Spring 2004 Liberal Arts 102 Course Descriptions

Last revised on November 19, 2003.

Liba 102-1, MWF 8:00 - 8:50, Turner 239
Instructor: S. Davis (Chemistry), 915-7301
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 102-2, MWF 8:00 - 8:50, Honors 106
Instructor: M. Harrington (Philosophy and Religion), prmlh@olemiss.edu, 915-7020
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 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 102-3, MWF 8:00 - 8:50, Hume 106
Instructor: K. Shackelford (Social Work), kshackel@olemiss.edu, 915-1563
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 102-4, MWF 9:00 - 9:50, Barnard 105
Instructor: D. Trott (Music), dtrott@olemiss.edu, 915-6963
Civil War in Virginia: The Road to Appomattox

The course “Civil War in Virginia: The Road to Appomattox” will explore the progression of battles that took place on Virginia soil from 1861 - 1865. Emphasis will be given to the battles of First Manassas, Ball’s Bluff, The Peninsular Campaign, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Appomattox. In addition, a detailed presentation of the Retreat Route will be explored including the battles of Five Forks, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox. Presentation of the battles will be given through lecture with handouts and reading assignments and virtual tour. Students will be asked to present two oral reports, one centering on the life of a Civil War general and the other on some aspect of Civil War life (battlefield tactics, food, uniforms, etc). Several papers will be assigned including the following:

Choose and describe the hero at the Battle of First Manassas and why.
Write your reactions to the letters of Sullivan Ballou and J.W. Reid. (Two Civil War soldiers writing home on the eve of the Battle of First Manassas)
In your opinion, what was the most important military strategy of all the battles fought in Virginia?
Why was the leadership for the South so much more organized and able to command as opposed to the North?
Research the assigned battle with the following items addressed:
date and place, order of battle, prelude to battle, battle development, outcomes.

Liba 102-5, MWF 9:00 - 9:50, Barnard 202
Instructor: S. Bryant (English), ssbryant@olemiss.edu, 915-3174
Once Upon a Crime (AKA: Murder 102)

This seminar will focus on reading and writing about crime and murder in America. Here you are the detective of an actual unsolved historical murder that you will be required to examine historically, psychologically, philosophically, culturally, morally, and legally. Our course will take a multimedia and interdisciplinary approach to your individual cases. Not only will you discover, read and sort through physical "evidence," police and forensic procedures, testimony, and judicial proceedings from a crime, you will learn how to discover, interpret, and utilize necessary information from a variety of sources, including newspapers, refereed journals, books, and interviews in an effort to strengthen your research and analytical proficiencies. You will, in essence, become the primary detective and expert on your case. The objectives of this course include sharpening the following skills: to improve your ability to write and communicate effectively, to write with a clear purpose and specific audience in mind, to develop a better sense of organization and logical transition, and to practice writing as a process by paying close attention to the steps of inventing, organizing, analyzing, drafting, reader-responding, revising and editing. In short, learning how to write effectively in ways required by the academy and by your chosen discipline. You will write four (4) major papers during the semester, the last of which will be a detailed examination of your case where you argue and substantiate a reading, or analysis, of your case based upon independent research conducted throughout the semester.

Liba 102-6, MWF 9:00 - 9:50, Coulter 260
Instructor: A. P. Burkette (English), burkette@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
Monsters in Literature

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 102-7, MWF 9:00 - 9:50, Shoemaker 408
Instructor: C. Ochs (Biology), byochs@olemiss.edu, 915-7562
Science of the Times

Every Tuesday the New York Times publishes a science section. In this section, the latest, most exciting discoveries in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, and other sciences and in mathematics are reported. These articles are written in ways that make the science understandable to any reasonably educated reader, and make many people wish this is the way they had been taught science in school. Each week, we will read and discuss articles from the Science Times, with writing assignments based on articles from this section.

Liba 102-8, MWF 10:00 - 10:50, Barnard 202
Instructor: S. Bryant (English), ssbryant@olemiss.edu, 915-3174
Once Upon a Crime (AKA: Murder 102)

Liba 102-9, MWF 10:00 - 10:50, Bishop 333
Instructor: R. Pulliam (Theatre Arts), rpulliam@olemiss.edu, 915-6991
American Musical Theatre

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. The musicals chosen are all indicative of the social/political nature of their own historical era, many commenting on prevailing social issues of their time period. Some have either changed the direction of theatre in general or have been awarded for their excellence as literature.

Liba 102-10, MWF 10:00 - 10:50, Meek 119
Instructor: P. Rainey (Theatre Arts), prainey@olemiss.edu, 915-6990
The Politics of Women’s Clothing, 1900 – Present

The progress of women’s rights in society, particularly in American culture, can be traced through the study of the evolution of female dress. This course would follow the development of women’s roles through the study of transitions in women’s clothing, its symbolism, and the changes in style and silhouette which are direct results of the various women’s rights movements through the last century.

Possible Topics for Writing:

Amelia Bloomer and The Lilly
The Politically Correct Gibson Girl
The Demise of a Generation – The Flapper
Rationing and the War-time Woman
The New Look of the 1950’s
Flower Children and Freedom – Clothing with a Message
NOW – The Uprising of Women
Cultural Icons and Their Influence on Dress

Possible Reading List:

20,000 Years of Fashion by Francois Boucher
Fashion – The Mirror of History by Michael and Ariane Batterberry
The Evolution of Fashion by Hill and Bucknell
The Golden Age of Style by Julian Robinson
Corsets and Crinolines by Norah Waugh
Extreme Beauty – The Body Transformed collection from the Metropolitan
Museum of Art
Max Factor’s Hollywood – by Fred E. Basten

Liba 102-11, MW 11:00 - 12:15, Bishop 326
Instructor: S. Ditto (History), scditto@olemiss.edu, 915-6945
The Family, Sex, and Marriage in U.S. History

Students in this course will read, research, and write about the history of the family, sexuality, and marriage in America from the colonial period through the late 20th century. We will examine different types of familial arrangements, the changing roles of women, men, and children within the household, courtship, divorce, and related topics from the earliest English settlements in North America to the present day. Course content will emphasize the diversity of experiences among families of different races, classes, demographic categories, geographic regions, and time periods. Students will produce a variety of written products including both formal and informal papers, essay tests, abstracts, tables and charts, and book reviews. These assignments will culminate in the production of a full-fledged research paper by semester’s end. In addition to improving the mechanics of their writing, students will learn how to choose the best sources for a particular project, how to critique a book, how to properly use the internet for research, how to compose a quick but effective in-class essay, how to avoid plagiarism, and other important skills that will aid them throughout their college career and beyond.

Liba 102-12, MWF 11:00 - 11:50, Bondurant 112W
Instructor: J. Hall (English), egjwh@olemiss.edu, 915-7286
A Southern Sense of Home

The South is noted for strong home ties, even though some southerners have been eager to leave the land of their birth. We will read several works--both fiction and non-fiction--in which home is a central concern, whether as a place of comfort or a place of pain. Texts will include one or two anthologies, along with book-length autobiographies by Janisse Ray (Ecology of a Cracker Childhood) and Clifton Taulbert (Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored). Students will write a series of short papers on portrayals of home by such authors as Frederick Douglass, William Faulkner, Richard Wright, Flannery O'Connor, Eudora Welty, Katherine A. Porter, Zora Neale Hurston, and others.

Liba 102-13, MWF 11:00 - 11:50, Bishop 333
Instructor: L. Field (History), hsfield@olemiss.edu, 915-5667
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 102-14, MWF 11:00 - 11:50, Bondurant 116W
Instructor: C. Manning-Miller (Journalism), emanning@olemiss.edu, 915-5505
What Has Communication Technology Done for You Lately?

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 102-15, MWF 12:00 - 12:50, Hume 215
Instructor: D. Dyer (Modern Languages), mldyer@olemiss.edu, 915-7715
The Power of Babel

How many languages are there in the world today? How many will there be in fifty, 100 years? Did all of the contemporary languages of the world descend from one or a number of earlier languages? In this class we will examine and try to answer each of these questions. "The Power of Babel" is both the name of this section and the title of a new book by the linguist, John McWhorter, which will serve as our primary text and the starting point for many of our discussions.

Liba 102-16, MWF 12:00 - 12:50, Hume 200
Instructor: S. Hodges (English), shodges@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
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, MWF 1:00 - 1:50, Hume 200
Instructor: S. Hodges (English), shodges@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
Literature of the Supernatural

Liba 102-18, MWF 1:00 - 1:50, Hume 112
Instructor: R. Westmoreland (Philosophy and Religion), prrbw@olemiss.edu, 915-7302
Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life

TBA Liba 102-19, MWF 1:00 - 1:50, Hume 106
Instructor: L. Cozad (Philosophy and Religion), lcozad@olemiss.edu, 915-7976
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 102-20, MWF 1:00 - 1:50, Shoemaker 114
Instructor: S. Major (Linguistics)
Current Theories of Language Learning

Course Description: Why do adults have to work so hard to learn a new language while children just seem to “pick it up” easily? How do young children attain mastery of their native language/languages in such a short time, largely without guidance? Do all language learners go through similar stages? This course will explore current theoretical approaches to such questions. We will also look at insights provided by 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 102-21, TTh 8:00 - 9:15, Hume 200
Instructor: S. Burnham (Educational Leadership), sburnham@olemiss.edu, 915-7198
Understanding Diversity Through Literature, Writing, and Film

This course will explore a variety of diversity issues; i.e. race, age, gender, religion, and disability as seen in popular literature, film and daily life. Students will participate in class activities which bring to life what diversity really is and will be required to write 1-2 page essays reflecting on each of the issues presented. A text will be used to introduce students to culture and diversity. Individuals will explore diversity to become more culturally, racially, socially, and politically astute. Readings will come from journals, popular publications and selected film sequences will be used to dramatize some issues.

Liba 102-22, TTh 8:00 - 9:15, Hume 203
Instructor: P. Wirth (English), phwirth@olemiss.edu, 915-5035
Hemingway

We will focus on Hemingway’s writing but also pay some attention to his life and times. The emphasis will be on early works (between 1921 and 1938). The reading will include The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to arms, A Moveable Feast, and about thirty stories from The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway.

Liba 102-23, TTh 8:00-9:15, Hume 230
Instructor: F. Laurenzo (History), hsfel@olemiss.edu, 915-7529
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 102-24, TTh 9:30 - 10:45, Hume 108
Instructor: J. Reid (Math), mmreid@olemiss.edu, 915-7437
The Scientific Revolution and Beyond

The lives and works of the scientists Galileo, Newton, and Feynman are contrasted and compared. Galileo and Newton, respectively, represent the historical eras immediately preceding and following the scientific revolution. Indeed Galileo died the year of Newton's birth, 1642. Feynman represents the modern era. The lives of these scientist share a remarkable blend of controversy, eccentricity, and genius.

Liba 102-25, TTh 9:30 - 10:45, Bishop 333
Instructor: M. Namorato (History), hsmvn@olemiss.edu, 915-7488
Economic Thought in Action: 20th Century American Economic Policy

This course will study modern economic thinkers and how they have impacted 20th-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 102-26, TTh 9:30 - 10:45, Hume 110
Instructor: R. Olipahant-Ingham, ringham@olemiss.edu, 915-7589
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 102-27, TTh 9:30 - 10:45, Meek 119
Instructor: L. Caldwell (Theatre Arts), lloyd@olemiss.edu, 915-3775
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 102-28, TTh 11:00 - 12:15, Barr 317
Instructor: M. Franks (Sociology), wmfranks@olemiss.edu, 234-4671
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 102-29, TTh 11:00 - 12:15, Bishop 324
Instructor: M. Neal (English), mneal@olemiss.edu, 915-7718
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, Barbara Gowdy, Katherine Dunn, Kevin Canty, Mary Robison, Larry Brown and others. We will read novels as well as short stories.

Liba 102-30, TTh 11:00 - 12:15, Hume 215
Instructor: A. Jameson (Exercise Science), agjameso@olemiss.edu, 915-5521
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 102-31, TTh 1:00 - 2:15, Bishop 333
Instructor: J. Frazier (English), jfrazier@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
Mythology of Native Americans

This course primarily focuses on the mythology of Native Americans; however, some attention is paid to contemporary Native American writings. Material covered in the course includes Native American traditional stories, Native American songs, contemporary Indian poetry, and the classic autobiography "Black Elk Speaks." Recurrent themes and motifs in the literature are covered as well as some background cultural and historical information.

Liba 102-32, TTh 1:00 - 2:15, Hume 200
Instructor: T. Letzring (Leadership & Counselor Education), tdl@olemiss.edu, 915-7070
The Student and the Law

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 102-33, TTh 1:00 - 2:15, Hume 215
Instructor: X. Yang (Modern Languages), yangxb@olemiss.edu, 915-3140
Understanding China Through Film

We will approach different issues significant to modern Chinese culture and society through viewing, discussing and analyzing recent Chinese films, mainly those by such leading filmmakers as Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Wong Kar-wai. Attention will also be paid to the various ways in which China is represented and interpreted. The goal for this course is to develop the ability to better understand the sociocultural complexities in modern China through close, critical examinations of the cinematic works. Readings of critical essays will be assigned for more profound interpretation and further study. All films are English subtitled. Instruction will be conducted in English. No knowledge of Chinese language is required.

POSSIBLE PAPER TOPICS (critical interpretation and analysis of one or a group of films):

Conflicts/conformities between Chinese tradition and modernity
Influence of traditional culture on modern China
Influence of western culture on modern China
Urban and rural spaces (and their intermingling) in China
Modern Chinese history (as represented in films) in relation to world history
Different ways in which modern Chinese history is represented in films
Different ways in which the cultural tradition of China viewed by modern Chinese intellectuals
The meanings of modernity in China against its sociohistorical background
Nationalism expressed in Chinese cinema

READINGS TO BE ASSIGNED (SAMPLE):

Fredric Jameson, "Third-World Literature in the Era of Multinational Capitalism"
Edward Said, Orientalism (excerpts)
Mao Zedong, "Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art"
Ben Xu, "Farewell My Concubine and Its Nativist Critics"
Esther Yau, "Western Analysis and a Non-Western Text"
A-chin Hsiau, "The Moral Dilemma of China's Modernization"
Ban Wang, "Trauma and History in Chinese Film"
Woei Lien Chong, "Alienation in the Modern Metropolis"

Liba 102-34, TTh 2:30 - 3:45, Hume 200
Instructor: V. Chavis (Art), vlroughon@olemiss.edu, 915-7193
Graphic Design as Communication

Graphic design may seem like a fairly new concept because of the technology involved, but it has actually been a vital component of each culture and period throughout human history. An extraordinary panorama of people and events have unfolded to tell the story of the development of design, including: the invention of writing and the alphabet, medieval manuscripts and books, the origins of printing (Did Gutenberg really invent the first printing press?), typography, renaissance graphic design, the Arts and Crafts Movement, Victorian and Art Nouveau Graphics, Modern Art, visual identity, conceptual images, Postmodernism, and the revolution of the computer.

This course will guide students through a history of written communication beginning before there even was a written language. On the journey, students will research and discover the influences of culture, religion, and art movements on graphic design. Students will begin to understand how graphic design emerged into the technical, creative, and necessary element of our culture today. There is no expectation of software or computer knowledge for the course. Students will be assigned readings for discussion and writing assignments. There will be research-based writing assignments, weekly class discussions, one oral presentation, and one group presentation.

Liba 102-35, TTh 2:30 - 3:45, Hume 203
Instructor: S. Morris (English), smmorris@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
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 102-36, TTh 2:30 - 3:45, Honors 209
Instructor: A. Fisher-Worth (English), afwirth@olemiss.edu, 915-5929
Southern Environmental Literature

This course explores contemporary Southern environmental literature--poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that investigate the range of relations between human characters and the nonhuman world. Writers whose works we will read might include Rick Bass, Bill Belleville, Wendell Berry, Franklin Burroughs, Tom Franklin, Linda Hogan, Judy Jordan, Janisse Ray, and others. We will also spend some time on short field trips, becoming familiar with the local environment and local environmental issues.

Liba 102-37, TTh 4:00 - 5:15, Shoemaker 114
Instructor: D. Robinson (English), djr@olemiss.edu, 915-7684
How To Do Things With Words

Everything you've always wanted to know about what your friends are REALLY getting at when they say apparently innocent things! This course will take a close look at language in terms of the dramatic social things we do to and for and with each other with words. What are we doing when we make apparently neutral statements with hidden agendas, when we pretend to be heading one way with an utterance and at a much deeper level are heading in the exact opposite direction? We will be looking at how we imply things and make ourselves understood, how we construct context for our conversations, how we structure turn-taking, and how we protect and threaten "face." Most of the examples we'll be studying come from popular movies and TV shows. Student presentations, two drafts each of four short papers.

Liba 102-38, TTh 4:00 - 5:15, Peabody 209
Instructor: J. Harker (English), jlharker@olemiss.edu, 915-3172
The Myth of the American West

The American West has been a potent symbol in American culture, and it continues to inform our popular culture, our politics, and our identities as Americans. It is a symbol that often contradicts the actual history and experience of the westward expansion. This course will explore the developing myth of the American West through a variety of genres—journals, nature writing, Westerns, novels, and critical articles from history, literary criticism, and media studies. Students will keep a writing journal and write in a variety of genres over the course of the semester. The capstone assignment of the course will be an 8-10 page research paper.

Liba 102-39, MW 4:00 - 5:15, Old Chemistry 212
Instructor: M. Dupper
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 102-40, MW 4:00 - 5:15, Hume 106
Instructor: D. Hargrove (Psychology), pydsh@olemiss.edu, 915-7383
Psychological Theory and Literature

This section focuses on one psychological theory and requires students to apply that theory to two novels and their own families. Two emphases are on initial writing and revision/editing of one's own work.

Liba 102-41, MWF 8:00 - 8:50, Bishop 333
Instructor: F. Coles (Modern Languages), fcoles@olemiss.edu, 915-7702
Language Death

Languages are dead when no one speaks them anymore. Did they simply go out of fashion or did they get murdered by more powerful languages? Why should we care? Why can't English be good enough? We'll explore how and why languages die, investigate strategies to help them, and think about what good it will do if plenty of different languages survive.

Liba 102-42, MWF 11:00 - 11:50, Hume 112
Instructor: T. Dewey (Art), tdewey@olemiss.edu, 915-5014
Art in the Louvre Meets In Your Face Art

The Italian Renaissance of the 1400s-1500s generated visual art that dominated mainstream creative activity in Western Europe and the U.S. for the next 400 years through the High Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Art Academies and the Salon system well into the 1800s. Masterworks from those periods dominate the world's most prestigious museums. However, challengers like Edouard Manet in the 1860s, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Modernists and the concept of the Avant-garde emerged and, in turn, dominated mainstream 20th century production with radical shockwaves of movements such as Cubism, Dada, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, Performance Art and Deconstructionism. This section of Liba 102 will explore the genesis, art theories, critical and public reaction and the respective opposing value systems of the above. It may be like a 15 round heavyweight boxing match.

Liba 102-43, TTh 9:30 - 10:45, Bishop 326
Instructor: D. O'Sullivan (Modern Languages), dosulliv@olemiss.edu, 915-6693
Monsters of the Medieval World

Monsters provide more than entertaining and spine-tingling stories: they constitute expressions of our deepest fears and thus provide insight into the cultural make-up of every society. Although every culture has its monsters, the medieval world boasted a particularly large and varied cast of beasties. In this course, we will discuss the representation and function of monsters in medieval literature: Grendel of Beowulf, Marie de France’s werewolves and shape-shifters, the myriad fanciful creatures that inhabit the margins of medieval maps and manuscripts, and those that fill the tales of explorers like Marco Polo. Students will be expected to read a selection for every day of class, complete discussion questions, and participate in class discussions.

Reading list (subject to modification):

Beowulf;
Gardner, John, Grendel;
Chrétien de Troyes, The Knight and the Lion;
Marco Polo, Travels;
Coursepack prepared by instructor including both shorter primary materials such Marie de France’s “Bisclavret” and “Yonec,” excerpts of medieval bestiaries, and medieval maps and secondary materials the introductions and pertinent chapters of David Gilmore’s Monsters, Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors, Jeffrey Cohen’s Of Giants: Sex, Monsters, and the Middle Ages.

Ongoing writing assignments: a modern bestiary! Throughout the semester, students will keep a journal that names and describes each monster encountered. They should describe each creature’s physical stature as well as its moral character. Students will be encouraged to add any symbolic meanings to their descriptions, much like the medieval compilers of bestiaries did.

Possible paper assignments (2-3 pages each and subject to modification):

Assess the plausibility of Gardner’s rehabilitation of Grendel. Can we really see events from the monster’s point of view? If so, how does that change our definition of humanity?
Of what exactly is Bisclavret the werewolf’s wife guilty? Investigate the role of women in twelfth-century France and then reassess her motivations. Is she more or less guilty when put into her medieval context?
Investigate the conditions of travel during the Middle Ages. How would such material conditions influence the perpsective of the listener of Marco Polo’s tales?

Liba 102-44, MWF 2:00 - 2:50, Barr 317
Instructor: M. Franks (Sociology), wmfranks@olemiss.edu, 234-4671
Ganging up in America

Liba 102-45, MWF 2:00 - 2:50, Hume 108
Instructor: C. Smith (Political Science), pssmith@olemiss.edu, 915-5145

Liba 102-46, TTh 8:00 - 9:15, Bishop 326
Instructor: J. Watt (History), hswatt@olemiss.edu, 915-5805
Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult

This seminar will examine the history of magic, witchcraft, and the occult. Special attention will be paid to early modern Europe (particularly ca. 1450-1650), but we will also consider witchcraft and magic in medieval Europe, colonial America, and non-Western societies. Topics discussed will include the witch-hunts of the Reformation era, the relationship between magic and religion, misogyny and witchcraft, and changing beliefs in diabolical power. We will begin the semester with a set of common readings that will tentatively include Bengt Ankarloo and Stuart Clark, editors, Witchcraft and Magic in Europe, vol. 4, The Period of the Witch Trials; Carlo Ginzburg, The Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries; and Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England. Students will be required to write shorter papers on the assigned readings and a research paper on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor.

Liba 102-47, TTh 11:00 - 12:15, Bishop 102
Instructor: A. Mark (Library Instruction)
Reverberations of the Information Revolution: Living in the Age of Information

The information revolution has touched all aspects of life-how we think, work, educate ourselves, and participate in community life. This class will provide an overview of the significant issues that are part of living in an information-driven society. Using a critical framework, students will explore some of the many reverberations of the information revolution including questions about censorship, privacy, fragmentation, war, work, and relationships. Students will be asked to challenge their belief structure by examining how their worldview has been shaped by cyber culture as well as identifying the positive elements of being raised digital.

Liba 102-48, TTh 1:00 - 2:15, Bishop 107
Instructor: M. Neal (English), mneal@olemiss.edu, 915-7718
Contemporary Fiction

Liba 102-49, TTh 4:00 - 5:15, Old Chemistry 212
Instructor: A. Gowdy (English), gowdya@olemiss.edu, 915-5837
Significance of Place: Land and Landscapes in American Writing

This course will explore what a sense of place has meant at different historical times in American writing. Student readers will encounter new worlds that seem both inviting and terrifying. We'll see the young American nation through the eyes of a visitor, meet the colonist who slept through the American Revolution, share experiences of pioneers moving west, and come to understand the significance of land to this continent's native peoples. As we explore together--and independently--a wide variety of literary works and types, one goal will be to learn how words alone can convey a true sense of place. Along the way, we'll identify authors linked with particular locales, practice new research skills, and develop more effective writing abilities. Join the journey to wherever our readings take us before bringing us back to Mississippi, to Oxford, and to the Ole Miss campus.

Liba 102-50, MW 4:00 - 5:15, Farley 303
Instructor: S. Morris (English), smmorris@olemiss.edu, 915-7439
The Sublime in Literature: Why Great Writing Matters