Interdisciplinary Core
Disability in Film and Literature
Nancy Urbscheit
MWF, 11-11:50
Course Description: The presentation of disability in literature and film can reflect the maturity level and emotional state of a society. This course will exam the portrayals of disability in American film and literature since the beginning of the 20th century . The students will learn how these portrayals illustrate the attitudes and awareness of the American public toward those with disability. The reasons for changes in attitude and awareness will be discussed. The student will also get the opportunity to assess their own attitudes and awareness of disability.
American Maritime History
Eric Roorda
MWF, 1-1:50
Course Description:
This course is an interdisciplinary look at the history and literature of
America and the sea. The sea
connects all things, covering nearly three quarters of the Earth’s surface and
serving as a bridge from the shores of this nation to every other nation in the
world. When the inland waterways are
included in the composition, it is clear that the oceans reach far inland, even
to the Louisville waterfront. We
need water to live, it provides important food sources and energy, nations fight
over it, it is an enormous highway for commerce and pleasure, and it has
inspired some of the greatest literature of all time, in many languages.
Large bodies of water are sublime.
Their history and literature repay study. We will very briefly limn the
contours of ancient navigation in fact and fiction, then focus on the history
and literature of the “Age of Sail,” beginning in the 15th century
and ending in the early 20th century.
Most of the class sessions and readings will treat the heart of that
period, from 1815 to 1900, when ocean traffic was the busiest it has been in
world history. Untold numbers of
ships and people went about on the water during those busy years, when
steamships co-existed with huge fleets under canvas.
That is when the most important events in maritime history occurred, and
when the greatest maritime writers, Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad, penned
their many novels and stories set on the oceans or the rivers of the wide, wide
world. The last weeks of the course will examine the events and letters of the
20th century, which point toward the grim prospects for the next
millennium. We will survey the
cinematic literature of that period to help shed light on three main areas of
recent and future interest and concern:
a. the revolution brought by
internal combustion engines,
b. unimaginably destructive
naval forces,
c. and the disastrous
depletion of the fish and mammal populations in the lakes and oceans.
Women’s History in the US
Tami Harbolt-Bosco
MW, 4:30-5:45
Course Description: This course will introduce students to the social, political, and cultural roles of women in American history. From Native American tribes to modern day global participation, women’s contributions, forgotten or overlooked narratives, multi-cultural experiences, and experience of gender will be discussed and analyzed to fully understand the role of gender in the American past and how it influences American society today.
A History and Investigation of Sexual Orientation in the US through Multiple
Media
Nickole Brown
M, 6-8:45
Course Description:
Until 1973, the American Psychiatric
Association listed homosexuality as a mental disorder, and just last
November, California voters approved a ban
on same-sex marriage. This all stems
from a long history that began in the Puritan colony of Massachusetts that
listed homosexuality as an offense punishable by death.
Many consider gay rights as the civil rights issue of today, and this
course will investigate this issue by learning the history of gay rights and
experience as told through literature, film, plays, and poetry.
Specific concentration will be given to the life of San Francisco
Supervisor Harvey Milk, and especially the AIDs epidemic and how this disease
impacts the LGBT community.
The US Civil
Rights Movement and its Place in History
Ira Grupper
W, 6-8:30
Course Description:
This course will, through readings,
videos, music and discussions with veterans of the Movement (where possible) try
to convey the impact of one of the most important parts of U.S. history. The
crucial historical context for our discussions will include slavery, freedom and
the unfolding
possibilities of democracy in the United States. It also will survey the
South--a region
of the heart, the
mind, and America--where democracy has been envisioned, embattled, won and
lost with enormous
consequences for humanity. We will trace these struggles from the wake of
the American
Revolution through the freedom movements of the twentieth century, to the
aftermath of what has
been called "the Reagan Revolution."
We will concentrate, however, mostly on the modern movement, beginning with Rosa
Parks and the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott in the 1950’s, and thru the 1960’s
Freedom Rides, voter registration and other civil rights projects, and “Black
Power.” We will end with the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.,
and its aftermath. We will examine the concepts of non-violence and
self-defense, linking of civil rights for African Americans with other issues,
domestic and international.
American Civic Values
Linda Cowan TTh, 9:25-10:40 (Brown Scholars
Section)
Course Description:
This course seeks to develop an
appreciation of the importance of debate and tolerance of diverse points of view
in a pluralistic, democratic society, with a focus on social justice issues. We
start the semester with a review of some of the political and historical factors
that led to the writing of the three cornerstones of American democracy: the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, We then
study one issue, the death penalty, in some detail, focusing on the evolution of
courts’ treatment of the topic, and on the impact that one leader, Sr. Helen
Prejean, has had on the anti-death penalty movement. We will next study
immigration and voting rights from both historical and contemporary viewpoints,
exploring the United States’ evolving approach to issues of diversity inherent
in these topics. Throughout the course, we will study American civic leaders and
how they sought to change opinions in their day. At the end of the semester,
students will apply what they have learned about vigorous civic debate by
participating in debates in class on controversial contemporary topics of their
choosing. Students will develop critical thinking and analytical skills through
class discussions, individual reading and writing assignments, and participation
in group projects. Vigorous debate of topics studied is encouraged. Students
will be offered opportunities to engage in community service (Fall08 we
volunteered with Dare to Care Food Bank)
Music in the Black Church
AT Simpson
TTh, 9:25-10:40
Course Fee: $100
Course Description:
The “Black Church” has, undoubtedly, proven to be both a catalyst for
social change in the United States and a constant center of social and political
power in the African-American community.
Music in the “Black Church” has, since the formal church’s infancy been a
richly distinctive blend of many musical styles, including traditional African
music, American folk music, and, eventually, American ‘pop’ music genres. This
fascinating, hybrid musical style as proven to be at the core of both:
a)
the church’s power within the
African-American community, and
b)
the church’s ‘public persona’ in the
society-at-large.
The
present seminar will study the music in the major denominations of the “Black
Church” from musical, aesthetic, and socio-cultural viewpoints.No
previous preparation or knowledge of music is expected or required for this
class. Students will be required to attend both concert events and church
services that feature the types of music to be discussed in this seminar.
Economic Recovery, Global Justice, and Worker’s Rights
Attica Scott
TTh, 12:15-1:30
Course Description: This course will explore the intersections of the current economic crisis and efforts to move us toward economic recovery, globalization and how workers are being impacted during this period. Our primary geographic focus will be the influence of these three areas on the southern United States. We will analyze some of the challenges facing the US labor movement in the 21st Century and its new direction toward social justice unionism and its commitment to global justice. Using a human rights framework, we will continuously reflect on how these issues impact people based on their economic situation, ethnicity/race and gender.
Women’s Ways of Knowing
Olga-Maria Cruz
TTh, 1:40-2:55
Course Description:
This particular course will explore
the distinctive qualities of American women’s self-expression by examining the
process by which ‘voice’ is developed and the challenges particular to women’s
self-development and expression in American society. A theoretical
framework for understanding the experience of learning and of being a ‘knower’
will be examined. Our exploration will be guided by the voices of American
women in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music, and film, and the voices of
students in group discussion and research presentation.
The Impact of Trauma on
Development
Jennifer Sinski
TTh, 4:30-5:45
Course Description:
The
Effects of Trauma on Development will examine specific incidences of trauma and
the impact trauma has on the learning process.
Students will explore current research on trauma and its effect on brain
development as well as applications in the learning setting.
Many scientific studies have indicated that trauma causes long term
damage to portions of the brain that control learning and behavior, causing both
learning and emotional disabilities.
Parents and educators must find the key to address individual children’s needs,
and when many of these children have experienced both large and small scale
traumas, a special understanding must help guide the curriculum.
“No Child Left Behind” mandates achievement goals for all children
regardless of a parent’s death, long term illness, physical/sexual abuse or
other trauma that occurred in that child’s life.
Pop Music in American Literature
Erin Keane
T, 6-8:30
Course
Description:
Popular Music in American
Literature: Jazz, the blues, country & western, rock & roll, hip hop
— these musical genres are among the most easily-recognized and wholly
American art forms. This course will focus on contemporary American music’s
impact on literature, including fiction, creative nonfiction,
poetry, and literary journalism. We will also examine sociological and
historical influences on the music itself. We will use discussions based on
reading assignments, media, and local arts experiences to address the
mythologies of the
“rock
star,”
music’s role in literature,
musical/cultural history and relationships, and the search for shared cultural
signifiers in a post-MTV landscape.
Death and Dying
JoAnne Morris
Th, 6-8:30
Course Description:
Who hasn't been touched by death at some point, even if only at a
distance? Whether the death of a
loved one, friend, or companion animal, no one is immune to the reality of
death. Since death is a universal
human experience, it seems incredible that the topic of death has received
little attention in the U.S. until recently.
The rise of the Hospice movement in recent decades has called attention
to this once taboo subject, and the emerging field of thanatology, the study of
death and dying, is making the subject available to academic inquiry.
This course will examine death and dying in American society through the
lenses of philosophy, sociology, psychology, and literary studies.
We will look at death and the dying process both in terms of individual
experience and in terms of family, medical, legal, and religious systems.
In addition to readings assigned from the textbook, we will also explore
responses to the subject of death expressed in film and literature.
Teaching methods include class discussion, group work, structured
reflection, and guided research. The
course also includes a substantial experiential learning dimension with frequent
presentations by subject area specialists and on-site visitation where possible.
By acknowledging what lies ahead of all of us, we can better prepare for
the inevitable and make our time now richer and more meaningful.
As a 200 level course in the IDC, "Death and Dying" will also continue to
develop skills in critical thinking, research, and reflection.