Fall 2003 Liberal Arts 102 Course Descriptions

Last Revised Fall 2003.

LIBA 102-1 8:00-8:50 MWF MBHC 106
(Instructor: M. Harrington, Philosophy, prmlh@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu)
The Enduring Appeals and Horrors of War

A study of the nature of war as depicted in literature, cinema, art and music. The focus of our work will be on the combat experience ("life in the killing zone"). We will be reading war novels, viewing war films, looking at war art, and listening to classical war music, and reading a few short excerpts from classical philosophers of war. In these ways and through our discussion, we will try to discover how and why war is both enjoyable and abhorrent.

LIBA 102-2 8:00-8:50 MWF Hume 200
(Instructor: K. Shackelford, Social Work, kshackel@sunset.olemiss.edu)
Children at Risk

This seminar will explore the context of child development in family systems exposed to various social and family problems. The class will discuss issues such as divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, poverty, mental illness, and incarcerated parents in relation to the risk factors for children. Ideas regarding parenting and social environments that promote healthy, optimal development for children will be discussed along with possible community factors that could promote healthy development of children even when the family and social problems exist. Readings and research regarding the previously mentioned issues will serve as the foundation for this seminar in developing students’ written and oral communication skills.

LIBA 102-3 8:00-8:50 MWF Hume 215
(Instructor: S. Davis, Chemistry, davis@chemistry.olemiss.edu)
Computer Software: Open Source versus Proprietary

Computers have become an integral part of the student's educational experience. There are several choices for operating systems, and a myriad of choices for software applications. Computer software can be classified into one of two categories: open source and proprietary. Software companies such as Microsoft sell proprietary software in that they do not allow the program source code to be released. Instead they sell a use license, but do not allow the user to know how the software works or to change it in any way. On the other hand, open source software such as Linux can be obtained free of charge and the user has access to the source code and can change it at will. However, there can be advantages and disadvantages to both types of software categories.

This course will compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of open source vs. proprietary software. The student does not need to be familiar with computer programming languages. Class discussions will include economic impacts (cost-benefit analysis), software stability issues (does it crash a lot?), knowledge dissemination (releasing ideas and successes freely), security (hacking and virus protection), available program applications (word processing, etc.), scientific computing, and performance. Reading assignments will come from articles written by computer administrators and programmers in industry and academics, free-lance software engineers, and the news media.

LIBA 102-4 9:00-9:50 MWF Farley 303
(Instructor: M. Snow, Ldr. & Counselor Ed., mssnow@olemiss.edu)
The Perception of Mental Illness In Films

When attempting to understand a particular phenomenon, filmmakers can capture the essence of sight and sound, show the plight of characters and human experience, and engage the consciousness of the individual experiencing the film. In our society, mental illness is seen as a deviation from the norm and an experience difficult to understand. This course will examine the perceptions of the mentally ill as presented through film. Students will view films that represent psychological phenomena and will examine the experience of mental illness as seen through the eyes of directors. The text for the course will be "Movies & Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology."

LIBA 102-5 9:00-9:50 MWF Hume 215
(Instructor: A. Burkette, English, burkette@olemiss.edu)
Monster Narratives in Literature and Film

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, be 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 102-6 10:00-10:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: C. Eagles, History, eagles@olemiss.edu)
The United States in the 1920s

This examination of American society and culture in the period between World War II and the great depression will start with Frederick Lewis Allen's popular classic, Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s (1931). It will be followed by Lynn Dumenil's more recent The Modern Temper: American Culture and Society in the 1920s (1995). Topics covered in the class will include the post-war red scare, the "revolution in manners and morals," prohibition, H. L. Mencken, the "lost generation" of writers, Charles Lindbergh, the bull market on Wall Street, the decade’s presidents (Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover). Writing assignments will be based on the two books and research assignments.

LIBA 102-7 10:00-10:50 MWF Hume 200
(Instructor: J. Cassidy, Accountancy, jcassidy@olemiss.edu)
Research in Personal Accounting

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 102-8 10:00-10:50 MWF Education 208
(Instructor: J. Mizenko, Theatre Arts, jmizenko@olemiss.edu)
Classic Literature & Contemporary Choreography

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. Among the questions that will be considered are the following: how was the text represented in movement? how did movement reveal the characters and the relationship between the characters? 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 102-9 11:00-11:50 MWF Hume 230
(Instructor: A. Lopez, English, alopez@olemiss.edu)
Globalization and Slavery

This course is designed to provide a focused, comparative look at the relations between the rise of European colonialism and the development of the slave trade, which together constitute what Catherine Gallagher calls “the world’s first global economy.” We will read four primary literary texts, of which the first two, Aphra Behn’s novella Oroonoko; or, The Royal Slave and Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, also contain biographical and historical materials, critical histories, and contemporary critical studies relevant to each text. (These come with the special editions that I require for the class.) The remaining two literary texts, however, will not come with such generous critical apparatus, which will leave us as a class to construct our own. To this end, the last two main texts, Juan Francisco Mazano’s Autobiography of a Slave and Pablo Neruda’s poem The Heights of Macchu Picchu, will be the focus of research-based projects in which students, both individually and as part of a group, will work to construct our own “critical edition” for each text.

Previous knowledge of the material is not necessary for successful completion of the course. Students will write four (4) papers during the semester, the last of which will be the culmination of a group project. Students will also have to make informal presentations in connection with the last two (research-based) papers, one solo and one as part of the final group project.

LIBA 102-10 11:00-11:50 MWF Meek 120
(Instructor: L. Field, History, hsfield@olemiss.edu)
Medieval “History” in Modern “Historiography”

What is the difference between a history and an interpretation of the past? Inasmuch as historical “facts” do not exist independent of the texts that convey them, the recorded past as “history” and interpretations of the past as “historiography” defy hard and fast distinction. This course seeks to confront historical “facts” as closely reasoned arguments and especially as responses to interpretive frameworks, past and present. Through reading, discussion, research, and writing, this course will introduce students to various ways in which interpretive frameworks both facilitate and obfuscate perceptions of “the facts.” Since students will research topics and write papers that will culminate in a final research paper, this class will engage these issues in practice as well as theory and within the context of medieval history. According to each student’s need, weekly essays will either report on progress made in research or offer an increasingly finished rough draft of the research paper that will conclude the class. The final draft of the research paper will be between fifteen and twenty pages.

LIBA 102-11 11:00-11:50 MWF Hume 215
(Instructor: R. Westmoreland, Philosophy, prrbw@olemiss.edu)
Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life

LIBA 102-12 12:00-12:50 MWF Bishop 326
(Instructor: L. Antonow, Art, lantonow@hotmail.com)
History of New York City through the Arts

Once the nation’s capital, New York City is considered by some “the center of the universe.” While its political importance may have diminished, the city’s significance to the art world is immeasurable. From skyscrapers to street performers, New York’s cultural influences are undeniable. This course examines New York City through the visual arts. Architecture and urban design will be explored so students can gain an appreciation of the urban environment. Painting, sculpture, photography and film by New York artists and about New York themes will also be examined. Important events in the arts—the gift of the Statue of Liberty, the Armory Show of 1913, the Harlem Renaissance, the establishment of New York's great museums, the development of the skyscraper, the destruction of Penn Station, and development of artistic movements such as the Ashcan School, the New York School and Pop Art—will be explored. Readings will include selections from several texts including How the Other Half Lives, Visual Literacy: Writing about Art, Inventing the Skyline, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol and The New York Times. Students will also “tour” several renowned New York museums via the Internet. Class presentations will be in the form of PowerPoint lectures, video, and class discussions. Writing assignments will include comparative essays, film and art reviews, biographical sketches, and architectural analyses as ways to further explore the cultural and artistic significance of New York City.

LIBA 102-13 12:00-12:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: D. Dyer, Modern Languages, mldyer@olemiss.edu)
The Linguistic Facts of Life

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 102-14 12:00-12:50 MWF Bondurant 107E
(Instructor: S. Ditto, History, scditto@olemiss.edu)
The Family, Sex, and Marriage in American History

Students in this course will read, research, and write about the history of American families, sex, and marriage from the colonial period through the present. We will examine different types of familial arrangements, the changing roles of women, men, and children within the household, sexual morality, divorce, and other related topics. Reading and writing assignments will draw from a wide range of materials including primary source documents (such as personal letters, journal entries, memoirs, and judicial proceedings), and popular culture references (like poetry, fiction, drama, advertisements, and advice literature), in addition to scholarly works. Students will also learn to “read” material culture sources like architecture and costume; visual materials including paintings, films, and photographs; as well as census data. Writing assignments will consist of short research assignments, responses to readings, and in-class essays, culminating in a formal research paper by semester’s end.

LIBA 102-15 13:00-13:50 MWF Barnard 202
(Instructor: W. Franks, Sociology, wmfranks@olemiss.edu)
Ganging up in America

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, 2ND 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 102-16 13:00-13:50 MWF Hume 111
(Instructor: S. Hodges, English, shodges@olemiss.edu)
Literature of the Supernatural

Angels and demons, ghosts and vampires--such supernatural figures possess an undying power in the human imagination. How do we account for their continuing popularity in narrative literature? This seminar will examine how literature of the supernatural addresses humanity’s enduring fascination with the grotesque, the unknown, and the frighteningly inexplicable aspects of the human condition. Our study will consider the symbolic significance of interactions between the natural and supernatural worlds in selected literature from varying cultures and historical periods. How do these narratives explore and interpret human nature through reference to the supernatural? Course readings will include short stories, drama, poetry, and novels from authors such as Shakespeare, John Keats, Mary Shelley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Franz Kafka, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Salman Rushdie. Our course will also take a multimedia approach to the works studied, examining the continuing significance of these narratives as they are reinterpreted in other media (film, television, music, art, the Internet, etc.). In addition to reading assigned texts, each student will be required to participate weekly in class discussion and prepare a 10-minute oral presentation based upon the student’s independent research. Writing assignments throughout the semester will incorporate research and critical thinking skills.

LIBA 102-17 13:00-13:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: J. Frazier, English, JaneFraz2@aol.com)
Native American Literature

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 102-18 1400-14:50 MWF Bishop 324
(Instructor: S. Morris, English, smmorris@olemiss.edu)
The Sublime in Literature: Why Great Writing Matters

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 affects 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, O'Conner, Taylor, Toomer, Percy, Joyce, Keats, Lewis and Pater, and, of course, the fiction produced by the students, themselves.

LIBA 102-19 14:00-14:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: F. Coles, Modern Languages, fcoles@sunset.olemiss.edu)
Bilingualism

This class will look at myths and reality, benefits and drawbacks, opinions and scientific evidence to discover how, when and why people use more than one language for communication.

LIBA 102-20 16:00-17:15 MW Bondurant 107E
(Instructor: R. Albritton, Political Science, raalbritt@olemiss.edu)
Supreme Court Decisions as Literature

This course will consider selected opinions of the United States Supreme for their eloquence and literary value, rather than for the legal implications of the decisions. Students will, however, need to be able to identify and analyze the important passages of the decisions and write essays indicating their understanding of its implications. (For example, in McCulloch v. Maryland, “the power to tax involves the power to destroy.”) Weekly discussion of the cases will occur and the students will produce one essay per week, after the introductory week, for the first nine weeks. The rest of the course will involve writing a prospectus for a research paper that will include: a statement of the research question(s), a bibliographic essay on the topic, and a strategy for conducting the relevant research.

LIBA 102-21 16:00-17:15 MW Hume 110
(Instructor: M. Dupper, Exercise & Rec. Mgmt., mad@olemiss.edu)
Wellness: Facts, Fads and Fallacies

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 102-22 8:00-9:15 TTH Hume 200
(Instructor: B. Avery, Pharmaceutics, bavery@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu)
J. R. R. Tolkien: The Man and His Works

This seminar will examine one of the 20th century's most beloved authors, J. R. R. Tolkien. We will not only submerse ourselves into Middle-Earth by reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but we will also look into Tolkien as a man and the creator of the Middle-Earth. Specifically we will read J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography, Visualizing Middle Earth as well as the three book series The Lord of the Rings along with the Hobbit.

LIBA 102-23 8:00-9:15 TTh Barr 317
(Instructor: P. Cooker, Ldr. and Counselor Ed., cooker@olemiss.edu)
Psychotherapy in Literature and Other Media

The course will focus on how psychotherapy is depicted in literature and in film/video. Students will have the opportunity to further develop written and oral communication skills while exploring the role of psychotherapy in our culture. Approaches to treatment, role of the therapist, ethical issues, and client/patient involvement in the process will be some of the topics to be considered.

LIBA 102-24 8:00-9:15 TTh Bishop 326
(Instructor: D. Hargrove, Psychology, pydsh@olemiss.edu)
Psychological Theory and Literature

This small class is designed to enable students to read, write, and express their thoughts in an interdisciplinary context of psychology and literature. First, students will gain an understanding of the structure and function of theory in science and in literature. Second, students will be well grounded in one theoretical perspective and asked to apply that perspective to a specific person and works of literature. They will develop specific hypotheses from the theory and test them in the biographies, autobiographies, and works of art of the writers under consideration. Meanwhile, students also will develop their own genograms, requiring some contact with their parents and other relatives. This will enable them to understand their own families better. The purpose of this is to focus on the role of the scientist in the scientific method: the scientist has to observe and categorize data to come to understand a phenomenon. Within psychology and psychological method, the experimenter must know enough about him/herself to understand biases, prejudices, leanings, and other ways in which their observation may be in error. This knowledge will assist them in working with the particular author that they will study. The class, then, requires a parallel process of understanding oneself and family while understanding the person, family, and works of another. The parallel process method will be emphasized throughout the semester. Each student will present his/her findings at the end of the semester in the form of a research paper. Students will also be required to provide written evidence of their work on a weekly basis.

LIBA 102-25 8:00-9:15 TTh Bishop 333
(Instructor: J. Williamson, Medicinal Chemistry, mcjsw@olemiss.edu)
Theories Surrounding the Origin of Life and Evolution

The origin of life and human evolution remain two of science’s most controversial topics. While Mendelian genetics and Darwinian evolution are well-established scientific theories, in many ways the origin of life remains almost as much a mystery as it did a thousand years ago. In this course, we will examine both philosophical and scientific definitions of life; popular religious and scientific theories of the origin of life; the potential for other forms of life in the cosmos; the evolution and maintenance of life forms; and why the search for answers to such questions is important. Although the instructor will set a basic course for reading and discussion, the specifics of the topics may vary according to the interests of the class and possible current events. The majority of topics will have a strong scientific basis, but should not exceed the knowledge level of a basic high school graduate. Topics will be as current and controversial as possible.

LIBA 102-26 9:30 - 10:45 TTh Bishop 333
(Instructor: A. Jameson, Exer. Sci. and Rec. Mgmt, agjameso@olemiss.edu)
Soccer in Society

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 102-27 9:30-10:45 TTh Bryant 307
(Instructor: A. Trefzer, English, atrefzer@sunset.olemiss.edu)
Native America

Students will study a variety of different documents pertaining to Native American history, literature, oral and visual culture. The course will concentrate on Southeastern cultures of the 19th and 20th century including Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminoles. Students will research, read, and write essays about Native American cultures from different perspectives and with different purposes. Learning to write academic essays that integrate informative, argumentative and personal aspects is the main goal of this course.

LIBA 102-28 9:30-10:45 TTh Hume 106
(Instructor: D. Trott, Music, dtrott@sunset.olemiss.edu)
Civil War in Virginia: The Road To Appomattox

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 writing assignments.

LIBA 102-29 9:30 - 10:45 TTh Bishop 326
(Instructor: J. Nelson, Isom Center, jn1@olemiss.edu)
Gender, Utopia, and Science Fiction in America

In this seminar we will discuss major themes in 20th century American culture, particularly around issues of gender, sexuality, and reproduction, by examining utopian literature and science fiction. Writers whose work we will read include Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison, Marge Piercy, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Pauline Hopkins.

LIBA 102-30 11:00 - 12:15 TTh Barnard 202
(Instructor: J. O'Haver, Chem. Engr., johaver@olemiss.edu)
Man and the Environment, on the Precipice? -- or not!

This seminar will examine the science and hype associated with man's impact on this world in light of the need for a sustainable future. It will explore the history, science, and public policy associated with resource usage, as well as the economics of ecology. It will examine the writings of those who are calling us to radical and immediate change as well as those who feel all is going well, alarmists and foot-draggers. The class will provide a forum for discussion and readings about the scientific, economic, political, and cultural impact of man on this earth.

LIBA 102-31 11:00 - 12:15 Bishop 326
(Instructor: J. Nelson, Isom Center, jn1@olemiss.edu)
Gender, Utopia, and Science Fiction in America

LIBA 102-32 1:00 - 2:15 TTh Shoemaker 114
(Instructor: W.. Derrick, Law School, wjderric@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu)
Law and Ogre: An Examination of The Law and Lawyers in Popular Culture

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 as a text Richard Sherwin's, When Law Goes Pop: The Vanishing Line Between Law and Popular Culture.

LIBA 102-33 1:00 - 2:15 TTh Barnard 202
(Instructor: L. Cozad, Phil. & Religion, lcozad@olemiss.edu)
Women's Voices in World Religions

The purpose of this course is to unearth the oftentimes-buried discourses of women as they express themselves within the context of religion. To find these voices, we will examine the myths, orthodox texts, fiction, poetry, and hymns of the Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Shinto traditions. In so doing, we will be able to get a sense of how women who participate in these traditions configure such crucial issues as spiritual identity, sexual identity, familial roles, career choices, marriage, the body, sexuality, reproduction, and motherhood. Having broached these issues as they are made manifest in diverse cultural settings, we will be prepared to think critically about how religion influences our own deeply held gender-based assumptions and how women in our own culture have influenced the religious traditions of which they are a part.

LIBA 102-34 1:00 - 2:15 TTh Education 158
(Instructor: R. Oliphant-Ingham, Secondary Ed., ringham@olemiss.edu)
History through Children's/Adolescent Literature

“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 102-35 1:00 - 2:15 TTh Peabody 210
(Instructor: B. Schultz, Journalism, bschultz@sunset.olemiss.edu)
Sports Journalism and American Culture in the 20th Century

This course will focus on how major periods in 20th century American culture (i.e. Jazz Age, Depression, Civil Rights) influenced sports Journalism. This will be examined primarily through significant works of sports journalism and literature, including Rice, Bouton, Malamud, etc. The class will also examine the importance of sport in American society.

LIBA 102-36 2:30 - 3:45 TTh Hume 200
(Instructor: F. Laurenzo, History, hsfel@olemiss.edu)
Britain, Ireland and “The Troubles”

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, articles from historical journals, and articles from newspapers and magazines published during the period.

LIBA 102-37 2:30 - 3:45 TTh Anderson 11
(Instructor: S. Morris, English, smmorris@olemiss.edu)
The Sublime in Literature: Why Great Writing Matters

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 affects 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, O’Conner, Taylor, Toomer, Percy, Joyce, Keats, Lewis and Pater, and, of course, the fiction produced by the students themselves.

LIBA 102-38 2:30 - 3:45 TTh Bishop 324
(Instructor: M. Neal, English, mneal@olemiss.edu)
Readings in Contemporary Fiction

This seminar is a survey of contemporary fiction. The readings represent new and emergent approaches to narrative form by some of the most influential writers of our time. In addition to thinking and talking specifically about the readings, as a class we will address questions about narrative, the nature of contemporary fiction, the role of fiction in society and in our lives, and the relative value of fiction. It is my hope that by reading and discussing these contemporary writers, we'll begin to read both more effectively and with more pleasure. Our reading list will include works from contemporary writers Denis Johnson, Joy Williams, Kevin Canty, Mary Robison, Larry Brown and others. We will read novels as well as short stories.

LIBA 102-39 4:00 - 5:15 TTh Hume 215
(Instructor: M. Tew , Electrical Engineering, eemdt@olemiss.edu)
The Psychology, Technology, and Ecology of Alternative Housing

This seminar will focus on alternative housing in America, including amateur-owner-built conventional homes. Readings include A Place of My Own, by Michael Pollan and Home: A Short History of an Idea, by Witold Rybczynski, for their insights into the history and psychology of homebuilding; and Art of Natural Building, by Joseph Kennedy and The Natural House, by Daniel Chiras, for discussions of alternative building technology and environmental consequences of building.

Students will write several short papers and one major paper. Assigned readings will be supplemented by reference material available in the library and provided by the instructor. Seminar discussions will be augmented by field trips to nearby alternative homes and discussions with local builders of alternative homes.

LIBA 102-40 4:00 - 5:15 TTh Bondurant 114E
(Instructor: M. Neal, English, mneal@olemiss.edu)
Readings in Contemporary Fiction

This seminar is a survey of contemporary fiction. The readings represent new and emergent approaches to narrative form by some of the most influential writers of our time. In addition to thinking and talking specifically about readings, as a class we will address questions about narrative, the nature of contemporary fiction, the role of fiction in society and in our lives, and the relative value of fiction. It is my hope that by reading and discussing these contemporary writers, we'll begin to read both more effectively and with more pleasure. Our reading list will include works from contemporary writers Denis Johnson, Joy Williams, Kevin Canty, Mary Robison, Larry Brown and others. We will read novels as well as short stories.

LIBA 102-41 8:00 - 8:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: K. McGraw, Psychology, pymcgraw@olemiss.edu)
Genius and Creativity

Did you ever wonder whether creative genius is born, made, or blind luck; whether genius and creativity are allied to madness; whether there is anything common to creative genius across the domains of art, science, and politics; and whether creative genius can even be defined in a reliable way? These and other questions will be addressed by students in weekly writing assignments after the topics have been covered in readings and class discussion. In addition, students will do original research on a "genius" of their choice, then present the case orally and in writing for why the person qualifies as a genius. The text for the course will be: "Genius: The Natural History of Creativity" by Hans J. Eysenck.

LIBA 102-42 9:00 - 9:50 MWF Bishop 333
(Instructor: A. Gowdy, English, gowdya@olemiss.edu)
Significance of Place: Land and Landscapes in American Writing

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 102-43 9:00 - 9:50 MWF Bishop 324
(Instructor: L. Caldwell, Theatre Arts, lloyd@olemiss.edu)
War in Literature, Theatre and Film

We will examine the nature of war and its place in our culture as filtered through our literature, theatre and film. We will examine war as it is represented in films, novels, and plays. We will then discuss war as it is presented in these mediums in terms of culture, utility, morality, and context. Topics to be discussed will include: current concepts of the utility and morality of war; religious and cultural roots of concepts of war; the regulation of war; the warrior mystique and warrior culture; comedy and war; and the Just War and Jihad. Reading will include excerpts from a wide variety of texts such as the Bible, the Quran, and the Arabian Nights. Students will also read excerpts from a variety of fiction writers such as Ambrose Bierce, James Jones, Mailer, Vonnegut and Caputo. Students will also consider excerpts from films on war such as Braveheart, Glory, Apocolypse Now, and MASH.

LIBA 102-44 10:00 - 10:50 MWF Bondurant 112W
(Instructor: P. Wirth, English, afwirth@olemiss.edu)
Modern Short Stories

We will read short stories by James Joyce, D. H. Lawrence, Ernest Hemingway, Eudora Welty, and Alice Munro. Individual stories will be discussed in class. There will be four four-page papers, one or two of which will involve research on historical background.

LIBA 102-45 11:00 - 11:50 MWF Hume 200
(Instructor: S. Hodges, English, shodges@olemiss.edu)
Literature of the Supernatural

LIBA 102-46 13:00-13:50 MWF Hume 215
(Instructor: A. Gowdy, English, gowdya@olemiss.edu)
Significance of Place: Land and Landscapes in American Writing

LIBA 102-47 2:00-2:50 MWF Barr 317
(Instructor: W. Franks, Sociology, wmfranks@olemiss.edu)
Ganging up in America

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 SCHUSTER HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS, we will also use as a text THE MODERN GANG READER, 2ND 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 102-48 8:00 - 9:15 TTh Hume 110
(Instructor: W. Staton, Math, mmstaton@olemiss.edu)
Sex, Violence and Despair from Sophocles to Tennessee Williams

The class will read, view, discuss, analyze, argue and write about, and perhaps act out scenes from a number of plays by such playwrights as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Seneca, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, and Tennessee Williams. The choice of material may be modified to suit the preferences of the class.

LIBA 102-49 11:00 - 12:15 TTh Hume 200
(Instructor: J. Frazier, English, JaneFraz2@aol.com)
Native American Literature

LIBA 102-50 1:00 - 2:15 TTh Bishop 333
(Instructor: B. Fennelly, English, bafennel@olemiss.edu)
Eight American Poets

In this course, we will read poetry by eight American poets (using the text of the same name, edited by Joel Connaroe). The poets are: Theodore Roethke, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Allen Ginsberg, and James Merrill. Through group discussion and close readings, we will analyze the poetry and place the poets in a socio-historical context. We will also discuss the linkage between psychological disturbances and creativity. Each student will choose one of the eight poets to be the focus of his or her study, resulting in a portfolio of work due at the semester's end. The assignments will include an oral presentation, critical paper, review of a biography, and parody or model poem.