Culture and Social Structures II (PL294) Spring, 2002
Joseph Flanagan, S.J. & David McMenamin Tuesdays, 4:30 - 6ish
Course Description:
This course is a continuation of the themes developed in Culture & Social Structures I, though participation in the first seminar is not a requirement.
By the use of texts from a variety of fields, we will explore the origins and underpinnings of American culture. We will do so in order to seek an understanding of contemporary ways in which people choose to structure -- literally and figuratively (or perhaps better, symbolically) -- the way they live together. Our study centers on questions about how our cultural and social structures are the concrete expression of what we value, of the things we consider meaningful and important. The approaches will be historical, social, literary, political and cultural.
Texts:
Christian Norberg-Schulz, New World Architecture
Michael Kammen, A Season of Youth
Richard Slotkin, Regeneration Through Violence
Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations
Andrew Delbanco, The Real American Dream
Tolstoy, "Master and Man" and "The Death of Ivan Ilych"
John Irving, "Pigeon Feathers"
Requirements:
Reading of assignments in advance of class.
Presentation on at least two of the readings.
A middle of the term conversation.
A group, oral final exam.
Reading/Assignments:
January 15 -- Introduction
January 22 -- Kammen, Chapters 1, 2 & 3.
January 29 -- Kammen, Chapters 4 & 5.
February 5 -- Kammen, Chapters 6 & 7.
February 12 - Slotkin, Chapters 1, 4 & 7 (Somewhere in these next two weeks, you should watch High Noon and then Saving Private Ryan.
You pick the dates, I’ll arrange to get the movies.
February 19 - Slotkin, Chapters 8, 9 & 10
February 26 - Slotkin, Chapters 12, 13 & 14
March 12 -- Delbanco (the whole book)
March 19 -- Jacobs, Chapters 1 - 4
March 26 -- Jacobs, Chapters 5 - 9
April 2 -- Jacobs, Chapters 10 - 14
April 9 -- Norberg-Schulz (the whole book)
April 11 -- @7:30 PM, Andrew DelBanco will be giving a public lecture.
April 16 -- Tolstoy, "The Death of Ivan Ilych" and "Master and Man."
John Irving, "Pigeon Feathers."
April 23 -- To be determined.
April 30 -- Grand Synthesis
May 7 -- Final Exam