Fall 2005 Liberal Arts 102 Course Descriptions

Sections 1-9 : Sections 10-19 : Sections 20-29
Sections 30-39 : Sections 40-49 : Sections 50-51

Please direct all questions regarding course content to the Department of English at (662) 915-7439. Content last revised on August 16, 2005.

LIBA 102, Section 01 — "Medieval 'History' in Modern 'Historiography'"
MWF 8:00-8:50
Lester Field (History)
hsfield@olemiss.edu, 915-5667

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 therefore 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.

LIBA 102, Section 02 — Somethin's Happening Here: The History of Student Protest
MW 3:00-4:15
Sparky Reardon (Leadership & Counselor Education)
sparky@olemiss.edu, 9125-7248

On April 23, 1968, students at Columbia University seized an academic building and one of the deans inside. A member of the Columbia Students for Democratic Society quipped, "We've got something going on here and now we've just got to find out what it is." What is student protest and how has it shaped higher education and, thus, the United States and the world? What do Thoreau, Ginsburg, Ghandi, and Mad Magazine have to do with the student protest movement? Do panty raids, pep rallies, and streaking count as student protest? This seminar will examine the history of student protest from Colonial times to the present. Literary influences, political influences, and social situations will all be studied. Particular emphasis will be given to The Sixties and the integration of higher education. Selected readings will come from a variety of texts including American Insurrection (Doyle), Student Protest: The Sixties and After (DeGroot), From Camelot to Kent State: The Sixties Experience in the Words of Those Who Lived It (Morrison), Student Resistance: A History of the Unruly Subject (Boren), Takin' It to the Streets: A Sixties Reader (Bloom and Breines), and others. In addition, selected video clips, as well as guest lecturers and class discussions, will be utilized. Students will be encouraged to conduct independent research involving student protest, maintain a journal, and make a presentation on their research.

LIBA 102, Section 03 — Forecast in presidential elections: what is wrong with the Polls?
MWF 1:00-1:50
Hanxiang Peng (Mathematics)
mmpeng@olemiss.edu, 915-1204

The 2000 presidential election is the CLOSEST modern contest by both measures: the popular and the electoral votes. Statistically it is a perfect tie. All the major polls, nevertheless, failed to forecast this tie. In this seminar, we will try to answer why they failed and explore some aspects of the modern statistical theory. Two well-known presidential elections will be investigated, where the most influential polls of the time failed to call for the presidents. The blunders that led to the incorrect forecasts and the methods that can avoid such blunders are discussed. We also study how the modern survey theory has been built upon the real examples, and how the modern polls are conducted, interpreted and understood. The assignments would include the reading of old newspapers such as New York Times (1936, 1948, 1984, 2000, 2004), design of survey questions, written interpretations and oral presentations of the polls on ABC/CBS News Polls, CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll, etc.

LIBA 102, Section 04 — Catholic Social Doctrine and Justice
MW 4:00-5:15
John Czarnetzky (Law)
johnmc@olemiss.edu, 915-6807

In the past one hundred years, the Roman Catholic Church has been especially active in formulating a philosophy of society and social relations based upon orthodox religious philosophy. This social doctrine has at times supplemented, and at times conflicted with, modern social philosophy as understood in the West, and as evidenced by the laws of countries such as the United States. The purpose of this seminar will be to become familiar with the Catholic Church's modern social doctrine and critically to apply it to selected issues of particular concern in modern times. Topics to be discussed might include: what is a just war?; the role of international organizations in keeping peace; the regulation of the economy; the role of women in modern societies; etc.

LIBA 102, Section 05 — The Experience of War
MWF 9:00-9:50
Michael Harrington (Philosophy & Religion)
prmlh@olemiss.edu, 915-7020

War and the nature of combat are the focal points of this writing seminar. Starting with what every person should know about war, we will analyze the enduring appeals and horrors of war through films, novels, poetry, photography and art. Of special interest will be the study of "life in the killing zone" through combat memoirs of war on the land, in the sea, and in the air. Formal writing requirements include two cinema reviews, two book reviews, and a short research paper.

LIBA 102, Section 06 — Communication, Culture and Identity
TTH 1:00-2:15
Terry Swan (Speech)
tjswan@olemiss.edu, 915-3961

This seminar will examine multiple perspectives in intercultural communication that are grounded in the everyday experiences reflected in personal narratives, social science research, modern journalism, and popular culture such as MTV. Readings and seminar discussions will focus on the increasing ethnic and sexual diversity of modern society and the challenges of communicating and living successfully in a multi-cultural world. This course will present intercultural communication scholarship in a way that helps student better understand race relations and improve the quality of intercultural relationships. Students will read a series of essays and respond with compositions reflecting their personal perspectives and experiences. Students will also participate in cooperative activities, lead small group discussions and conduct oral presentations. Topics for study include: Identity and Intercultural Communication; History and Intercultural Communication with respect to race roles in America; Communication and Intercultural Relationships; and Conflict, Communication, and Culture.

LIBA 102, Section 07 — American Novels of the 1920's
MWF 10:00-10:50
Peter Wirth (English)
phwirth@olemiss.edu, 915-5035

We will read and discuss the following six novels:

Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt
Willa Cather, A Lost Lady
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury
Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

We will focus mainly on the novels themselves, though we will also pay some attention to American culture and society in the 1920's. The grade will be based on four papers (four to five pages each), the midterm and final examinations, frequent quizzes on the day's reading, and class participation.

LIBA 102, Section 08 —Ganging up in America
MWF 10:00-10:50
William Mark Franks (Sociology and Anthropology)
wmfranks@olemiss.edu, 234-4671

American street gangs have arguably never been more "mainstream," influencing consumer tastes and habits involving film, music, videogames, apparel and transportation. Even questions of free speech often hinge today on issues stemming from or impacted by the modern American street gang. The goal of this course is to help students improve their skills in researching, organizing, reasoning and editing, producing a more confident, competent, and curious student writer who has been exposed to some basic sociological concepts, and who understands the fundamentals involved in informing and/or persuading an audience. Our texts will be the 2nd edition of THE MODERN GANG READER, and the 3rd edition of THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE. Students will also conduct independent research from a variety of source material including the University Library System's extensive holdings and databases.

LIBA 102, Section 09 — Greek Mythology
MWF 11:00-11:50
Ted Capps (Classic)
ecapps@olemiss.edu, 915-7020

The goal of this section will be to explore what ancient Greek myths, as some of the first recorded stories, have to say about human relationships. The assigned reading, English
translations of three primary sources--Hesiod's Theogony, the five full-length Homeric hymns, and Ovid's Metamorphoses, will contain many of the Greek myths plus a few Roman ones.

LIBA 102, Section 10 — Dance & Culture
MWF 11:00-11:50
Jennifer Mizenko (Theatre Arts)
jmizenko@olemiss.edu, 915-5969

This seminar will focus on the relationship between social dance and theatrical dance through the ages. We will examine how dance evolved from the spiritual to the secular to the stage, and the historical and cultural influences surrounding this evolution. "Why do we dance?" Class discussions will include defining culture, society's relationship to art, the significance of personal expression, and the function of dance in society in the year 2005. Readings will include historical dance texts and articles and essays published concerning the above topics.

LIBA 102, Section 11 — Contemporary Topics in Multiculturalism on College Campuses
MW 2:30-3:45
Don Cole (Mathematics)
dcole@olemiss.edu, 915-7474

The course will consist of library research, style book assignments and writings on many diverse topics that are of current interest and debate on college campuses. Students will be able to select from a number of topics on which to write (weekly) papers. In addition a cumulating "Term Paper" will serve as a final project. The course will follow a standard English Stylebook Handbook and the student must demonstrate mastery of material covered in this text from quizzes and in the writing of short papers on various topics relating to multiculturalism. The papers will increase in length and complexity as the course progresses. Students will be allowed to choose topics from an assigned list.

LIBA 102, Section 12 — On Becoming an Educated Person
MWF 12:00-12:50
Billy Barrios (Counseling Center)
babarrio@olemiss.edu, 915-3784

In an age in which seemingly endless amounts of information are available at our fingertips, what does it mean to be an "educated person"? And how pray tell does one become such a person? With three small classics as our guides (i.e., On Becoming an Educated Person by Virginia Voeks, Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Marid Rilke), we will read and write, listen and speak, and think and feel our way toward a clearer and deeper understanding of the "educated person" in our modern age. And who knows, we may even find ourselves becoming this person.

LIBA 102, Section 13 — The Civil Rights Movement
MWF 12:00-12:50
Charles Eagles (History)
eagles@olemiss.edu, 915-7733

This course will examine the southern civil rights movement from the 1940s to the 1970s. Two required books will be used: Harvard Sitkoff's The Struggle for Black Equality, 1954-1992, a brief survey of the topic; and Raymond D'Angelo's The American Civil Rights Movement, a collection of documents and essays about the movement. Topics covered will include the civil rights movement in Mississippi, the Brown decision and other actions of the federal government, protests such as the sit-ins and freedom rides, Martin Luther King and other important individuals, the Little Rock crisis and the integration of the University of Mississippi, campaigns for voting rights, and the development of Black Power. Writing assignments will be based on the assigned readings and short research assignments. Emphasis will be placed on rewriting essays

LIBA 102, Section 14 — Religious Introspection and Experience, the Formation of Personal Identity, and the Development of Critical Thinking
MWF 12:00-12:50
Charles Gates (Music)
mugates@olemiss.edu, 915-5970

Through study and discussion of sources from literature, religion, the humanities, the arts, the social sciences, and the natural sciences, this seminar will explore aspects of religious introspection and experience as they relate to the formation of personal identity and the development of critical thinking. Topics will include Chaim Potok's concept of "core-core culture confrontation," wisdom literature (e.g. the Book of Job), the Apostle Paul and the roots of the Western introspective conscience, Eastern (e.g. Buddhist, Hindu) visions of the self, and more, to develop a framework for exploring a serious and demanding reflection on self and the world, and to understand and appreciate the debt that even modern Western secular critical thinking owes to religious traditions and thinking about religious modes of understanding. We will often pair primary source material and analytical readings with artistic visions (including literature, film, and music) of the same topic. Note that we will establish ground rules for discussion which will allow readers in the setting of the secular university, whether they themselves are religious or not, to utilize such texts as a matrix of meaning, by making the distinction between "dogmatic profession" (inappropriate for the secular classroom) and "general profession" (in which critical evaluation serves to bring out different interpretations and understandings of religious texts).

Materials will be selected from:

Books:

Chaim Potok, The Promise (a novel)
E.L. Doctorow, City of God (a novel)
The Bhagavad-Gita ("The Song of God"), trans. by Prabhavananda and Isherwood)
Gregory Heyworth and Rosette Liberman, The Cooper Hill Stylebook

Other Readings, to be selected from:

Chaim Potok, "On Being Proud of Uniqueness" (lecture transcript)
Carl Jung, excerpts from Psychological Reflections
The Book of Genesis
The Book of Job

LIBA 102, Section 15 — Current Theories of Foreign/Second Language Acquisition
MW 3:00-4:15
Susan Major (Linguistics)
smajor@olemiss.edu, 915-6655

This seminar will address some persistent questions of college students in foreign language classrooms: Why do adults have to work so hard to learn a new language while children just seem to "pick it up" easily? What are some of the extra-linguistic factors operating in adult language learning? Is the Critical Period Hypothesis relevant for second language learning? Readings for the seminar will include topics such as foreign language teaching methods, and their comparative efficacy; language attitudes, motivation, and standards; intercultural communication; societal multilingualism; language planning and policy; and World Englishes. Students will first write short analytical papers on articles of their choice from the class readings. Then each student will focus on one topic and write a research paper.

LIBA 102, Section 16 — Exploring leadership and organization lessons in literature and film
MWF 1:00-1:50
Dwight Frink (Management)
dfrink@bus.olemiss.edu, 915-5834

This section of LIBA 102 will explore organizational phenomena in the context of literature and other media. Embedded in most literature across time are lessons about, and perspectives of, various organizational issues and realities. Examples include interpersonal interactions, ethics, motivation, leadership, influence, power, politics, attitudes, effectiveness, success factors, philosophies, and so forth. Focusing on leading and motivating, we will use a broad variety of literature and other media sources, including film, to bridge the gap between academia and the "real world" so that we have clear examples of applications of these phenomena. From these examples, we can explore what is functional versus dysfunctional. This can serve to help us both better understand what goes on around us in all sorts of organizational environments, as well as learn what may be useful for our own selves.

Students will read six books for this course, including A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens), Machiavelli on Modern Leadership (Ledeen), and The Abolition of Man (Lewis), along with three books of their choice. The class also will investigate principles discussed in terms of select movies. Writing assignments include two papers of at least five pages and one of at least ten pages, in addition to several smaller written assignments that are peer reviewed prior to submission. Larger assignments also are peer reviewed and subjected to a sequential revision process prior to final submission for grading.

LIBA 102, Section 17 — Existential Ecology
MWF 1:00-1:50
James Anderson (Center for Wetland and Water Resources)
jandersn@olemiss.edu, 915-5804

In this course, we will consider the contemporary human condition from the perspective of ecology/environmental science. We will read and discuss the book, "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed", by pulitzer prize winning author Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel), as well as one chapter (#2, The Bottleneck) from "The Future of Life", by E.O. Wilson. In the first book, Diamond compares past and pending ecological/societal crises, and analyzes why some end in disasterous 'collapse' while others survive the bottleneck relatively unscathed. Students will choose subjects for 3-4 short papers, and be expected to dig into the scientific and humanistic literature (as well as their own personal feelings) for answers. We will touch on such topics as environmental ethics, demography, comparative ecology, the evolutionary basis of human nature, the tragedy of the commons, the evolution of cooperation, exponential population growth, and bio-complexity. Some class meetings will be at the UM Field Station, an off-campus ecological preserve for scientific research.

LIBA 102, Section 18 — Evolutionary Psychology
MWF 2:00-2:50
Matthew Reysen (Psychology)
reysen@olemiss.edu, 915-3461

There has recently been a large increase in interest in the application of evolutionary theory to the study of human behavior. Evolutionary psychology is based on the hypothesis that people think, feel, and act in ways that increased the likelihood of their ancestors' reproductive success. This course will cover topics such as human mate choice, altruistic behavior, and patterns of violence in families, among others. Throughout the semester, you will receive training in research and academic writing based on current studies in the area of evolutionary psychology.

Your grade will be based primarily on short writing assignments following each assigned article/chapter.

LIBA 102, Section 19 — Your Money, My Money, Our Money, Their Money: Developing Economic and Financial Reasoning and a Personal Financial Plan
MWF 2:00-2:50
James Carden (Economics)
jcarden@bus.olemiss.edu, 915-7562

This seminar will examine the process of how we deal with money. We will examine questions of what is money, who has it, how do we get it, how do we keep it, how do we use it, etc. In the course of our discovery, we will develop the elements of and draft personal financial plans and we will learn how to think about economic and financial issues from a personal perspective. We will look at the life cycle and various life goals such as buying a home, paying for children's education, saving for retirement, etc. We will investigate the impact on those goals of various life decisions such as where we work, where we live, how we live. Students will look at how decisions in one area impact decisions in other areas and develop the economic and financial reasoning to pursue their personal economic and financial goals. The student will develop critical thinking, oral argument, and writing skills. Students will read a series of articles, essays, etc., watch videos, do internet research and respond with compositions and oral class presentations. Students will also participate in cooperative activities and lead small group discussions.

LIBA 102, Section 20 — Shakespeare and the Nature of Man
MW 4:00-5:15
Lynne Murchison (Outreach)
mmurchis@olemiss.edu, 915-6611

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. We 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.

LIBA 102, Section 21 — Contemporary Topics in Multiculturalism on College Campuses
MW 4:00-5:15
Don Cole (Mathematics)
dcole@olemiss.edu, 915-7474

LIBA 102, Section 22 — Leadership and Ethics
TTH 8:00-9:15
Joseph Blackburn (Military Science)
blackbrn@olemiss.edu, 915-7085

Is a leader's character important to an organization? This seminar will examine the relationship of Leadership and Ethics in the business, political, and military fields. Students will explore the importance of ethics in the workplace and develop an understanding of how leaders shape their organization's culture through the development and nurturing of collective values. We will discuss the values of several successful leaders as well as recent examples of ethical violations by prominent figures and explore their affects on the culture and climate of their organizations. Students will expand their awareness of why ethics matter, develop an understanding of their own personal ethical code and explore the importance of an organization's collective values. We will explore this topic through a broad variety of media, including internet-based video in the classroom, and through selected readings from the text IN SEARCH OF ETHICS, CONVERSATIONS WITH MEN AND WOMEN OF CHARACTER by Len Marrella.

LIBA 102, Section 23 — History of Science
TTH 8:00-9:15
Bonnie Avery (School of Pharmacy)
bavery@olemiss.edu, 915-5163

This seminar will examine the impact of science on our culture, politics, and education. 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 events in the last 200 years. Specifically we will be diving into "The Shocking Tragedy at Deptford", the murder case which became the first in the United Kingdom to make use of fingerprints to solve the crime in Fingerprints. Next, we will explore the sights, sounds and secrets related to the voyages of the Apollo Astronauts in A Man on the Moon. 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 southern coast of England in The Dragon Seekers.

LIBA 102, Section 24 — Civil War in Virginia: The Road to Appomattox
MWF 10:00-10:50
Donald Trott (History)
dtrott@olemiss.edu, 915-6963

First Year Seminar is designed to provide an educational environment of a small class setting to enable the students to have direct interaction between instructor and student. This particular section of LIBA 102 will focus on Civil War history in Virginia, presenting the rise and fall of the Confederacy through exaamination of various strategic battles fought in Virginia. Emphasis will be given to the following battles; First Manassas, Ball's Bluff, The Peninsula Campaign of 1862 including The Seven Days' Battles, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the entire retreat route from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House.

LIBA 102, Section 25 — Understanding Diversity Through Literature, Writing, and Film
TTH 8:00-9:15
Sonja Burnham (Leadership & Counselor Education)
sburnham@olemiss.edu, 915-7198

This course will explore a variety of diversity issues; ageism, gender, religion and disability as seen in popular literature, film and daily life. Students will participate in class activities which bring diversity to life. Students will be required to write 2 page essays reflecting on each of 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, Section 26 — Jazz in Post-WWII America
TTH 9:30-10:45
Michael Worthy (Music)
mworthy@olemiss.edu, 915-1277

The course will focus on post big band eras of jazz and jazz artists (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane). Reading assignments, class discussions and guided listening will allow students to develop an appropriate vocabulary for analyzing, describing and evaluating jazz performances. Students will complete writing assignments as they examine the connections between jazz and other art forms, and jazz as it relates to history and culture.

LIBA 102, Section 27 — Diversity and Socio-ethnic Issues in Contemporary Dramatic Literature
TTH 9:30-10:45
Joe Turner Cantú (Theatre Arts)
jtcantu@olemiss.edu, 915-5745

This course is an exploration of cultural, ethnic and gender diversity in contemporary dramatic literature. The course explores the contributions to contemporary American drama of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos and Gay Americans. A significant portion of the course of study is devoted to the perspectives and contributions of women and ethnic/cultural groups and individuals. Students will consider the playwright's use of dramatic action in communicating themes and stimulating emotional and thoughtful responses from an audience. Some of the plays of study are: Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks, True West by Sam Shepard, Marisol by José Rivera and How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel.

LIBA 102, Section 28 — Female Coming-of-Age Stories
TTH 9:30-10:45
Alida Moore (English)
amoore@olemiss.edu, 915-3174

All of living is a process of coming of age. The teen years, in particular, are a time of reconciling our inner selves with the outer world, balancing our needs with those of others. The transition between childhood and young adulthood is often hard and the importance of positive representations of strong females in fiction is paramount. Although the male coming-of-age story has been, and still is, well documented, its female counterpart is not so well known, either in literature or in developmental theories. This course will attempt to fill in the gaps left by adolescent literature's traditional focus on the lives of young males. We will read a variety of female coming-of-age novels; The following is a tentative list of titles: Coming of Age in Mississippi, An American Childhood, The Joy Luck Club, Charms for the Easy Life, Bastard Out of Carolina, The House on Mango Street, and Housekeeping. Students are expected to write literary analyses of several works, a reader's journal, and a research paper

LIBA 102, Section 29 — Writing for the Masses
TTH 9:30-10:45
Carmen Manning-Miller (Journalism)
cmanning@olemiss.edu, 915-5505

Writing is basic to any area of the mass media. Few things are printed or broadcasted without being written down first. This course will introduce students to the major forms of writing for the mass media.

LIBA 102, Section 30 – Perceptions of the Past: Archaeology in the Public Eye
TTH 11:00–12:15
Matthew Murray (Sociology and Anthropology)
mlmurray@olemiss.edu, 915-3995

In this course, students will investigate the disjunction between public perceptions of archaeology and the academic discipline. Public attitudes about archaeology have been strongly framed by populist (and unfortunately seriously distorted) versions of the subject, ranging from the alien fantasies of Eric von Däniken, through other pseudo-scientific arguments from the likes of Barry Fell, to the hedonistic film adventures of Indiana Jones. Students will explore their own perceptions of the past as they learn about the systematic and scientific methods and critical thinking that real archaeologists must employ to create more accurate, and ultimately more satisfying, ideas of the past.

LIBA 102, Section 31 — History through Children's and Adolescent Literature
TTH 11:00-12:15
Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham (Curriculum & Instruction)
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 32 — The Legacy of Frankenstein
TTH 1:00-2:15
Ronald A. Schroeder (English)
egras@olemiss.edu, 915-7673

In this course we will study Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus, and some of its descendants–texts that deal with people who try to create life in some new way or modify life as we know it. What drives or motivates individuals to create a new life form? What are the consequences of their successes and failures–to their own lives, to the lives of their creations, to human society and human history in general? How do these texts shed light on issues that we face now, such as organ transplantation, genetic engineering, and cloning? In addition to Frankenstein, readings for the course may include H. G. Wells's The Island of Dr. Moreau, Collodi's Pinnochio, Teller's Exegesis, Aldiss's Frankenstein Unbound, and Koontz's Frankenstein. We will also view a selection of related movies. Grades in the course will be based on active class participation, an oral presentation, regular writing assignments (including short papers), and a research project.

LIBA 102, Section 33 — Law and Ogre: An Examination of The Law and Lawyers in Popular Culture
TTH 1:00-2:15
Jason Derrick (Law)
wjderric@olemiss.edu, 915-6879

The rule of law is the foundation of our society, yet lawyers–the parents and defenders of the rule itself–are often much maligned in contemporary American life. This course will examine popular narratives, including films, television programs, music, poetry, 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 current dilemmas involving public policy, ethics and morality. The course will also address popular culture's influence on perceptions of the law, and how those perceptions may differ from reality. The course will use Lewis Nordan's Wolf Whistle as a text. Other selected readings will be provided.

LIBA 102, Section 34 — Higher Education Law and the College Student
TTH 1:00-2:15
Kerry Melear (Higher Education)
kbm@olemiss.edu, 915-7063

The law relative to the American college student spans a broad range of engaging issues, from student free speech to search and seizure on campus. This seminar is designed to introduce these and other concepts and allow course participants to explore the contours of the law applicable to American college students. Selected topics will include the relationship between college students and their institutions, student free speech, mandatory student fees, religion and higher education, regulation of student organizations, search and seizure, affirmative action, and negligence on campus. Students will read, discuss, and critically analyze relevant case law and related materials to gain an understanding of the law and its relationship to the college student, as well as inform key dimensions of course writing assignments.

LIBA 102, Section 35 — Islam
TTH 9:30-10:45
Mary Thurlkill (Philosophy & Religion)
maryt@olemiss.edu, 915-1367

This course will examine Islam as a 'world of meaning' beginning with the Arabian milieu before Muhammad's prophetic call and ending with the more recent proliferation of Islamic 'fundamentalist' movements. Topics of focus will include the career of the Prophet; the Qur'an; Islamic ritual; and the Sunni/Shi`i division within the Muslim community.

LIBA 102, Section 36 — The Legacy of Frankenstein
TTH 2:30-3:45
Ronald A. Schroeder (English)
egras@olemiss.edu, 915-7673

LIBA 102, Section 37 — Ebenezer Scrooge at the Movies: Charles Dickens and Popular Culture
TTH 2:30-3:45
Shari Hodges-Holt (English)
shodges@olemiss.edu, 915-1376

Bruce Willis and Broadway, Stephen King and Susan Lucci, Mr. Magoo and Mickey Mouse—what do these icons of contemporary popular culture have in common? All were influenced by one of the most popular writers of the nineteenth century—Charles Dickens. Although best known as the creator of Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim, Charles Dickens left a cultural legacy that reaches far beyond his annual association with Christmas sentiment. Scholars have traced the effects of Dickens's literary career in such postmodern phenomena as film, mass-media advertising, and the Internet, suggesting that Dickens's fiction remains influential not only in its original literary form, but also in numerous postmodern incarnations. To study the continuing relevance of Dickens's art, this seminar will explore the impact of Dickens's fiction on English popular culture in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. While we will focus on the connection of Dickens's work to movies and television, we will also explore Dickens's relationship to other pop-culture topics, including theater, soap operas, children's literature, fairy tales, Christmas traditions, murder mysteries, and horror stories. Course texts will include Dickens's novels Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol, as well as various adaptations of Dickens's works in other media (film/television, music, and contemporary literature). In addition to participating in class discussions and completing formal writing assignments, each student will prepare a 10-minute oral presentation based on a film adaptation of a Dickens text.

LIBA 102, Section 38 — Environmental Thinking
TTH 2:30-3:45
Neil Manson (Philosophy and Religion)
namanson@olemiss.edu, 915-6713

The relationship between humanity and the natural world will be addressed from an array of scientific, philosophical, economic, and literary perspectives. What is nature? What does our relationship to the natural environment mean to us? Is the environment in crisis? If so, what can we do to address the problem, and what are the costs? In the course of confronting these questions, students will develop their abilities to research new topics, to think critically, to reason analytically, to communicate orally, and to write clearly.

LIBA 102, Section 39 — In Search of Democracy: The Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi
TTH 4:00-5:15
Susan Glisson (William Winter Institute)
glisson@olemiss.edu, 915-6727

This course examines the development of the black struggle for freedom in the United States from the end of the nineteenth century through the Black Power era, treating that history as an interdisciplinary case study on the dynamics of social change. We will place particular emphasis on various styles of leadership and organizing strategies as well as explore the interplay between ideology and pragmatism, and the roles of gender and religion in informing the development of the Movement.

The course will be driven by a concern for understanding African-American resistance to racism and bigotry. Through the use of biography, discussion will focus on individual efforts to respond to racial oppression. By tracing the development of social movements using especially Mississippi as a model, the course will seek to discern various collective responses to racism.

In 1890, the state of Mississippi enacted a new state constitution, its first since the end of Reconstruction. That constitution included a series of "Black Codes," which codified de facto segregation, institutionalizing the system which became known as "Jim Crow." Mississippi's novel approach to decreasing black citizenship became the model for the rest of the South. Throughout the next century, black residents of the state resisted such change. In the mid-twentieth century, these efforts coalesced with a national movement as black Mississippians engaged in local organizing with support from various national civil rights organizations. Various Movement centers throughout the state radically changed how civil rights work was accomplished. As a result, Mississippi witnessed arguably the most significant changes of any deep South state because of this transformative work.

Throughout the course, we will try to identify the usable parts of this Movement history with a special attempt to discern the relevancy of the history to those who are concerned with securing social change today. Using secondary and primary texts, oral histories, films, independent student research, and in-class discussion, students will explore the rich history of Mississippi civil rights history with a view to understanding its legacies for today. We will attempt to make special use of the many activists who continue to live and work in the state.

Student obligations:

To complete the readings by the day they're due and to participate in class discussions.
To make one presentation to the class on a figure from the Mississippi Movement.
To produce 7 weekly response papers of at least 1-2 pages in length to each week's class content.
To produce one research project of at least 7-10 double-spaced pages (with a bibliography and rough draft handed in previously).

Selected readings:

Local People John Dittmer
Black Protest: History, Documents, and Analysis 1619-present Joanne Grant
I've Got the Light of Freedom: The Organizing Tradition and the Mississippi Freedom Struggle Charles Payne
The Struggle for Black Equality, 1954-1992, revised Harvard Sitkoff

LIBA 102, Section 40 — Clearly Speaking
TTH 4:00-5:15
JoAnn Edwards (Speech)
jedwards@olemiss.edu, 915-3799

This seminar will examine the "great" American historical and contemporary speeches. The differences and similarities of writing for the spoken word will be discussed. Considering Aristotle's three most important elements of rhetoric, ethos, logos and pathos, students will read and/or view up to five speeches and discuss them in their historical context. Students will then be required to write a response from their subjective, contemporary perspective. In addition to reading/viewing the assigned works, each student will be required to participate in five graded classroom discussions and five oral responses. These exercises will culminate in a final oral and written project/presentation.

LIBA 102 , Section 41 – Social Issues in 20th Century American Musical Theatre
TTH 2:30-3:45
Rene Pulliam (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.

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.

REQUIRED MUSICAL LIBRETTI: *Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Showboat book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern (1927)
Of Thee I Sing* book by George S. Kaufman/Morrie Ryskind, lyrics by Ira Gershwin (1931)
South Pacific* book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, music by Richard Rodgers (1949)
Fiorello* - book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick (1960)
A Chorus Line* - book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban (1976)
Falsettos book by William Finn and James Lapine (1992)
Rent* book, music and lyrics by Jonathon Larson (1996)
Ragtime book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (1998)

Additional video support will be used in class.

LIBA 102, Section 42 — American Essays
MWF 9:00-9:50
Cliff Ochs (Biology)
byochs@olemiss.edu, 915-7562

This section of LIBA 102 will be based on the series The Best American Essays, a collection of essays published each year by Houghton Mifflin. These essays address a range of topics in politics, ethics, the humanities, the arts and the sciences. For fall 2005, we will use the collection for 2004. In class we will discuss at least one essay every week. Weekly writing assignments will be based on the essays. You will also be asked to write several original essays. The primary objectives for the class are to improve critical thinking skills in reading, and in both verbal and written expression.

LIBA 102, Section 44 — Fisheries Management Conflicts
TTH 4:00-5:15
Stephanie Showalter (Mississippi Law Research)
sshowalt@olemiss.edu, 915-7775

U.S. fisheries management is steeped in conflict and controversy. Fish populations are finite and fishermen are not the only users of the ocean environment. The battle lines are often clearly drawn. Bottom-trawlers vs. longliners; environmentalists vs. fishermen; fishermen vs. aquaculture operators; commercial fishermen vs. recreational fishermen. Students will explore the challenges facing today's fisheries managers by writing about past, present, and developing fisheries management conflicts.

LIBA 102, Section 45 — Values-Based Leadership
TTH 8:00-9:15
Harold Whiffen (Military Science)
hwhiffen@olemiss.edu, 915-7085

Rather than merely the exercise of power, leadership is the act of influencing others to voluntarily accomplish organizational goals. This seminar will focus on the fundamental tenets of successful leadership in corporate, political, and military environments. Students will explore leadership defined by three levels of subordinate action: behavior, conscious thought, and values, assumptions, beliefs and expectations. Students will examine a values-based leadership model that enforces the concept of goal achievement without the abuse of power. Students will explore the concepts of effective communication, mission statements, goal setting, and organizational change. Throughout the course, students will develop reading, writing, and oral communication skills through the study of individual leadership profiles and organizational case studies. Students will expand their understanding of values-based leadership and its role in accomplishing organizational goals. Assignments will include readings from the text Level Three Leadership: Getting Below the Surface by James G. Clawson, as well as a variety of selected leadership case studies.

LIBA 102, Section 46 — Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
MW 3:00-4:15
Xiaobin Yang (Modern Language)
yangxb@olemiss.edu, 915-3140

We will approach different issues significant to modern Chinese culture and society through analyzing works of Chinese literature (in English translation), visual arts, music and popular culture over the past century. Attention will also be paid to the various ways in which modern China is perceived, 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 literary works and other cultural products. Readings of critical essays will be assigned for more profound interpretation and further study. All readings assigned are
in English. Instruction will be conducted in English. No knowledge of Chinese language is required.

LIBA 102, Section 47 — Politics in Contemporary Novels
MWF 2:00-2:50
Chuck Smith (Political Science)
c.e.smith.jr@gmail.com, 915-5145

Many contemporary novels illuminate aspects of the operation of American political institutions as well as or better than textbooks, or journalistic accounts of real political events and actors. Students in this seminar will examine everything from presidential electoral politics to the operation of the courts through the eyes of modern fiction writers. Featured authors will include such familiar names such as Joe Klein and Tom Clancy. Grades will be determined by seminar participation as well as performance on weekly writing assignments

LIBA 102, Section 48 — Psychological Theory and Literature
TTH 8:00-9:15
Scotty Hargrove (Department of Psychology)
pydsh@olemiss.edu, 915-1213

The fiction of Anne Tyler presents an excellent opportunity to understand one's own family and a particular psychological theory. Using Bowen Family Systems Theory, students will read Tyler's work, analyze it, and make comparisons with their own experience. This writing-intensive course provides opportunities to write, edit and revise one's own work, and make oral presentations relating psychological theory to the literature of Tyler.

LIBA 102, Section 49 — Wellness: Facts, Fads and Fallacies
TTH 11:00-12:15
Michael Dupper (HESRM)
mad@olemiss.edu, 915-5844

This seminar will explore the facts, fiction and fads related to health and wellness in our society, from a consumer's perspective. 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 management in our society.

LIBA 102, Section 50 — Britain, America and the Welfare State
TTH 1:00-2:15
Fred Laurenzo (History)
hsfel@olemiss.edu

This seminar will examine the origin and development in Britain of the social insurance scheme known as the "Welfare State" and will compare it to its counterpart in the United States. Students will, in addition to the historical development of social insurance, read, think and write about questions such as the following: 1)Why did Britain develop a comprehensive welfare state? 2)Is health care a right? 3) Should the state provide a scheme of old age pensions or insure the individual against economic catastrophe such as unemployent? Particular attention will be paid to the health insurance schemes in Britain and the United States.

LIBA 102, Section 51 — The Influence of the Internet on Society
MWF 8:00-8:50
Steven Davis (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
davis@chemistry.olemiss.edu, 915-5981

Personal computers and the internet have unleashed a tidal wave of information freely available for perusal in the home. In this section of LIBA 102 we will discuss how the internet has changed the way individuals and groups view and use information. In particular, the impact the internet has on large news organizations, politics, the music industry, knowledge sharing (book, periodical, and textbook markets), businesses, and computer software will be discussed. The purpose of this class is not to try to reach a consensus, but have the student develop his or her own opinion and express it through writing. Weekly reading assignments will be taken from the internet, news organizations, periodicals, and company white papers.