandunrealized.
ExploringrepresentationsoftheAmericansuburbsfrom1945tothepresent,wellaskanumberof
toughquestions:Issuburbiareallyaclasslessplace?Aretheredifferenttypesofsuburbs?Whosallowedinto
thesuburbsandwhoskeptout?Engagingnovels,shortstories,anddrama,aswellasliterarycriticismand
selectedhistoricalandsociologicalstudies,wellattempttoanswerthesequestionsbyexaminingadiverse
rangeofsuburbanandurbanspaces,fromthefragile,whitecollarsuburbsofJohnCheeversTheCountry
Husband,totheimpoverished,crampedhousingonChicagosSouthSideinLorraineHansberrysARaisinin
theSun,tothefinalglowingyearsoftheplacidDetroitsuburbsinJeffreyEugenidessTheVirginSuicides,to
thealcoholdrenched,smokehazedbluecollarsuburbsofRaymondCarversWillYouPleasebeQuiet,
Please?.

Readings

Cheever,John.TheStoriesofJohnCheever.
Hansberry,Lorraine.ARaisinintheSun.
Carver,Raymond.WillYouPleasebeQuiet,Please.
Eugenides,Jeffrey.TheVirginSuicides.
Jen,Gish.MonainthePromisedLand.

Films

RevolutionaryRoad.Dir.SamMendes(2008).
AmericanBeauty.Dir.SamMendes(1999).
TheBurbs.Dir.JoeDante(1989).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

Dr.TrishaTucker,ThematicOptionHonorsProgram

Lecture
TTh 9:3010:50am
63552D

SurvivalSkills

Thereisanhour,aminuteyouwillrememberitforeverwhenyouknowinstinctivelyonthebasisofthe
mostinconsequentialevidence,thatsomethingiswrong.Youdon'tknowcan'tknowthatitisthefirstofa
seriesofwrongfuleventsthatwillculminateintheutterdevastationofyourlifeasyouhaveknownit.
JoyceCarolOates

Thenotionthatonewillnotsurviveaparticularcatastropheis,ingeneralterms,acomfortsinceitisequivalent
toabolishingthecatastrophe.
IrisMurdoch

Itslikesomethingoutofyourworstnightmaresalightningboltthatcareensfromthesky,spelling
theendofeverythingyouknowandthrustingyouintoanewandunfamiliarworld.Whetherhitbyan
unexpectedillness,asuddendeath,afreakaccident,ortherevelationofaterriblesecret,youreleftwithone
pressingquestion:howdoesonesurvivetheseeminglyunsurvivable?
Thisclasswillintroduceustoavarietyofpeopleattemptingtoanswerthatveryquestion.Some,like
thenewlywidowedprotagonistinTheYearofMagicalThinking,findcomfortindenial.Others,like
MementosLennywholosesbothhiswifeandhismemorytoaviolentattackturntorevenge.Butitsnot
alldoomandgloom:inTheLifeofPi,ayoungboyspinsatragicshipwreckintoataleofmiraculousbeauty,
whilestandupcomedienneTigNotarousesherrecentcancerdiagnosisasfodderforoneofthemost
celebratedstandupsetsofthedecade.Asweworkourwaythroughthesecaptivatingtexts,wellinvestigate
therolesthatmemory,imagination,community,andhumorplayingettingusthroughthetoughestoftimes.

Readings

Didion,Joan.TheYearofMagicalThinking.
Hemmings,KauiHart.TheDescendants.
OBrien,Tim.TheThingsTheyCarried.
Roy,Arundhati.TheGodofSmallThings.
Wiesel,Elie.Night.

Films

Atonement.Dir.JoeWright(2007).
LifeofPi.Dir.AngLee(2012).
Memento.Dir.ChristopherNolan(2000).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

Dr.TrishaTucker,ThematicOptionHonorsProgram

Lecture
TTh 1112:20pm
63554D

BoysandGirlsGoneWild

Likefruit,childrenaresweetestjustbeforetheyturnbad.
DenaGroquet

Allthingstrulywickedstartfrominnocence.
ErnestHemmingway

Weallknowthatchildrenarenaturallyinnocent;thatswhywesetuplawstoprotectthemfromevil
adults.Butifkidsareasinnocentasweseemtobelieve,whydowekeepencounteringstoriesofchildren
doingstrangeandterriblethings?Whatarewetomakeofbabyfacedcriminalsandhypersexualtots?And
whydowefindstoriesaboutsuchkidswhetheronthenightlynewsoratthelocalmovietheateror
bookstoresofascinating?
Thiscoursewillintroduceustoagroupofliterarychildrenwhobendandsometimesbreak,quite
spectacularlytheinnocentchildmold.Thesearedangerouscharacters;theirfailuretobetheharmless,
helplesschildrensocietyexpectsthemtobeputsthemandeveryonearoundtheminperil.Wellseehowone
younggirlsquestforrevengerips17thcenturySalem,Massachusetts,toshredsinTheCrucible.Lolitaasksus
toconsiderwhether,inanadultchildsexualrelationship,theadultmightbetheinnocentvictimandthechild
thetransgressor,whileLordoftheFliesrevealsthesavageheartthatlieshiddeninsideallsupposedlycivilized
boys.Tohelpusmakesenseofthesemonstrouschildrenandinvestigatejustwhysocietyfindstheir
transgressionofinnocencesofascinating,wellturntotheorybySigmundFreud,JamesKincaid,andLee
Edelman.Together,ourclasswillexplorewhataculturesoinvestedinchildhoodinnocencecandowhen
confrontedwiththetransgressionofthatsupposedinnocence,andaskhowwecanrestoreequilibriumwhen
childrenactindecidedlyunchildlikeways.

Readings

Cullen,Dave.Columbine.
Eugenides,Jeffrey.TheVirginSuicides.
Golding,William.LordoftheFlies.
James,Henry.TurnoftheScrew.
Nabokov,Vladimir.Lolita.

Films

TheBadSeed.Dir.MervynLeRoy(1956).
TheCrucible.Dir.NicholasHytner(1996).
HeavenlyCreatures.Dir.PeterJackson(1994).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

DagmarVanEngen,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 6:307:50pm
63550D

FirstContact:AlienEncountersinScienceFiction

Thefutureofourearthmaydependupontheabilityofallwomentoidentifyanddevelopnew
definitionsofpowerandnewpatternsofrelatingacrossdifference.Theolddefinitionshavenotservedus.
AudreLorde

Whenthespaceshiplands,thealienwhodisembarksconfrontsuswithdifferentvaluesystemsand
waysofunderstandingtheworld.Eyestalks,bluescales,telepathy,exoskeletons:storiesoffirstcontacthavea
lottoteachusinamodernworldwherewehavesupposedlyovercomeourdifferencesevenastheycontinue
toshapeus.Inthisclasswewillencountercharacterswhomeetaliensfromplanetswithdifferentracial,
sexual,andgendersystems.Ourheroinesgrapplewithmomentsoffirstcontactandtheiraftershocks,
learningnewwaysofrelatingtoothersalongtheway.
WewillbeginwithanepisodefromStarTrekwhereCaptainPicardfindscommongroundwithpeople
intheEladrelsystem,whospeakthroughmetaphorandmyth.InLeGuinsTheLeftHandofDarkness,Genly
learnstointeractwithalienswhoareneithermalenorfemaleonanandrogynousplanet.InMidnightRobber,
TanTanencounterspeoplefromcompetingsettlementsontheplanetNewHalfwayTreeuntilshetakes
refugewiththeindigenousDouencommunity.AfteranucleardisasterinButlersDawn,Lilithmeetsthe
Oankaliracethathasrescuedher,butlearnshumansmustinterbreedwiththeminordertosurvive.Wewill
endbyfollowingNeosmeetingswithfreehumansandvirtualagentsthroughTheMatrixashelearnsthat
earthisactuallyanalienuniverse.Wewillconsultworksofgender,criticalrace,andsciencefictiontheory.

Reading

LeGuin,Ursula.TheLeftHandofDarkness.
Wells.H.G.TheWaroftheWorlds.
Hopkinson,Nalo.MidnightRobber.
Butler,Octavia.Dawn.
Snchez,RosauraandBeatricePita.LunarBraceros21252148.

Media

TheMatrix.Dir.AndyandLanaWachowski(1999).
SelectedepisodesfromStarTrek:TheNextGeneration.(19871994).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

MarciVogel,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh
6:307:50pm 63564D

StrangeDays

IusedtothinkIwasthestrangestpersonintheworldbutthenIthoughttherearesomanypeopleintheworld,there
mustbesomeonejustlikemewhofeelsbizarreandflawedinthesamewaysIdo.
FridaKahlo

AsGregorSamsaawokeonemorningfromuneasydreams,hefoundhimself
transformedinhisbedintoagiganticinsect.
FranzKafka,TheMetamorphosis

Fromtheslightlyoffkiltertothekeenlyconfounding,therearedayswhenlifeextendsbeyondtheperplexing
andintotherealmoftheutterlystrange.Howdowenavigateencounterswithunfamiliarparameters?Whyareweboth
drawntoanddisquietedbythatwhichisdifferent,unusual,bizarre,mysterious?Whathiddenworldsmightweaccess
whenordinaryexperiencetransformstothewhimsicalandpeculiar,theweirdandfantastical?

Thiscoursewilloffersojournsintostrangenessthroughliteratureandfilm.OurtouchstoneauthorwillbeKafka,
masterinventorofstrangedaysandnights.We'llfollowthecuriouswanderingsofdreamersandsleepwalkersinthe
fictionofLydiaDavisandBananaYoshimoto.We'llaccompanySarahRuhl'selevatorridingEurydiceandAmyBender's
GirlintheFlammableSkirt.We'llbeadmittedintotheodd,volcaniclandscapeofGeryon,ayoungboywhoisalsoa
wingedredmonsterinAnneCarson'sAutobiographyofRed.Finally,we'llreadMaxineHongKingston'siconicmemoirof
growingupChineseAmericaninNorthernCalifornia.HowdoestheimaginationinTheWomanWarriorhelpnavigate
strangenessattheborderbetweentwocultures?

Ourfilmsaskustoexaminehowstrangenessaffectsourbondswitheachother,whetherwebehuman,beast,
orimmortal.WingsofDesiretellsthestoryofanangelwholongstobemortalafterhefallsinlovewithatrapezeartist.
AndthedesiretofindtheownerofamysteriousboxoftoysimpelstheintenselyshyAmliePoulinontoawondrous
newcourse.Whatwilltheseventuresintostrangenessrevealaboutourselves,aboutothers,andabouthow
strangenessmighthelpustosaywhatotherwisecannotbesaid?

Readings

Bender,Aimee.TheGirlintheFlammableSkirt.
Carson,Anne.AutobiographyofRed.
Davis,Lydia.Can'tandWon't.
Kafka,Franz.TheCompleteStories.
Kingston,MaxineHong.TheWomanWarrior:MemoirsofaGirlhoodAmongGhosts.
Ruhl,Sarah.Eurydice.
Yosimoto,Banana.Asleep.

Films

LeFabuleuxDestindAmliePoulin.Dir.JeanPierreJeunet(2001).
WingsofDesire.Dir.WimWenders(1987).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

TerryWinningham,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
MW 23:20pm

63542D

BadCitizens

Weoughttobebadcitizens.Weoughtto,inthesensethatwerewritingagainstwhatpowerrepresents,and
oftenwhatgovernmentrepresents,andwhatthecorporationdictates,andwhatconsumerconsciousnesshas
cometomean.Inthatsense,ifwerebadcitizens,weredoingourjob.
DonDeLillo

Everygoodcitizenaddstothestrengthofanation.
GordonB.Hinckley

Citizenship is a birthright for many, an aspiration for some, and an obligation for others. More than
castingavoteeveryfourthNovember,whatareourresponsibilitiestotheState,toeachother,toourselves?
Wemightserveinthemilitaryorholdpublicoffice;conversely,wemightengageinprotests,boycotts,orother
formsofcivildisobedience.Theselatterwouldbecalledbadcitizenshipbysome,butaccordingtoDonDeLillo
aresimplydoingourjob.Ourclasswillfocusonthiscontradiction,andthecompetingdemandssocietyplaces
onus.
BobJones,theAfricanAmericanprotagonistofIfHeHollersLetHimGo,askshowamancanservea
countrythatseeshimasasecondclasscitizen,asJonesfacesbothracismandpoliticalpropagandistswhile
supporting the national war effort in a Los Angeles shipyard. In Americana, David Bell leaves a New York
advertisingagencytosearchforthemeaningofAmerica,andhisownsuburbanupbringing,inthesprawling
plainsoftheMidwest.JoanDidionsessaysexplorethesocialupheavalofthe1960sanditsaftermath,andDavid
FosterWallaceconsidersthenecessityofademocraticspiritinessaysrangingfromlanguageusage,topost
9/11 smalltown America, to John McCains failed presidential campaign at the turn of the millennium. And
acrosstheAtlantic,StephenDedaluswrestleswiththetensionbetweenfidelitytoIrelandandtohimselfinA
PortraitoftheArtistasaYoungMan.Together,thesetextsraisethequestionofwhatitmeanstobeabad
citizeninamoderndemocracy,orinfactanykindofcitizenatall.

Readings

DeLillo,Don.Americana.

Didion,Joan.TheWhiteAlbum.
Himes,Chester.IfHeHollersLetHimGo.
Joyce,James.APortraitoftheArtistasaYoungMan.
Wallace,DavidFoster.ConsidertheLobster.

Films

Batman:TheDarkKnight.Dir.ChristopherNolan(2008).
Network.Dir.SidneyLumet(1976).


SPRING2015
CORE112:WRITINGSEMINARII

KatharineZimolzak,DepartmentofEnglish

Lecture
TTh 12:301:50pm
63556D

ControlFreaks

Thegreaterthepower,themoredangeroustheabuse.
EdmundBurke

Ifyoucan'tcontrolyourpeanutbutter,youcan'texpecttocontrolyourlife.
BillWatterson,Calvin&Hobbes

Inthisclass,wewillexplorewhatitmeanstohaveorcravecontrol,andwhatitmeanstorelinquishcontrol.
Doespowerlieinactionorinideas?Whatdoweseektocontrol?Theobviousanswersourmoney,ourbodies,our
mindsgivewaytomoresinisterpossibilities:ifwecontrolourselfimage,andwecontrolthewayothersseeus,does
thatmeanwecancontrolothers'thoughts?Moreover,whocontrolsthemedia?Whocontrolsthegovernment?Can
anyonepersonorgroupofpeoplegainincontestablecontrol?Ourcoursewillexplorecharacterswhostrugglewith
havingtoomuchortoolittlecontrol,andwhocontrolthemselvesandothersphysically,mentally,andemotionally.
InBraveNewWorld,aclassictaleofgovernmentcontrol,LeninaandBernardliveinasocietywhere"everyone
belongstoeveryoneelse"sexually.Wewillmeetpuppetmasterswhogatherinfluencebypullingatthestringsofsocial
interaction,likeCherinClueless,andatthestringsofliteralpuppets,likeCraiginBeingJohnMalkovich.SiblingsJackand
Julie(TheCementGarden)wrestlewiththeincestuousimplicationsofplayinghouse,whichtheydoinordertocontrol
theirfuturesaftertheirparentshavedied.June(TelltheWolvesImHome)andAlison(FunHome)useliteralportraitsto
negotiateandmanipulatetheirunderstandingsofthepast.
Withthesetexts,wewillexplorethebenefitsanddetrimentsofcontrol.Wewillexaminetheconflictsthatarise
whennewregimescometopower.Wewillaugmentthereadingslistedwithselectedshorterworks,secondarysources,
andsocial/culturalcritiques.

Readings

Bechdel,Alison.FunHome.
Brunt,CarolRifka.TelltheWolvesImHome.
Huxley,Aldous.BraveNewWorld.
McEwan,Ian.TheCementGarden.

Films

TheSocialNetwork.Dir.DavidFincher(2010).
Clueless.Dir.AmyHeckerling(1995).
BeingJohnMalkovich.Dir.SpikeJonze(1999).


SPRING2015
CORE200:LIBERALARTSREADINGSALON

Dr.TrishaTucker,ThematicOptionHonorsProgram

Lecture
W
121:50pm
63568D

Mad,Bad,andDangeroustoKnow:
ReadingBannedBooks

WhatdoHarryPotter,TheGreatGatsby,CaptainUnderpants,andSlaughterhouseFiveallhavein
common?Believeitornot,theyreeachamongthemostbannedbooksofthetwentyfirstcentury.Infact,
manyofthebooksyoucherishedasachildorlovedinAPLithavebeenbannedfromclassroomsandlibraries
acrossthecountry.Somecallsucheffortscensorship,butothersfeelitsimperativetoprotectyoungminds
fromworkstheycallprofane,vulgar,indecent,andpornographic.
Whatmakesthesebookssodangerous,wemightask?HowcanatextlikeToKillaMockingbirdbe
labeledbothafilthy,trashynovel(NYSchoolDistrict)andanovelofgreatsweetness,humor,[and]
compassion(Harpers)?Andhaveparentsandschoolboardseverconsideredthatbrandingsomething
forbiddenmightmakeittwiceasdesirabletoyoungreaders?
ThisReadingSalonwillexplorethesedarkestandmostdangerousofworks.Aftersurveyingaselection
ofnovelsthathavebeenbannedonpolitical,religious,andmoralgroundsinthefirsthalfofthesemester,the
classwillcollectivelycreateareadinglistforthesecondhalfofthecourse.Togetherwewillrevelinreading
booksthathavebeenbrandedtooobsceneforthemasses,askingwhatsuchlabelscanteachusaboutthe
textsthemselvesandaboutthesocietiesthathavebannedthem.

Readings

Alexie,Sherman.TheAbsolutelyTrueDiaryofaPartTimeIndian.
Angelou,Maya.IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSings.
Blume,Judy.Forever.
Orwell,George.1984.
Pullman,Philip.TheGoldenCompass.


SPRING2015
CORE301:MODESOFINQUIRY

ProfessorJamesCollins,DepartmentofClassics

Lecture
TTh
12:301:50pm
63570D

PerformingWisdom

FundamentaltoGreekandRomanphilosophyistheconceptoftheartofliving(htechntoubiou,arsvivendi),
which maintains that living a good life is at heart a public performance, and thus entails particular modes of action,
engagement,andselfpresentationandstylization.Bothphilosophicaltheoryandpractice,boththoughtsanddeeds
whatonebelievesandhowonelivesasaresultofholdingthosebeliefsareinextricablybound,andtogethercontribute
to the philosophical art of constructing, performing, and becoming the right sort of character. In addition to reading
philosophywithaneyetohowtheancientsvariouslyembodiedandperformedtheirwisdom,wewillexploretechniques
drawn from contemporary performance theory in highly performative, experimental, and collaborative learning
environmentsinordertodevelopanappreciationforthisparticularsortofphilosophicalactivity.Weaimprimarilyat
developingthiscraftforourowneffortsatselfexaminationandpresentation.
While Tuesdays are devoted primarily to close readings of texts which comprise the foundation of Western
thought,we willbelookingcloselyatevidencethat sagesandphilosophersperformedtheirthoughtsor intentionsin
dramaticandcompelling,sometimesevenirrationalandcoerciveways,perhapswithoutevensayingaword.Thursdays
arethengiventorenderingourdiscoveriesintophilosophicalaction.WewilldrawontheStanislavskisystem,text
bound characterization (Mamet), improvisational techniques (Johnstone), and the gamesercises of radical popular
theater(Boal)asweexploretheconnectionsbetween,ontheonehand,ourlanguage,intentions,andthoughtsand,on
the other, how we behave and interact with one another. These dramatic techniques make explicit the notions of a
charactersobjectiveswhatshewantstogetothercharacterstodoandacharactersactionshowshegoesabout
workingonanothercharactersemotionstogetwhatshewants.Theartoflivingrequirescertainkindsofaudienceas
well,soourdramaticworkwilltrainustobecomegoodwatchersaswellasperformers.
The semester is divided into four units: Becoming Wise (Sages, Presocratics), Becoming Socratic (Phaedo,
Euthydemus),BecomingStoic(Epictetus,MarcusAurelius),andBecomingEloquent(Sophists,declamation,Cicero).
However inimitable Socrates seems, we devote considerable energy to exploring, rehearsing, and refashioning his
philosophicalcharacter.Nopreviousdramaticorformalphilosophicalexperienceisrequired;onlyawillingnesstotry
newthingsonyourfeetwhilecultivatingbothasupportiveenvironmentandoneself.

Readings

Boal,Augusto.GamesforActorsandNonActors.
Cicero.Cicero:OntheIdealOrator.
Epictetus.HandbookofEpictetus.
Johnstone,Keith.Impro:ImprovisationandtheTheatre.
Mamet,David.TrueandFalse:HeresyandCommonSensefortheActor.
MarcusAurelius.TheMeditations.
Plato.Euthydemus.
Plato.PhaedoinPlato:FiveDialogues.
Stanislavsky,Constantin.BuildingaCharacter.
Stanislavsky,Constantin.CreatingaRole.
CoursereaderwithselectionsfromthearchaicSages,thePresocratics,theSophists,anddeclamation.