Offerings by Semester

Offerings by Semester

« Spring 2013	Fall 2013	Spring 2014 »
FYSE1041A-F13 CRN: 92411	Economics of Social Issues The Economics of Social Issues In this course we will examine current social problems from the perspective of an economist. We will use the tools of economics as a framework for understanding important social issues such as poverty, discrimination, access to health care, crime and drugs, immigration, welfare reform, affordable housing, quality and affordability of childcare, solvency of social security, gun control, divorce, and the environment. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Jessica Holmes Location: Atwater Dining 102 Schedule: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, SOC
FYSE1049A-F13 CRN: 92412	Myth & Cosmology Myth and Cosmology In this seminar we will trace some of the fundamental concepts underlying ancient ways of approaching the world. We will compare the Chinese, Biblical, Hindu, Navajo, and Maori creation traditions, the divination cultures of East Asian and African nations, and the rich symbolism that emerged out of some of the major centers of ancient civilization. Through our reading of myths, scholarly writings, and literary works, we will explore the ways China and various other cultures understood and dealt with the world around them, from flood myths to astrology, from the Yijing to omens and geomancy. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Carrie Reed Location: Munroe Hall 320 Schedule: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CMP, CW, PHL
FYSE1066A-F13 CRN: 92414	Voices Along The Way Voices Along the Way This seminar designed for international students is an introduction to contemporary American culture via literature and film. Our exploration of the American landscape and mindscape will begin with three topics: a sense of place, family relationships, and the American educational scene. We will conclude with a fourth topic, 'creating an identity," within which we will explore our own potential contributions to a global community. We will respond to each of these topics by writing essays, creating web pages and digital stories, and designing multi-media presentations. We will read stories and essays by John Updike, Amy Tan, Gloria Naylor, Theodore Sizer, James Baldwin, Raymond Carver, William Faulkner, and Jamaica Kincaid; we will consider films including Dances with Wolves, The Godfather, Stand and Deliver, and Dead Poets’ Society; and we will research and compare our own and each other’s cultures as a basis for determining what we consider to be “American.” 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Kathleen Skubikowski Location: Mahaney Center for the Arts 126 Schedule: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday at MCA 126 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Wednesday at LIB 230 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CMP, CW, NOR, SOC
FYSE1123A-F13 CRN: 92413	Encounters with Middle East Close Encounters with the Middle East In the west, few other cultures have evoked such strong emotions or have been so widely misunderstood as the cultures of the Middle East. In this seminar, we will explore alternative understandings of the region by examining various types of historical and contemporary narratives. Rather than focus exclusively on political events and trajectories, we will investigate social and cultural experiences of peoples in the Middle East which have emerged through the intersection of history, identity, modernity, gender relations, and popular expression. This approach allows students to become familiar with the region's inhabitants and cultures, and to think beyond the static images commonly portrayed in today's media. In this seminar we will draw on various sources including film, media, literature, music, among others, and will interpret their ongoing significance in today's world. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Febe Armanios Location: Axinn Center 100 Schedule: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: AAL, CMP, CW, HIS, SOC
FYSE1132A-F13 CRN: 91980	Shakespeare and Music Sounds and Sweet Airs: Shakespeare and Music Shakespeare's plays are the stories we tell ourselves to explain to ourselves who we are. We have told them over and over, and they have proven to be infinitely adaptable to our needs. Composers, too, have been drawn to them from the beginning, adding their music to the music of Shakespeare's language. In this seminar we will study a number of plays, among them Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the operas, ballets, film scores, and symphonic works they have inspired from the 17th century to the present. Instructors: Greg Vitercik Location: Mahaney Center for the Arts 209 Schedule: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: ART, CW, EUR
FYSE1134A-F13 CRN: 92415	Empires Empires Why do empires rise and fall? Are "democracy" and "empire" always a contradiction in terms? Can imperialism be a good thing? For whom? Drawing on classical and contemporary sources, we will explore the origins and fates of empires from Ancient Greece to the present. We will start by reflecting on why Eurasia dominated the world prior to the twentieth century, rather than the other way around. We will then explore the similarities and differences in both the principles and practices of particular empires, as well as how those characteristics evolved over time. Special attention will be given to Rome, Britain, Austria-Hungary, the Ottomans, Russia/Soviet Union, and the United States. An overarching aim of this seminar is to view the global power of the 21st century United States in proper perspective. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Allison Stanger Location: Munroe Hall 405 Schedule: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CMP, CW, EUR, SOC
FYSE1144A-F13 CRN: 92416	Jane Austen and Film Jane Austen & Film Why did a writer born over 200 years ago become a hot property in Hollywood? The explosion of film adaptations of Austen's novels has sent readers scurrying to Austen's six major works: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. We will study these novels and their film and video adaptations, while examining the differences between the language of film and the language of fiction, and while considering Austen's appeal to 21st century men and women. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Mary Ellen Bertolini Location: Axinn Center 104 Schedule: 10:10am-11:00am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Monday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: ART, CW, EUR, LIT
FYSE1158A-F13 CRN: 91538	Passages from India Passages from India In this seminar, we will focus on the literature, politics, and culture of 20th century India. We will discuss writing by Raja Rao, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ismat Chughtai, Mahashweta Devi, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and others. Drawing on both popular and documentary films, we will explore this literature in the contexts of colonialism, nationalism, class and caste politics, gender, the state, regionalism, religion, notions of development, and globalization. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Yumna Siddiqi Location: Axinn Center 109 Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: AAL, CW, LIT
FYSE1170A-F13 CRN: 92417	Dealing with Atrocities Dealing with Atrocities Occurrences of atrocities affecting large numbers of people show no sign of ending. How do these atrocities start and why? How do societies rebuild afterwards, and how might this rebuilding conflict with the healing process of individuals? How can the often competing goals of justice and reconciliation be balanced? What do subsequent generations in society owe to victims of large-scale atrocities? To explore these and other issues, a few main cases will be examined in depth – such as events in European colonialism and the Holocaust – as well as students choosing additional examples for comparison and further research. 3 hr. sem. Instructors: Rebecca Bennette Location: Library 230 Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CMP, CW, EUR, HIS, SOC
FYSE1206A-F13 CRN: 92419	French Films/American Remakes Instructors: Brigitte Humbert Location: Le Chateau 109 Schedule: 9:05am-9:55am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CMP, CW
FYSE1212A-F13 CRN: 92420	Mathematics For All Mathematics for All What kinds of mathematical knowledge are necessary for full participation in contemporary democratic society? How well, and how fairly, do our schools educate students in quantitative skills and reasoning? By what measures might we judge success? We will learn about different approaches to mathematics education in light of these questions. Readings will include Radical Equations by Robert Moses and selections from Mathematics for Democracy: The Case for Quantitative Literacy (L.A. Steen, Editor), as well as recent articles by education researchers. To connect the theory with actual practice, we will conduct a service-learning project in a local school. All are welcome, regardless of mathematical background. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Priscilla Bremser Location: Warner Hall 506 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1214A-F13 CRN: 92421	Space, Time, & Measurement Space, Time, and Measurement The ability to precisely measure time and distance is essential to modern science and technology. As measurement technologies developed, they led to scientific discoveries that redefined our fundamental understanding of space, time and measurement themselves. We will follow this process from Galileo’s pendulum through Einstein’s theory of relativity and modern applications in quantum mechanics and cosmology. We will use historical and scientific texts, analytic writing, and a few hands-on activities to understand these ideas and their impact on science and society. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Noah Graham Location: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 530 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, DED, SCI
FYSE1232A-F13 CRN: 91987	Making Babies Brave New World Making Babies in a Brave New World In this seminar we will examine the fundamentals of human reproduction and modern reproductive intervention strategies. As rapid discoveries in medical technologies have allowed us to push the limits of the human body, questions remain as to whether we should pursue, permit, or regulate such advances. We will explore scientific, societal, ethical, and individual issues surrounding the control of fertility and infertility, fetal life, birth, and the neonatal period. Through critical review of the literature, writing, and informed dialogues, students will gain an understanding of key topics in reproductive medicine. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Catherine Combelles Location: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 148 Schedule: 11:15am-12:05pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, SCI
FYSE1253A-F13 CRN: 92422	The Brain:In Sickness & Health The Brain: In Sickness and In Health Neuroscience is a rapidly advancing area of science. We will explore the biology of the brain to help shed light on the mysteries of how humans and other species think, act, and feel. We will address broad questions such as: How is the brain constructed and how does it normally work? How does study of the brain help us understand topics such as depression, Parkinson's disease, autism, perceptual disorders, and amnesia? Topics will be addressed through lecture, discussion, activities, library research, oral presentations, and writing. We will read background texts and scientific articles; case studies will help illustrate certain disorders. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Marcia Collaer Location: Freeman HAM Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, SCI
FYSE1255A-F13 CRN: 92423	Collapse of Complex Societies Facing the Apocalypse: How Complex Societies Fade and Collapse In this seminar we will examine how and why historically complex societies have failed. We will explore the roles of population pressure, environmental degradation, warfare, and other factors in the collapse of such ancient urban societies as the Classic Maya, Chaco, and the Roman Empire. Likewise, we will explore how societies seemingly well-adapted to their geographic environments, such as the Vikings in Greenland, ultimately succumbed to extinction. Reviewing academic and popular explanations for societal collapse worldwide, we will ultimately engage the modern era and investigate the fragility of contemporary societies. Instructors: James Fitzsimmons Location: Munroe Hall 111 Schedule: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, HIS, SOC
FYSE1263A-F13 CRN: 92431	African American Migrations Instructors: William Nash Location: Robert A. Jones '59 House CON Schedule: 10:10am-11:00am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1272A-F13 CRN: 92424	Ideas of Friendship Ideas of Friendship In this seminar we will study ideas about friendship in the writing of Shakespeare, Montaigne, Bacon, Kant, Emerson, Aristotle, Seneca, Plutarch, St. Augustine, and St. Aquinas, in addition to a selection of more contemporary texts and those in non-European traditions. Questions to be considered include: What is the relation between selfhood and friendship? How does friendship differ from era to era and from place to place? How does the ideal of friendship differ from its practice? Is interracial friendship possible? Is intersex friendship possible? Is interclass friendship possible? Can a friend be an enemy? Is an enemy a kind of friend? Can a dog be one’s best friend? Instructors: Timothy Billings Location: Axinn Center 220 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, EUR, LIT, PHL
FYSE1286A-F13 CRN: 92430	Key to Angels and Demons Keys to Dan Brown's Inferno Instructors: Thomas Beyer Location: Freeman FR1 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1292A-F13 CRN: 92425	Cultural Formations of 1980s The Cultural Politics of the 1980s In this seminar, we will investigate cultural formations in the United States during the 1980s through a critical examination of fiction, music, television, art, and film. We will connect texts produced during and about the period with social, political, and economic transformations that began with the so-called “Reagan Revolution.” We will analyze social issues concerning race, class, gender, and sexuality through a variety of topics, including the Culture Wars, globalization and outsourcing, the ascendance of Wall Street, the rise of AIDS, attacks on the welfare state, the emergence of hip hop, and the Drug Wars. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Rachael Joo Location: LaForce 121 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, NOR, SOC
FYSE1300A-F13 CRN: 92432	Ecological History New England Instructors: Andrea Lloyd Location: Old Chapel 401 Schedule: 8:00am-9:15am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1301A-F13 CRN: 92426	Rome on Stage and Screen Ancient Rome on the Stage and Screen In this seminar we will investigate the long history of Roman drama, from the ancient world to Shakespeare’s plays and contemporary films. As we explore the representation and reception of ancient Rome, we will address the following questions: What is the relationship between drama and history? To what political purposes can drama and film be used? How does the representation of characters change over time? How are women portrayed? Why does Rome continue to influence the modern world? Texts will include Octavia and the Satyricon; Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra; films will include Quo Vadis? and I, Claudius. Instructors: Christopher Star Location: Twilight Hall 201 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, EUR, LIT
FYSE1304A-F13 CRN: 92433	Solvitur Ambulando Instructors: Christopher Shaw Location: Twilight Hall 204 Schedule: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1306A-F13 CRN: 92427	Mountains of the Northeast Mountains of the Northeast The mountains of the northeastern U.S. are an integral part of the cultural and natural history of this region. In this seminar we will consider topics germane to northeastern mountains including the geologic origin of the northern Appalachians, characteristics of mountain environments, changing perceptions of northeastern mountains over time, mountains as resources for modern society, and challenges facing these environments today and in the future. Readings and discussion will be combined with field excursions to enhance our understanding of mountains from a variety of perspectives. 3 hrs sem./disc. Instructors: Jeffrey Munroe Location: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 419 Schedule: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, SCI
FYSE1311A-F13 CRN: 92428	Fellini and the Art of Cinema Federico Fellini and the Art of Cinema In this seminar we will examine some of the films of the great Italian director Federico Fellini (The White Sheik, I vitelloni, La strada, The Nights of Cabiria, Il bidone, La dolce vita, 8 ½/, /Amarcord). We will analyze these films in relation to contemporary Italian society and discuss how the philosophical and ethical questions they present relate to our own reality today. Special attention will be paid to uncovering the artistic underpinnings of Fellini’s cinema through formal analysis of the films. Instructors: M. Van Order Location: Atwater Dining 102 Schedule: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday at ATD 102 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-9:30pm on Tuesday at SDL 110 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: ART, CW, EUR
FYSE1316A-F13 CRN: 92434	Work and Workers Instructors: Benjamin Graves Location: Munroe Hall 407 Schedule: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1344A-F13 CRN: 92429	Culinary History of Italy Time Around A Table: A Culinary History of Italy Food is a window into the culture and values of any society. In this seminar we will explore the history of Italian culture by investigating the ever-changing issues relating to food, through books, articles, films, recipes, and cooking. How did production and consumption change over time? What did the Ancient Romans eat? What was Italian cuisine like before pasta and tomatoes? What triggered the Italian appetite to change? Such questions allow us to examine what culinary choices reveal about today’s Italy. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Ilaria Brancoli Busdraghi Location: Library 230 Schedule: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, EUR, HIS
FYSE1384A-F13 CRN: 92015	Reading the Book of Job Reading the Book of Job Why do the innocent suffer? Why do we want to believe that the world is “fair” and “ordered”? The Book of Job asked these questions millennia ago. Framed by a prose tale about the “patience of Job,” with a happy ending, the core of the book is a debate in poetry, between an impatient Job and his “friends”, with no satisfactory ending at all. We will study the book itself and its retellings and interpretations through novels, poetry, drama, philosophy and art, including works by Kafka, Camus, William Blake, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Kant, and Robert Frost. 3 hrs. sem. Instructors: Robert Schine Location: Munroe Hall 405 Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW, PHL
FYSE1395A-F13 CRN: 92435	Literature on Trial Instructors: Antonia Losano Location: Axinn Center 104 Schedule: 9:05am-9:55am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1396A-F13 CRN: 92436	Digital Media Literacy Instructors: Jason Mittell Location: Axinn Center 105 Schedule: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Thursday at AXN 105 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 1:30pm-4:15pm on Tuesday at AXN 105 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Additional Details: Community Connected Course Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1397A-F13 CRN: 92437	Orpheus Reconsidered Instructors: Darien Davis Location: Axinn Center 104 Schedule: 1:30pm-4:15pm on Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1399A-F13 CRN: 92439	The Ramayana Instructors: Cynthia Packert Location: Mahaney Center for the Arts 126 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1400A-F13 CRN: 92440	The Vermont Landscape Instructors: Christopher Klyza Location: Pearsons KAD Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1401A-F13 CRN: 92441	Bad Kids Instructors: Rebecca Tiger Location: Munroe Hall 401 Schedule: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1402A-F13 CRN: 92442	The Social Life of Wilderness Instructors: Svea Closser Location: Le Chateau 109 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1403A-F13 CRN: 92443	Open Class Learning Hisp World Instructors: Luis Castaneda Location: Munroe Hall 405 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday at MNR 405 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:00pm-9:00pm on Monday at SDL 110 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1404A-F13 CRN: 92444	Language and Identity Instructors: Marcos Rohena-Madrazo Location: Warner Hall 506 Schedule: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1405A-F13 CRN: 92445	Language and Social Justice Instructors: Shawna Shapiro Location: Warner Hall 507 Schedule: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday at WNS 507 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Tuesday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1408A-F13 CRN: 92553	Environmental Lit/Justice Instructors: Natalie Eppelsheimer Location: Freeman CK1 Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1409A-F13 CRN: 92569	Circus Maximus Instructors: Jessica Evans Location: Atwater Dining 102 Schedule: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW
FYSE1410A-F13 CRN: 92573	Nomadic Cultures in Film Instructors: Nikolina Dobreva Location: Warner Hall 507 Schedule: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday at WNS 507 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:30pm on Monday at AXT AUD (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) Requirements Satisfied: CW

« Spring 2013

Fall 2013

Spring 2014 »

CRN: 92411

Economics of Social Issues

The Economics of Social Issues
In this course we will examine current social problems from the perspective of an economist. We will use the tools of economics as a framework for understanding important social issues such as poverty, discrimination, access to health care, crime and drugs, immigration, welfare reform, affordable housing, quality and affordability of childcare, solvency of social security, gun control, divorce, and the environment. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Jessica Holmes
Location:: Atwater Dining 102
Schedule:: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, SOC

FYSE1049A-F13

CRN: 92412

Myth & Cosmology

Myth and Cosmology
In this seminar we will trace some of the fundamental concepts underlying ancient ways of approaching the world. We will compare the Chinese, Biblical, Hindu, Navajo, and Maori creation traditions, the divination cultures of East Asian and African nations, and the rich symbolism that emerged out of some of the major centers of ancient civilization. Through our reading of myths, scholarly writings, and literary works, we will explore the ways China and various other cultures understood and dealt with the world around them, from flood myths to astrology, from the Yijing to omens and geomancy. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Carrie Reed
Location:: Munroe Hall 320
Schedule:: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CMP, CW, PHL

FYSE1066A-F13

CRN: 92414

Voices Along The Way

Voices Along the Way
This seminar designed for international students is an introduction to contemporary American culture via literature and film. Our exploration of the American landscape and mindscape will begin with three topics: a sense of place, family relationships, and the American educational scene. We will conclude with a fourth topic, 'creating an identity," within which we will explore our own potential contributions to a global community. We will respond to each of these topics by writing essays, creating web pages and digital stories, and designing multi-media presentations. We will read stories and essays by John Updike, Amy Tan, Gloria Naylor, Theodore Sizer, James Baldwin, Raymond Carver, William Faulkner, and Jamaica Kincaid; we will consider films including Dances with Wolves, The Godfather, Stand and Deliver, and Dead Poets’ Society; and we will research and compare our own and each other’s cultures as a basis for determining what we consider to be “American.” 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Kathleen Skubikowski
Location:: Mahaney Center for the Arts 126
Schedule:: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday at MCA 126 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Wednesday at LIB 230 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CMP, CW, NOR, SOC

FYSE1123A-F13

CRN: 92413

Encounters with Middle East

Close Encounters with the Middle East
In the west, few other cultures have evoked such strong emotions or have been so widely misunderstood as the cultures of the Middle East. In this seminar, we will explore alternative understandings of the region by examining various types of historical and contemporary narratives. Rather than focus exclusively on political events and trajectories, we will investigate social and cultural experiences of peoples in the Middle East which have emerged through the intersection of history, identity, modernity, gender relations, and popular expression. This approach allows students to become familiar with the region's inhabitants and cultures, and to think beyond the static images commonly portrayed in today's media. In this seminar we will draw on various sources including film, media, literature, music, among others, and will interpret their ongoing significance in today's world. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Febe Armanios
Location:: Axinn Center 100
Schedule:: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: AAL, CMP, CW, HIS, SOC

FYSE1132A-F13

CRN: 91980

Shakespeare and Music

Sounds and Sweet Airs: Shakespeare and Music
Shakespeare's plays are the stories we tell ourselves to explain to ourselves who we are. We have told them over and over, and they have proven to be infinitely adaptable to our needs. Composers, too, have been drawn to them from the beginning, adding their music to the music of Shakespeare's language. In this seminar we will study a number of plays, among them Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the operas, ballets, film scores, and symphonic works they have inspired from the 17th century to the present.

Instructors:: Greg Vitercik
Location:: Mahaney Center for the Arts 209
Schedule:: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: ART, CW, EUR

FYSE1134A-F13

CRN: 92415

Empires

Empires
Why do empires rise and fall? Are "democracy" and "empire" always a contradiction in terms? Can imperialism be a good thing? For whom? Drawing on classical and contemporary sources, we will explore the origins and fates of empires from Ancient Greece to the present. We will start by reflecting on why Eurasia dominated the world prior to the twentieth century, rather than the other way around. We will then explore the similarities and differences in both the principles and practices of particular empires, as well as how those characteristics evolved over time. Special attention will be given to Rome, Britain, Austria-Hungary, the Ottomans, Russia/Soviet Union, and the United States. An overarching aim of this seminar is to view the global power of the 21st century United States in proper perspective. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Allison Stanger
Location:: Munroe Hall 405
Schedule:: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CMP, CW, EUR, SOC

FYSE1144A-F13

CRN: 92416

Jane Austen and Film

Jane Austen & Film
Why did a writer born over 200 years ago become a hot property in Hollywood? The explosion of film adaptations of Austen's novels has sent readers scurrying to Austen's six major works: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. We will study these novels and their film and video adaptations, while examining the differences between the language of film and the language of fiction, and while considering Austen's appeal to 21st century men and women. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Mary Ellen Bertolini
Location:: Axinn Center 104
Schedule:: 10:10am-11:00am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Monday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: ART, CW, EUR, LIT

FYSE1158A-F13

CRN: 91538

Passages from India

Passages from India
In this seminar, we will focus on the literature, politics, and culture of 20th century India. We will discuss writing by Raja Rao, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ismat Chughtai, Mahashweta Devi, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and others. Drawing on both popular and documentary films, we will explore this literature in the contexts of colonialism, nationalism, class and caste politics, gender, the state, regionalism, religion, notions of development, and globalization. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Yumna Siddiqi
Location:: Axinn Center 109
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: AAL, CW, LIT

FYSE1170A-F13

CRN: 92417

Dealing with Atrocities

Dealing with Atrocities
Occurrences of atrocities affecting large numbers of people show no sign of ending. How do these atrocities start and why? How do societies rebuild afterwards, and how might this rebuilding conflict with the healing process of individuals? How can the often competing goals of justice and reconciliation be balanced? What do subsequent generations in society owe to victims of large-scale atrocities? To explore these and other issues, a few main cases will be examined in depth – such as events in European colonialism and the Holocaust – as well as students choosing additional examples for comparison and further research. 3 hr. sem.

Instructors:: Rebecca Bennette
Location:: Library 230
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CMP, CW, EUR, HIS, SOC

FYSE1206A-F13

CRN: 92419

French Films/American Remakes

Instructors:: Brigitte Humbert
Location:: Le Chateau 109
Schedule:: 9:05am-9:55am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CMP, CW

FYSE1212A-F13

CRN: 92420

Mathematics For All

Mathematics for All
What kinds of mathematical knowledge are necessary for full participation in contemporary democratic society? How well, and how fairly, do our schools educate students in quantitative skills and reasoning? By what measures might we judge success? We will learn about different approaches to mathematics education in light of these questions. Readings will include Radical Equations by Robert Moses and selections from Mathematics for Democracy: The Case for Quantitative Literacy (L.A. Steen, Editor), as well as recent articles by education researchers. To connect the theory with actual practice, we will conduct a service-learning project in a local school. All are welcome, regardless of mathematical background. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Priscilla Bremser
Location:: Warner Hall 506
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1214A-F13

CRN: 92421

Space, Time, & Measurement

Space, Time, and Measurement
The ability to precisely measure time and distance is essential to modern science and technology. As measurement technologies developed, they led to scientific discoveries that redefined our fundamental understanding of space, time and measurement themselves. We will follow this process from Galileo’s pendulum through Einstein’s theory of relativity and modern applications in quantum mechanics and cosmology. We will use historical and scientific texts, analytic writing, and a few hands-on activities to understand these ideas and their impact on science and society. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Noah Graham
Location:: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 530
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, DED, SCI

FYSE1232A-F13

CRN: 91987

Making Babies Brave New World

Making Babies in a Brave New World
In this seminar we will examine the fundamentals of human reproduction and modern reproductive intervention strategies. As rapid discoveries in medical technologies have allowed us to push the limits of the human body, questions remain as to whether we should pursue, permit, or regulate such advances. We will explore scientific, societal, ethical, and individual issues surrounding the control of fertility and infertility, fetal life, birth, and the neonatal period. Through critical review of the literature, writing, and informed dialogues, students will gain an understanding of key topics in reproductive medicine. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Catherine Combelles
Location:: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 148
Schedule:: 11:15am-12:05pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, SCI

FYSE1253A-F13

CRN: 92422

The Brain:In Sickness & Health

The Brain: In Sickness and In Health
Neuroscience is a rapidly advancing area of science. We will explore the biology of the brain to help shed light on the mysteries of how humans and other species think, act, and feel. We will address broad questions such as: How is the brain constructed and how does it normally work? How does study of the brain help us understand topics such as depression, Parkinson's disease, autism, perceptual disorders, and amnesia? Topics will be addressed through lecture, discussion, activities, library research, oral presentations, and writing. We will read background texts and scientific articles; case studies will help illustrate certain disorders. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Marcia Collaer
Location:: Freeman HAM
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, SCI

FYSE1255A-F13

CRN: 92423

Collapse of Complex Societies

Facing the Apocalypse: How Complex Societies Fade and Collapse
In this seminar we will examine how and why historically complex societies have failed. We will explore the roles of population pressure, environmental degradation, warfare, and other factors in the collapse of such ancient urban societies as the Classic Maya, Chaco, and the Roman Empire. Likewise, we will explore how societies seemingly well-adapted to their geographic environments, such as the Vikings in Greenland, ultimately succumbed to extinction. Reviewing academic and popular explanations for societal collapse worldwide, we will ultimately engage the modern era and investigate the fragility of contemporary societies.

Instructors:: James Fitzsimmons
Location:: Munroe Hall 111
Schedule:: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, HIS, SOC

FYSE1263A-F13

CRN: 92431

African American Migrations

Instructors:: William Nash
Location:: Robert A. Jones '59 House CON
Schedule:: 10:10am-11:00am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1272A-F13

CRN: 92424

Ideas of Friendship

Ideas of Friendship
In this seminar we will study ideas about friendship in the writing of Shakespeare, Montaigne, Bacon, Kant, Emerson, Aristotle, Seneca, Plutarch, St. Augustine, and St. Aquinas, in addition to a selection of more contemporary texts and those in non-European traditions. Questions to be considered include: What is the relation between selfhood and friendship? How does friendship differ from era to era and from place to place? How does the ideal of friendship differ from its practice? Is interracial friendship possible? Is intersex friendship possible? Is interclass friendship possible? Can a friend be an enemy? Is an enemy a kind of friend? Can a dog be one’s best friend?

Instructors:: Timothy Billings
Location:: Axinn Center 220
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, EUR, LIT, PHL

FYSE1286A-F13

CRN: 92430

Key to Angels and Demons
Keys to Dan Brown's Inferno

Instructors:: Thomas Beyer
Location:: Freeman FR1
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1292A-F13

CRN: 92425

Cultural Formations of 1980s

The Cultural Politics of the 1980s
In this seminar, we will investigate cultural formations in the United States during the 1980s through a critical examination of fiction, music, television, art, and film. We will connect texts produced during and about the period with social, political, and economic transformations that began with the so-called “Reagan Revolution.” We will analyze social issues concerning race, class, gender, and sexuality through a variety of topics, including the Culture Wars, globalization and outsourcing, the ascendance of Wall Street, the rise of AIDS, attacks on the welfare state, the emergence of hip hop, and the Drug Wars. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Rachael Joo
Location:: LaForce 121
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, NOR, SOC

FYSE1300A-F13

CRN: 92432

Ecological History New England

Instructors:: Andrea Lloyd
Location:: Old Chapel 401
Schedule:: 8:00am-9:15am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1301A-F13

CRN: 92426

Rome on Stage and Screen

Ancient Rome on the Stage and Screen
In this seminar we will investigate the long history of Roman drama, from the ancient world to Shakespeare’s plays and contemporary films. As we explore the representation and reception of ancient Rome, we will address the following questions: What is the relationship between drama and history? To what political purposes can drama and film be used? How does the representation of characters change over time? How are women portrayed? Why does Rome continue to influence the modern world? Texts will include Octavia and the Satyricon; Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra; films will include Quo Vadis? and I, Claudius.

Instructors:: Christopher Star
Location:: Twilight Hall 201
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, EUR, LIT

FYSE1304A-F13

CRN: 92433

Solvitur Ambulando

Instructors:: Christopher Shaw
Location:: Twilight Hall 204
Schedule:: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1306A-F13

CRN: 92427

Mountains of the Northeast

Mountains of the Northeast
The mountains of the northeastern U.S. are an integral part of the cultural and natural history of this region. In this seminar we will consider topics germane to northeastern mountains including the geologic origin of the northern Appalachians, characteristics of mountain environments, changing perceptions of northeastern mountains over time, mountains as resources for modern society, and challenges facing these environments today and in the future. Readings and discussion will be combined with field excursions to enhance our understanding of mountains from a variety of perspectives. 3 hrs sem./disc.

Instructors:: Jeffrey Munroe
Location:: McCardell Bicentennial Hall 419
Schedule:: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, SCI

FYSE1311A-F13

CRN: 92428

Fellini and the Art of Cinema

Federico Fellini and the Art of Cinema
In this seminar we will examine some of the films of the great Italian director Federico Fellini (The White Sheik, I vitelloni, La strada, The Nights of Cabiria, Il bidone, La dolce vita, 8 ½/, /Amarcord). We will analyze these films in relation to contemporary Italian society and discuss how the philosophical and ethical questions they present relate to our own reality today. Special attention will be paid to uncovering the artistic underpinnings of Fellini’s cinema through formal analysis of the films.

Instructors:: M. Van Order
Location:: Atwater Dining 102
Schedule:: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday at ATD 102 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-9:30pm on Tuesday at SDL 110 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: ART, CW, EUR

FYSE1316A-F13

CRN: 92434

Work and Workers

Instructors:: Benjamin Graves
Location:: Munroe Hall 407
Schedule:: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1344A-F13

CRN: 92429

Culinary History of Italy

Time Around A Table: A Culinary History of Italy
Food is a window into the culture and values of any society. In this seminar we will explore the history of Italian culture by investigating the ever-changing issues relating to food, through books, articles, films, recipes, and cooking. How did production and consumption change over time? What did the Ancient Romans eat? What was Italian cuisine like before pasta and tomatoes? What triggered the Italian appetite to change? Such questions allow us to examine what culinary choices reveal about today’s Italy. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Ilaria Brancoli Busdraghi
Location:: Library 230
Schedule:: 3:00pm-4:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, EUR, HIS

FYSE1384A-F13

CRN: 92015

Reading the Book of Job

Reading the Book of Job
Why do the innocent suffer? Why do we want to believe that the world is “fair” and “ordered”? The Book of Job asked these questions millennia ago. Framed by a prose tale about the “patience of Job,” with a happy ending, the core of the book is a debate in poetry, between an impatient Job and his “friends”, with no satisfactory ending at all. We will study the book itself and its retellings and interpretations through novels, poetry, drama, philosophy and art, including works by Kafka, Camus, William Blake, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Kant, and Robert Frost. 3 hrs. sem.

Instructors:: Robert Schine
Location:: Munroe Hall 405
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW, PHL

FYSE1395A-F13

CRN: 92435

Literature on Trial

Instructors:: Antonia Losano
Location:: Axinn Center 104
Schedule:: 9:05am-9:55am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1396A-F13

CRN: 92436

Digital Media Literacy

Instructors:: Jason Mittell
Location:: Axinn Center 105
Schedule:: 1:30pm-2:45pm on Thursday at AXN 105 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 1:30pm-4:15pm on Tuesday at AXN 105 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Additional Details:: Community Connected Course
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1397A-F13

CRN: 92437

Orpheus Reconsidered

Instructors:: Darien Davis
Location:: Axinn Center 104
Schedule:: 1:30pm-4:15pm on Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1399A-F13

CRN: 92439

The Ramayana

Instructors:: Cynthia Packert
Location:: Mahaney Center for the Arts 126
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1400A-F13

CRN: 92440

The Vermont Landscape

Instructors:: Christopher Klyza
Location:: Pearsons KAD
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1401A-F13

CRN: 92441

Bad Kids

Instructors:: Rebecca Tiger
Location:: Munroe Hall 401
Schedule:: 11:00am-12:15pm on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1402A-F13

CRN: 92442

The Social Life of Wilderness

Instructors:: Svea Closser
Location:: Le Chateau 109
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1403A-F13

CRN: 92443

Open Class Learning Hisp World

Instructors:: Luis Castaneda
Location:: Munroe Hall 405
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday at MNR 405 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:00pm-9:00pm on Monday at SDL 110 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1404A-F13

CRN: 92444

Language and Identity

Instructors:: Marcos Rohena-Madrazo
Location:: Warner Hall 506
Schedule:: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1405A-F13

CRN: 92445

Language and Social Justice

Instructors:: Shawna Shapiro
Location:: Warner Hall 507
Schedule:: 9:30am-10:45am on Tuesday, Thursday at WNS 507 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:25pm on Tuesday at AXN 104 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1408A-F13

CRN: 92553

Environmental Lit/Justice

Instructors:: Natalie Eppelsheimer
Location:: Freeman CK1
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1409A-F13

CRN: 92569

Circus Maximus

Instructors:: Jessica Evans
Location:: Atwater Dining 102
Schedule:: 12:15pm-1:30pm on Monday, Wednesday (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW

FYSE1410A-F13

CRN: 92573

Nomadic Cultures in Film

Instructors:: Nikolina Dobreva
Location:: Warner Hall 507
Schedule:: 2:50pm-4:05pm on Monday, Wednesday at WNS 507 (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013) 7:30pm-10:30pm on Monday at AXT AUD (Sep 9, 2013 to Dec 6, 2013)
Requirements Satisfied:: CW