Liberal Arts 102
Course Descriptions by Section Number
Spring 2003 Information

Content last updated in Spring 2003.

LIBA 102, Section 1--The Danzig Trilogy
8:00-8:50 MWF, Turner 239
Course Code 5203
Everett, G.--Modern Languages
mlgae@olemiss.edu; 915-1213

This course will study "The Danzig Trilogy," Nobel Prize winner Guenter Grass' three novels concerning Europe before, during and after the Nazi "Third Reich" and its relevance to modern times - including ethical, sociologic, and political considerations. Texts to be read: The Tin Drum, Cat and Mouse, Dog Years and assorted selections from journals, histories, etc.

LIBA 102, Section 2--Social Issues and the 20th-century Musical Theatre
8:00-8:50 MWF, MBHC 106
Course Code 5204
Aubrey, R.--Music
raubrey@olemiss.edu; 915-5278

The seminar will view and discuss the setting in which each stage work was written, and include the music, the lyrics and dialogue, and the composers and authors of innovative musical drama of the 20th century. Music to be studied include the 1927 production of Showboat, the efforts of Rodgers and Hammerstein which recall cultural discrimination, Bernstein's West Side Story, the treatment of the Jews in Fiddler on the Roof, the impact of rock on musical theatre during the early 1970's, Protest Musicals of the same era, and John Adams' opera, Nixon in China. The major innovations of the past twenty-five years, including the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and Claude-Michel Schoenberg will also be among the musical dramas to be discussed during the semester.

LIBA 102, Section 3--Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life
8:00-8:50 MWF, Barr 317
Course Code 5205
Westmoreland, R.--Philosophy
prrbw@olemiss.edu; 915-7020

LIBA 102, Section 4--Monster Narratives in Literature and Film
9:00-9:50 MWF, Barnard 105
Course Code 5206
Burkette, A.--English
burkette@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

This course will explore the human fascination with monsters, in literature and in film. According to Stephen King, monster novels and films are wildly popular because they allow us a safe, imaginary place in which to confront our deepest fears and aggressions. The great monster narratives, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are far more than simple tales of good versus evil. Throughout these novels, readers and characters face some of the most profound human anxieties: the possibility that God is not necessary to the creation of life, the fear that human beings have no soul and are, deep down, no more than amoral, animalistic beings, and the fear that technology can do nothing to save us and may, in fact, being hastening our demise. Each of these famous stories has been adapted to film several times; each time, the filmmakers have adapted the narratives to reflect the anxieties of their own time periods. In this seminar, we will read, analyze, research, and write about these monster narratives as they appear in the classic novels and in film.

LIBA 102, Section 5--The Linguistic Facts of Life
9:00-9:50 MWF, Barnard 202
Course Code 5207
Dyer, D.--Modern Languages
mldyer@olemiss.edu; 915-7715

To human beings few things are more important than the language they use. Yet few things are more poorly understood than the way language works. Everyone commands some form of language and thus considers himself an authority on language and its use. Linguistics, the study of human language, offers us an opportunity to examine human speech and cognition, but the discipline itself sometimes misses the point. It is important to study more than just the mechanics of grammar. By studying language we also learn about human intelligence, social discourse and behavior. In this class we will read, discuss and write about language structure, acquisition and evolution, and attitudes and myths about language.

LIBA 102, Section 6--Edna St. Vincent Millay: Poet and Feminist
9:00-9:50 MWF, Coulter 260
Course Code 5208
Minot, W.--English
wsminot@olemiss.edu; 915-5837

This seminar will explore the poetry and life of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Millay (1892-1950) was the most popular American poet in the first half of the twentieth century, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1923 and making far more money than any other serious poet in the century. But she was also a woman whose poetry and whose life represented revolt against conventional standards for women of her time. Her poetry advocated sexual freedom for women, and her own life reflected that freedom in her numerous sexual relationships both before and after her marriage--a marriage in which she and her husband agreed to mutual freedom. However, this life of feminist liberation was one marred by problems of health perhaps attributable to abortion, alcohol, and drugs. Her life can thus be viewed as an experiment in unconventional living that raises issues about women's roles in contemporary society. The chief readings for the course will be Millay's Collected Poems, the two recent biographies of Millay (Savage Beauty by Nancy Milford and What Lips My Lips Have Kissed by Daniel Epstein, both published in 2001) and readings in feminist and cultural theory. Students will have the opportunity to incorporate research findings into their own personal perspectives on the role of women in our culture.

LIBA 102, Section 7--Theories of Language Acquisition
9:00-9:50 MWF, Shoemaker 408
Course Code 5209
Major, S.--Linguistics
smajor@vista-express.com

How do young children attain mastery of their native language/languages in a relatively short time, largely without guidance? Do they all go through the same process/stages? This course will explore competing theoretical approaches to such questions. We will also look at insights provided by current research on language acquisition by deaf children. Students will first write short analytical papers on articles of their choice from the class readings. Then each student will focus narrowly on one topic and write a research paper.

LIBA 102, Section 8--Native American Literature
10:00-10:50 MWF, Barnard 202
Course Code 5210
Frazier, J.--English
janefraz@aol.com; 915-7439

In this course we will be looking at Native American literature with an emphasis on Native American myth. Some time will be spent on modern Native American literature. The course is designed to explore how Native Americans in the past viewed the world, how conflict occurred with European Americans, and how they see the world now. We will read Native American myth, Black Elk Speaks, Way to Rainy Mountain, and modern Native American poetry.

LIBA 102, Section 9--Social Issues in 20th Century Musical Theatre
10:00-10:50 MWF, Bishop 333
Course Code 5211
Pulliam, R.--Theatre Arts
rpulliam@olemiss.edu; 915-6991

This course is an exploration of Twentieth Century American Musical Theatre and it's reflections on the racial, gender, sexual identity, political, and economic issues of the particular eras in which it was written. We will cover basic script/libretto analysis and examine the form as well as the content of each libretto. The musical libretti/script will be examined as literature and theatre, as well as used as a springboard for discussion of current vs. historical American issues. Among the plays the class will consider are the following: Showboat; South Pacific; Big River and Rent.

LIBA 102, Section 10--The Basics of Qualitative Research
10:00-10:50 MWF, Coulter 260
Course Code 5212
West, C.--Family and Consumer Sciences
cwest@olemiss.edu; 915-5321

The overall purpose of this course is to provide undergraduate students with a basic introduction to qualitative research methods (e.g., autoethnography) and the importance of good writing to all research. Each class will engage the participant in reading several basic qualitative research studies, the collection of fieldnotes, and in designing a simple qualitative study. In this process students will explore the differences between qualitative and quantitative research, and about how each engages in the production of knowledge. Course objectives include the following: to help the student learn basic qualitative research skills, including observational and reflective skills and employ these skills to improve writing skills and critical thinking; to develop mutually supportive relationships among class members; to engage in experiential learning and critical thinking. Students in this course are expected to assume a collegial role, and their contributions to class activities, class discussions, and feedback to fellow students are expected to be substantial, scholarly, and informative. Therefore, each student's presence, preparation, and contributions are important and required for a successful class. Reading for the course will include Richard Light's Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds (Harvard Univ. Press, 2001) and several articles

LIBA 102, Section 11--Britain, Ireland and "The Troubles"
11:00-12:15 MW, Bishop 326
Course Code 5213
Laurenzo, F.--History
hsfel@olemiss.edu; 915-7529

This seminar will explore the relationship between Britain and Ireland in the 20th century and in particular the development of the current political situation in Northern Ireland. Within the context of this topic, the class will discuss issues such as the nature of prejudice, the meaning of nationalism, and the impact of history and religion on politics. Readings for the course will include a general introduction to the topic and articles from newspapers and magazines published during the period.

LIBA 102, Section 12--Research in Personal Accounting
11:00-11:50 MWF, Bond. 112W
Course Code 5214
Cassidy, J.--Accountancy
jcassidy@olemiss.edu; 915-5445

This freshman seminar will explore the managerial accounting topics of developing a mission, setting goals and objectives, and personal planning and performance evaluation. Readings will come from a variety of sources including newspapers, business periodicals, the internet, and library resources. Viewing of television programs related to business will also be assigned. Written assignments will include development of personal goals, budgeting, performance evaluation, and analysis of current business events. The goal of this class is to use the readings, class discussions, and written assignments to become more financially responsible individuals.

LIBA 102, Section 13--Southern Childhoods
11:00-11:50 MWF, Bishop 333
Course Code 5215
Hall, J.--English
egjwh@olemiss.edu; 915-7286

This seminar will examine the griefs and joys of Southern childhood in non-fiction and fiction by Bobbie Ann Mason, Willie Morris, Eudora Welty, Richard Wright, James Meredith, and several other authors. Our selections come from two anthologies: Dorothy Abbott's Mississippi Writers: Reflections of Childhood and Youth, Volume II, and Suzanne Jones's Growing Up in the South: An Anthology of Modern Southern Literature. Besides writing nine essays on regular reading assignments, each student will write a short research paper and give an oral report on a book-length autobiography or memoir by such authors as Janisse Ray, Harry Crews, and Anne Moody.

LIBA 102, Section 14--"The Greatest Epic of the Century"
11:00-11:50 MWF, Coulter 260
Course Code 5216
Preisig, S.--Modern Languages
spreisig@olemiss.edu; 915-7298

In the past few decades the word "epic" has become ubiquitous in both literature and cinema. This course will go back to the origins of the epic in the Western World, back to Homer, and work its way up through time to determine what it means to be "epic", where this notion comes from, and how it is evolving in today's world. Other than Homer we will be reading excerpts from the medieval epics such as The Song of Roland as well as from later works, including films such as Braveheart and Star Wars. Seminars will be divided between lecture, class discussion and presentations. Weekly writing assignments will show a progression from close textual analyses to full research papers.

LIBA 102, Section 15--Monster Narratives in Literature and Film
12:00-12:50 MWF, Hume 215
Course Code 5217
Burkette, A.--English
burkette@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

LIBA 102, Section 16--Costume and History: Social, Political, and Economic Influences on Fashion
12:00-12:50 MWF, Hume 200
Course Code 5218
Rainey, P.--Theatre Arts
prainey@olemiss.edu; 915-5816

This course explores fashion's place in history both as a refection of social mores and as a barometer of economic and social influences. From the War of the Roses to contemporary gang culture, clothing has held specific meanings to society and has contributed to the understanding of historical periods. Examples of topics could include: social implications of clothing from the late 1920's (Flapper Era); heraldry, tartans, and the symbolism of color in the British Isles; and the emerging role of women in WWI as reflected by their clothing.

LIBA 102, Section 17--Nature Poetry and Environmentalism
1:00-1:50 MWF, Hume 200
Course Code 5219
Frazier, J.--English
janefraz@aol.com; 915-7439

In this class, we will be discussing and writing papers on several modern American nature poets. We will be looking at Gary Snyder, Wendell Berry, Robert Bly, W. S. Merwin, Mary Oliver, Theodore Roethke, and James Wright. Part of the focus of the class will be upon how these poets are looking at nature: are they looking at nature as a real, ecological entity or are they looking at it as an imagined, mystical realm. We will also be reading a few assigned essays on the topic of nature and looking at some environmental films in order to discover how modern Americans are treating and perceiving the nature around them.

LIBA 102, Section 18--History of American Higher Education
1:00-1:50 MWF, Education 205
Course Code 5220
Ponton, M.--Education School
mponton@olemiss.edu; 915-7626

The seminar on the history of American higher education will require the student to develop a perspective of many of the events that have shaped our current system of postsecondary education. Topics will include the colonial colleges, the curriculum and elective system, graduate education, land grant institutions, women in higher education, community colleges, minorities in higher education, philosophy of higher education, and religion in higher education. Using the library, students will be required to develop a perspective associated with each week's topic as well as be prepared to engage in scholarly dialogue with their peers. Weekly writing assignments and a research paper will be required in addition to a classroom presentation on the researched topic of interest.

LIBA 102, Section 19--Sex, Drugs, and Oh, Never Mind: The Narrative of Generation X
1:00-1:50 MWF, Hume 106
Course Code 5221
Klodt, J.--Modern Languages
jklodt@olemiss.edu; 915-6694

The 1990's witnessed an international youth subculture emerge as prominent and oftentimes controversial voices in narrative and popular culture. This seminar will examine these voices, members of a so-called Generation X, through novels from North America (Douglas Coupland's Generation X), Great Britain (Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting), Spain (Ray Loriga's My Brother's Gun and Benjamín Prado's Never Shake Hands with a Left-Handed Gunman) and China (Wei Hui's Shanghai Baby), as well as through short fiction, popular media, film (Richard Linklater's Slacker and Kevin Smith's Clerks), and music (Nirvana's "Nevermind" and the suicide of Kurt Cobain).

LIBA 102, Section 20--Law and Ogre: An Examination of The Law and Lawyers in Popular Culture
1:00-1:50 MWF, Shoemaker 114
Course Code 5222
Derrick, W. J.--Law School
wjderric@olemiss.edu; 915-7361

The rule of law is the foundation of our society, yet lawyers are often much maligned in contemporary American life. This course will examine works of popular culture including films, television programs, music, fiction and non-fiction, to uncover how they help us to understand the troubling paradox between the law and lawyers. As legal texts, these works of popular culture will assist in exploring contemporary dilemmas involving public policy, ethics and morality. The course will also address popular culture's influence on perceptions of the law, if and how those perceptions differ from reality, and whether any difference has an impact on our society. The course will use Richard Sherwin's, When Law Goes Pop: The Vanishing Line Between Law and Popular Culture as a text.

LIBA 102, Section 21--Nine Stories and Several Novels
8:00-9:15 TTh, Hume 200
Course Code 5223
Staton, W.--Math
mmstaton@olemiss.edu; 915-4722

We will read, discuss, and write about the four published books of J. D. Salinger. Further readings will be chosen with input from the class.

LIBA 102, Section 22--Science and Society in the Early 20th Century
8:00-9:15 TTh, Hume 203
Course Code 5224
Avery, B.--Phamaceutics
bavery@olemiss.edu; 915-5880

This seminar will examine the impact of science on culture, politics, education and health. Students will have an opportunity to further develop their written and oral communication skills while exploring the cause and effect of some of the greatest scientific discoveries on the early 1900's. Specifically we will be diving into "The Shocking Tragedy at Deptford", the murder case which became the first in the United Kingdom which was solved through the use of fingerprint evidence. We will also explore the sights, sounds and secrets of "The Manhattan Project", the making of the atomic bomb. Last we will take a look at Mary Anning, a poor uneducated beachcomber, who spent 30 years digging up giant marine reptiles and pterosaurs on the south coast of England.

LIBA 102, Section 23--What Has Communication Technology Done for You Lately?
8:00-9:15 TTh, Hume 230
Course Code 5225
Manning-Miller, C.--Journalism
cmanning@olemiss.edu; 915-5505

This seminar will be an exploration of mass media and advanced information technology. The class will focus on the kinds of communication that are mediated by technology and the economic, social and political impact of these processes.

LIBA 102, Section 24--Violence in Entertainment
9:30-10:45 TTh, Bondurant 114E
Course Code 5226
Caldwell, L.--Theatre Arts
lloyd@olemiss.edu; 915-6992

LIBA 102, Section 25--Wellness: Facts, Fads and Fallacies
9;30--10:45 TTh, Bishop 333
Course Code 5227
Dupper, M.--Exercise and Rec. Mgmt.
mad@olemiss.edu; 915-5844

The seminar will explore from the perspective of the consumer the facts, fiction and fads regarding health and wellness in our society. The areas of exercise, nutrition and dietary supplements, surgical enhancement and self-responsibility and informed decision making will be investigated from a pro-active and highly selective and critical approach. Class members will research and review both print and media-produced materials pertaining to the areas of health promotion and lifestyle in our society.

LIBA 102, Section 26--Shakespeare on Film
9:30-10:45 TTh, Bondurant 116W
Course Code 5228
Kamps, I.--English
egkamps@olemiss.edu; 915-7333

It is the purpose of this course to deepen students' understanding of Shakespeare's plays through the careful analysis of various film productions of those plays. Too often students only learn about Shakespeare through close readings of his texts. Lost in that process is the original raison d'être of virtually all dramatic texts, namely their performance. Indeed, Shakespeare clearly wrote with performance (not close reading) in mind, a fact that is firmly underscored by his employment as an actor and shareholder in the theater, as well as by his failure to supervise the printing of even a single one of his dramas. We will do a lot of scene by scene comparison, trying to gain insight into the plays by seeing how different film directors bring the same scene to film.

LIBA 102, Section 27--Civil War in Virginia: The Road To Appomattox
9:30-10:45 TTh, Hume 203
Course Code 5229
Trott, D.--Music
dtrott@olemiss.edu; 915-6963

This seminar will explore in historical perspective the progression of the war in Virginia from First Manassas to Appomattox. Emphasis will be given to the final twelve months of the war that lead from Grant's siege at Petersburg to Lee's retreat route from Richmond to Appomattox. The following pinnacle battles will be scrutinized; First Manassas, Chancellorsville, Richmond (The Peninsula Campaign), Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox. The strategic importance of each battle along with the significant leaders, outcomes and developments will be described and discussed. Presentation of the battles will be given through oral lecture and virtual tour with slides. Class participants will be assigned readings particular to each battle for inclusion in classroom discussion and in writing assignments.

LIBA 102, Section 28--History through Children's/Adolescent Literature
11:00-12:15 TTh, Barr 317
Course Code 5230
Oliphant-Ingam, R.--Secondary Ed. (English)
ringham@olemiss.edu; 915-7589

"The best one-word definition of history is people. Without human beings, whose emotions and actions influence the times, there is no history." (Darigan, et al) Literature is the story of the emotions and actions of these people; therefore, history and literature must be taught hand-in-hand. This seminar will focus on classic and contemporary works of children's and adolescent literature which give unique perspectives on major conflicts from our past. We will read, discuss and write about the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II.

LIBA 102, Section 29--Economic Thought in Action: 20^th Century American Economic Policy
11:00-12:15 TTh, Bishop 324
Course Code 5231
Namorato, M.--History
hsmvn@olemiss.edu; 915-7488

This course will study modern economic thinkers and how they have impacted 20^th-century American governmental fiscal and monetary policies. Students will be introduced to classical economics initially and, then, they will read selected works of modern economic thinkers. Given the broad range of modern economic thought, students will be exposed to a fairly wide variety of economists ranging from Irving Fisher, J. R. Commons and J. M. Keynes to Milton Friedman, J. K. Galbraith, and Lester Thurow. Each economist will be looked at in terms of his life, his specific economic writings, and his contributions to modern economic policy-making in the United States. Students, moreover, will be expected to attend class, do assigned readings, hand in weekly written papers, and participate in class discussions.

LIBA 102, Section 30--Public Schools in America
11:00-12:15 TTh, Hume 215
Course Code 5232
McCready, M.--English
mccready@olemiss.edu; 915-5837

This course provides opportunities for students to explore, reflect on and write about current trends and issues related to K-12 public education in America. Students will read and analyze research articles and other selected texts which address the following topics: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in the Classroom; Teaching and Social Equity; Reducing the Effects of Racism; Home Schooling; The Constructivist Classroom; Emotional Intelligence; The Effects of Standards and Assessment on Education; Understanding Youth Culture; Working Constructively With Families; and Integrating Technology into Teaching.

LIBA 102, Section 31--The Sublime in Literature: Why Great Writing Matters

1:00-2:15 TTh, Bishop 333
Course Code 5233
Morris, S.--English
smmorris@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

This class will explore what it is about great literature that moves us so deeply. As opposed to an approach that seeks to understand the themes inherent in literature, we will try to identify why good writing produces a sense of profound delight, what Vladimer Nabokov referred to as aesthetic bliss, something that effects us intellectually and well as emotionally. Writing requirements include short essays (1-2 pages) based on readings and short works of fiction (1-2 pages) in which inspired students produce their own works of artistic delight. Possible readings include selections from Proust, Hannah, Hopkins, Nabokov, O¹Conner, Taylor, Toomer, Percy, Joyce, Keats, Lewis and Pater, and, of course, the fiction produced by the students themselves.

LIBA 102, Section 32--Significance of Place: Land and Landscapes in American Writing
1:00-2:15 TTh, Hume 200
Course Code 5234
Gowdy, A.--English
gowdya@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

Discover new worlds! Share the experience of pioneers moving westward! Meet the colonist who slept through the American Revolution, and vacation in a New England coastal village! This course considers what a sense of place has meant at different historical times in American writing, from travel accounts of the earliest European explorers to contemporary popular fiction. By examining a wide variety of works together and independently, we'll try to learn the secret of how a writer can capture a place in words alone. We'll also identify individual writers connected to particular places, practice some new research skills, and develop more effective writing abilities. Sign on to journey wherever our readings take us.

LIBA 102, Section 33--Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals
1:00-2:15 TTh, Hume 215
Course Code 5235
Neal, D.--English
mneal@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

In this seminar we will read essays from Joy Williams's Ill Nature, Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals. In this collection of essays, Joy Williams writes on environmental issues, hunting, animals rights and overpopulation. She has said her essays were meant to annoy and trouble and polarize. In class, we will discuss those reactions and use them to pivot us in to our own essay writing. We will look at other published essays and use the writing of Williams and others not only to explore the issues she writes about, but to examine the nature of the essay itself. Students will have the opportunity to explore and experiment with various writers' roles (writer as reflective thinker, cultural critic, community influencer, problem solver, reporter, etc.) and with various purposes for writing--writing to make sense of experience, to discover or find things out, to expose, critique, and analyze, to solve problems, advance solutions, promote understanding and tolerance, provide information, influence people and behavior, to change reality. Not only will students develop critical reading, thinking, and response skills, but we will practice writing as process, especially writing as rewriting and revising. Large and small group collaboration will be principal activities in this course.

LIBA 102, Section 34--Significance of Place: Land and Landscapes in American Writing
2:30-3:45 TTh, Hume 200
Course Code 5236
Gowdy, A.--English
gowdya@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

LIBA 102, Section 35--Cryptography from Ancient Times to the Present
2:30-3:45 TTh, Hume 203
Course Code 5237
Gordon, R.--Electrical Engineering
eegordon@olemiss.edu; 915-5538

Since humans first began to communicate they have sought to conceal certain of their communications through the use of such devices as codes, ciphers, and hidden messages. Examples include the use of a code to warn Athens and Sparta of the impending invasion by the Persians in 480 B.C., the German Enigma cipher, the breaking of which by British cryptanalysts in World War II was critical to Allied success, and the codes used every day to encrypt e-mail and commercial data on the Internet. In this course, the students will study the history of codes and ciphers from ancient times to the present, learn some of the basics of encrypting messages, and investigate some of the techniques used to break secret codes. The required texts for the course are The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh and In Code: A Mathematical Journey by Sarah Flannery. Students will be required to read these texts, selections from various books, and journal articles.

LIBA 102, Section 36--The Student and the Law
2:30-3:45 TTh, MBHC 209
Course Code 5238
Letzring, T.--Education School
tdl@olemiss.edu; 915-7070

This course will provide students an opportunity to study the legal aspects of higher education. The course will emphasize college students and the legal issues surrounding them, including free speech, search and seizure, discipline, privacy, and liability. Court cases, legislation, and constitutional law will serve as the foundation for this course in developing students' reading, writing, and oral communication skills.

LIBA 102, Section 37--Globalization
4:00-5:15 TTh, Shoemaker 114
Course Code 5239
Karahan, G.--Economics
gkarahan@econ.olemiss.edu; 915-1579

This seminar will be a survey of globalization. It will introduce students to the definitions, history, and degrees (economic, social and cultural), of globalization. Forces leading to globalization (markets, global politics, institutions, and technology) will be thoroughly examined. Finally, the consequences of globalization (economic, social, and environmental) will be analyzed using positive critical analysis. The seminar will involve a lot of outside reading from such publications as The Economist, Mother Jones, Business Week, etc and recently published books on globalization (such as Globalization and Its Discontents by Joseph E. Stiglitz).

LIBA 102, Section 38--Nature: Rants and Reflections on Humanity and Other Animals
4:00-5:15 TTh, Chem 212
Course Code 5240
Neal, M.--English
mneal@olemiss.edu; 915-7439

LIBA 102, Section 39--Disasters and Heroes
4:00-5:15 MW, Chem. 212
Course Code 5241
Beason, K.--Exercise Sci. and Rec. Mgmt.
hpbeason@olemiss.edu; 915-5555

A comprehensive look at major disasters in American history and the heroes and heroic actions that occurred during the disasters. Including topic areas: man-made disasters, natural disasters, terrorism, and the heroics of the men, women, children and animals associated with them. Each student will be required to research and write two comprehensive reports on an American disaster and the heroism that was a part of the event. The student will also be required to prepare at least three one-page, researched abstracts on heroism topics and present these to the class.

LIBA 102, Section 40--W. B. Yeats and the Ireland of His Times
4:00-5:15 MW, Holman 132
Course Code 5242
Schirmer, G.--English
eggas@olemiss.edu; 915-7675

This seminar will study some of the principal and best-known poems and plays of the Irish writer W. B. Yeats in the context of Irish history and Irish culture. The aims of the course are to acquire some understanding of a writer often described as the greatest English-language poet of the twentieth century, and to become familiar with the Ireland that inspired his work. Student writings will be tied to interpretations of Yeats's poems and plays.

LIBA 102, Section 41--Classic Literature & Contemporary Choreography
8:00-8:50 MWF, Bishop 333
Course Code 8657
Mizenko, J.--Theatre Arts
jmizenko@olemiss.edu; 915-5969

This seminar will focus on modern contemporary choreography that is based on classic texts. Modern dance has a history of reaching into legends and classic stories as a basis for choreography. Texts that will be analyzed range from "Oedipus Rex" and "Medea", to "Othello", "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet", plus "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The class will examine the written text, the contemporary choreography and the history and motivation of the choreographer to use this text. How was the text represented in movement, how did movement reveal the characters and the relationship between the characters? are just some of the questions that will be presented. Students will also experiment with creating their own interpretations of the texts. The artists to be examined include Bill T. Jones, Jose Limon, Martha Graham and Jean Erdman.

LIBA 102, Section 42--The Mismeasure of Evolution
11:00-11:50 MWF, Hume 112
Course Code 8658
Douglas, A.--Biology
adouglas@olemiss.edu; 915-7203

The observation that there are many different kinds of organisms (biodiversity) and that organisms change over time or evolve has been recognized for over 2000 years. Yet when Russell Wallace and Charles Darwin published their theory of natural selection as one of the mechanisms that gives rise to biodiversity, their publication literally changed the world and vaulted the "scientist's evolution" into the public domain. Whereas, there has been considerable debate in some corners about evolution and religion, the concepts underlying evolutionary change have pervaded and been applied to many aspects of society including physics, geology, medicine, psychology, sociology, economics, industry and political science. The effects of evolutionary thinking in these fields has been both positive and negative (for example, race relations, game theory, automation, social darwinism and eugenics). This seminar will explore fundamental concepts of biological evolution and the philosophical implications of evolution as a jumping point to address how concepts in evolution have influenced various aspects of today's society including medicine, economics, political science, psychology and religion. Students in this seminar will read, analyze, conduct research, discuss and write critical analyses regarding the boundaries and mixing of evolutionary science in "real life." Readings for this course will begin with select excerpts from E.O. Wilson's Diversity of Life, Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions", Darwin's Origin of Species, Gould's Mismeasure of Man, and move towards readings in various disciplines.

LIBA 102, Section 43--Demagogues, Populists, and Bosses in Twentieth-Century American Politics
9:30-10:45 TTh, Bishop 326
Course Code 8659
Palmer, S.--History
cspalemer@olemiss.edu; 915-7148

During the early twentieth century, a new breed of politician emerged to give voice to those such as immigrants, factory workers, and small farmers who felt excluded from the political arena. Addressing social and economic fears with fiery and often brilliant oratory, these politicians set the stage for racial demagoguery in the rural South, and bossism in the larger cities of the industrial North. Some high-profile radio personalities added to the din, particularly during the Great Depression. Minorities, Delta planters, Catholics, Jews, bankers, and industrialists all became targets of their invective and scapegoats for the problems of a nation.

This course will examine the careers of some of the more notable, flamboyant political figures of the early and middle twentieth century. Many of these politicians were not defined totally by their rhetoric, however. Most practiced what they preached, but many had political careers filled with contradiction. Some who took a reactionary posture on the political stump supported genuinely progressive programs. Others who gave speeches with racist overtones actually struggled against segregationists. Some political bosses who courted minority votes worked actively against their constituency. Said another way, reactionaries were often liberals, racists were sometimes integrationists, and many purported liberals were concerned only with retaining power and seeking personal profit.

LIBA 102, Section 44--Ganging up in America
2:00-2:50 MWF, Barr 317
Course Code 8660
Franks, M.--Adjunct Instructor
wmarkfranks@hotmail.com; 234-4671

In this course we will explore and examine the proliferation of gangs in America, from the sedate and romantic "West Side Story" image created on film as a musical tribute to juvenile tribalism, to the emerging ethnic organizations that spread with the interstate highway system in the 70's and 80's to the hugely successful "silent economy" manipulators of today. We will focus on the social causes for the success of gangs, and examine the socialization processes that promise lifelong care and support, and rival the beleaguered standards of family and school. Films to be examined in our journey include: "Clockers," "New Jack City," and "South Central." Students will be encouraged to independently research gang influences on various segments of our society, including sports, the military, and social problems such as drug addiction and prostitution. In addition to Lynn Troyka's THE SIMON AND SHUSTER HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS, we will also use as a text THE MODERN GANG READER, 2^ND Edition. Emphasis in the course will be on active classroom participation and independent student research resulting in focused, well-developed and persuasive pieces of writing.

LIBA 102, Section 45--Soccer in Society
2:00-2:50 MWF, Bishop 333
Course Code 8661
Jameson, A.--Exercise Sci. and Rec. Mgmt.
agjameso@olemiss.edu; 915-5561

The seminar will view and discuss the role of soccer in British society. "Some people believe football (soccer) is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." - Bill Shankly (Liverpool FC Manager). This quote encapsulates the importance of soccer in Britain. Major issues such as crowd violence, stadium disasters along with cultural, religious and racial discrimination will be identified and the resulting implications discussed. News articles, official government reports and other publications will be used as source material.

LIBA 102, Section 46--Poe and Romanticism
8:00-9:15 TTh, Bishop 326
Course Code 8662
Fisher, B.--English
bfisher@olemiss.edu; 915-7672

My seminar topic is Edgar Allan Poe and Romanticism. In our course we'll read some of Poe's writings, along with others from his era (usually thought of as the Romantic era in Western Culture), some Hawthorne probably, maybe some British authors, too. There will be one component of independent choices from suggested readings provided in list form. Students will be expected to keep current with reading assignments, to prepare for writing projects emanating from their readings, and to be ready for plenty of classroom discussion.

LIBA 102, Section 47--The Contemporary American South
11:00-12:15 TTh, Bishop 102
Course Code 8663
Ownby, T.--History
hsownby@olemiss.edu; 915-5993

The class will consider how the American South has changed in the past 40 years in economics, race relations, and religion. Studying contemporary sources, students will read and write about topics such as the impact of the civil rights movement, increasing ethnic diversity, movement away from agriculture, technological change, tourism, and the growing importance of Pentecostal religion. Readings will combine shorter difficult reading of fiction and scholarship with longer more accessible, popular works of fiction and autobiography. Authors will include Bobbie Ann Mason, Randall Kenan, Dennis Covington, Anthony Walton, Kay Gibbons, Alice Walker, Carl Hiaasen, John Grisham, and several scholars of history, sociology, and political science. Writing assignments will consist primarily of evaluations and responses to readings, and students will also have at least one assignment to observe and report as a journalist, and another assignment to write as an autobiographer. A particular goal will be to teach students to write, re-writing, and re-write again, and the class will make extensive use of electronic submissions and electronic editing.

LIBA 102, Section 48--The Cyborg in Fact and Fiction
1:00-2:15 TTh, Bishop 107
Course Code 8664
Robinson, D.--English
djr@olemiss.edu; 915-7684

In this seminar we'll be looking at the figure of the cyborg, in theory, in literature and movies, and in the real world. Most people probably think of cyborgs as scary science-fiction creatures played by Arnold Schwarzenegger; but in fact the cyborg is a part of our everyday life: technically, vaccinations make us all cyborgs, technologically modified organisms. So do corrective lenses, medications, pacemakers. Computer-aided design is based on cyborg theory. All the work currently being done in cloning and genetic engineering is steeped in cyborg science. Class discussion will be based on readings and movies.

LIBA 102, Section 49--"Magic Realism" in Literature - Writings from an Alternate Tradition
4:00-5:15 TTh, Farley 303
Course Code 8665
McGehee, J.--Education School
jmcgehee@olemiss.edu; 915-7100

The course will explore the genre of literature known as "magic realism." This form appeared mid-twentieth century and has grown in popularity, particularly in the writing of marginalized peoples. Authors representative of magic realism include Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende, and Laura Esquivel. Most students' sense of what constitutes knowledge and meaning derives from Western Cultural Tradition. Writers of magic realism feel themselves estranged or alienated from that tradition; in their writing they challenge Western cultural epistemology. They demand of us, as readers, that we develop alternative strategies of reading and comprehension. We will attempt to do so as we explore texts based in magic realism and write about our perspectives from points of view relative to race, ethnicity, religion, geography and politics.

LIBA 102, Section 50--Shakespeare and Human Choice
4:00-5:15 MW, Barr 317
Course Code 8666
Murchison, L.--Office of Summer Programs
mmurchis@olemiss.edu; 915-7621

In King Lear, the characters each take a stab at answering the basic question, "Why do these things happen to me?" The final answer to the question Shakespeare puts into the mouth of the villain Edmund: "We do it to ourselves." What Shakespeare seems to be saying is that each person's choices in life determine his/her fate. This is the question this course will examine. As we look at character development in the lesser known of Shakespeare's plays, with an occasional look at the more commonly studied ones, we will look for examples of that character type/behavior in the news events of the day. They will be looking for the kinds of characteristics of mankind shown in the plays as they are exhibited in real life. Part of the course will involve each student's presenting a formal, oral character analysis, using both Shakespeare and the news. In this manner we should cover several plays. With each play the students will complete a reading quiz prior to discussion of the play. Also, I subscribe to a learning technique called "writing to learn." Each student will be required to keep a journal in which he/she will record reactions to the material while reading the plays and newspapers; writing some journal entries in class on a specific topic prior to discussion is a way for students to organize thoughts prior to oral discussion. At the end of discussion of each of the plays, students will be required to present a formal paper addressing a theme, characterization, or some other aspect of the play, keeping in mind that a second aspect is always what is going on in current events. The papers should build on one another allowing for comparison/contrast, classification/division, and other forms of discourse and expository methods. The final paper will involve a research assignment that in essence is cumulative, requiring the student to assimilate and discuss the materials of the course.

Liberal Arts 102 Course Descriptions by Section Number Spring 2003 Information

Liberal Arts 102
Course Descriptions by Section Number
Spring 2003 Information