Fall 2007 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 October 22, 2007 10:50 AM .

LIBA 102, Section 01 — Reading, Writing, and Discussing Mississippi
MWF 8:00-8:50
Stephen Monroe (English)
smonroe@olemiss.edu, 915-

In 1996, former Mississippi Governor William Winter said, "Good reading must be as common in these parts as good writing. Why can't we let literature and culture and civility be what people first think about when they think about our state and region?" During this course, we will respond to Governor Winter's interrogative charge by becoming better readers and better writers. At the same time, we will consider another aspect of his statement: how do we and others define Mississippi? Our source materials for this journey will be books, films, and music related to Mississippi's history and culture. We will gather around works by the following: Bob Dylan, Richard Wright, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Barry Hannah, and others.

What is your Mississippi? Please bring along your perspective.

LIBA 102, Section 02 — The Influence of the Internet on Society
MWF 11:00-11:50
Steven Davis (Chemistry & Biochemistry)
davis@briar.chem.olemiss.edu, 915-5981

The advent of the internet has unleashed a tidal wave of information freely available for perusal in the home, school, and workplace. This section of LIBA 102 will discuss the impact the internet has on society including businesses, academic institutions, and individuals, as well as how these segments of society are evolving to take advantage of this recent phenomenon. It is expected that students will have varied opinions on these topics and each opinion will be equally respected and discussed. The purpose of this class is not to try to reach a consensus, but have the students develop their own opinions and be able to express them through writing. Weekly reading assignments will be required from sources including the internet, news organizations, periodicals, and books. Eight writing assignments will be required (1-5 page range) with the last being a research paper ten pages in length. We will discuss the following major themes.

1) News

No longer are newspaper subscriptions necessary as most major papers can be viewed online. Television news organizations have similar sites with constant updates throughout the day and night. The national news was once filtered through a few major networks, but now a myriad of organizations and individuals post news stories on the internet. This can be good as competition tends to raise the quality of reporting; however, in the race to beat others to the story, fact checking can take a backseat to getting the story out. Since there are more news sources, the audience slice for many news organizations tends to diminish, and their sphere of influence dwindles. On the other hand, some of the newer outlets are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of viewers. Web logs (blogs) have become ubiquitous on the internet, with a dizzying selection of views. Since there is no controlling authority over these sites, the information disseminated may or may not be accurate or even truthful. We will discuss how the internet affects the quantity and quality of news, and how society is reacting to this new source of information.

2) Privacy and Security

The low cost of computer storage media such as disks, CD’s, and backup tapes have allowed a great deal of personal information to be stored by public and private organizations. It seems that each store keeps its own records of purchases made by individuals. One example is a Kroger card which supplies the parent company with a history of every purchase made in the store by the cardholder. Credit and debit card use is recorded and stored online giving a complete purchasing history of the individual cardholder. Banks store all of their information regarding accounts and passwords on computer storage media. Even academic institutions store personal data using computers. With all of this sensitive and private information stored on computer devices, just how secure is it? It is harder to successfully break into a building and steal paper documents than it is to hack into a computer system, from a remote location, and steal personal information. We have seen over the last year several thefts of private information such as social security and credit card account numbers from computer systems in the private and public sectors. Medical records, one of the last bastions of paper information, are now being committed to computer storage. The same internet that makes commerce convenient using a personal computer gives a convenient way for hackers and thieves to compromise and steal private data. We will discuss the explosion of information stored on each individual and how this will impact society.

3) Commerce

The internet allows monetary transactions to be carried out using our personal computer. We can shop, do our banking, pay bills, and do money management almost completely through the internet. The internet makes it possible for a business to expand sales without the need to invest in more buildings and personnel. While some people are more comfortable shopping in a store with sales people to answer questions and offer advice, many are more comfortable shopping online. We will discuss the impact the internet has on purchasing and extrapolate this to our purchasing habits in the future. Currently, purchases made through the internet are not taxed; however, as the number of on-line purchases increases, tax revenues decrease. There has been some talk in the legislature of imposing a tax on internet purchases, and we will discuss the pros and cons of an internet tax.

4) Academic Information

The cost of textbooks has skyrocketed over the past 30 years. Books are filled with color prints and are much larger than their older counterparts. Students feel this pinch each semester as books are originally purchased at high prices and then turned in to the bookstore at a small fraction of their initial cost. Many of the same textbooks can be purchased overseas and shipped back to the United States for about half the cost of purchasing them here. In fact, many student organizations have pooled monies and make one large overseas textbook purchase each semester allowing them to bypass higher national prices. Publishers are wrestling with how to handle this while maintaining their current profit margins. However, with the advent of the internet, students can access academic information such as course notes posted by their instructor and subject information posted by individuals all over the world. This can make textbooks much less mandatory for learning material in many classes. Information freedom can also pose a problem: it can be tempting for students to search the internet for material and pass it off as their own work. We will discuss the future of hard copy publishing and if academic knowledge should be freely available through the internet or purchased through textbooks with financial remuneration to the author. We will also discuss how the internet can be a resource while avoiding temptations to plagiarize.

5) Music and Video

With the advent of digital audio and video files, songs and movies can be sent through the internet as easily as email messages. These files can be shared between friends and even downloaded from anonymous sources. The rules on file sharing vary depending on the agreements forged between the artists and publishing companies; most do not allow free access to music or video files. Consequently several lawsuits have been filed for copyright infringement. However, some lesser-known artists encourage file sharing in hopes that they will become more popular. As a way to legally “play” within the file sharing arena, several internet sites have sprung up which charge for downloads with the majority of the cost going back to the publishing company and artist. We will discuss the growing pains incurred by both the end user and publishing companies as a fair way evolves to treat copyrighted material on the internet.

LIBA 102, Section 03 — Music of the South
MWF 1:00-1:50
Michael V. Namorato (History)
hsmvn@olemiss.edu, 915-7488

This course will study the music of the South. It will examine music in terms of its different genres as well as a cultural phenomenon. Emphasis will be placed on the regional uniqueness of the South and its development of its own forms of music. Specifically, the seminar will focus on the South and its adoption of and immersion in country music, bluegrass, the blues, gospel, rockability, and jazz. Students will be exposed to how each genre appeared in the South, who were its principal practitioners, and how each form of Southern music impacted the rest of the United States. All of this will be accomplished through readings, short research projects, class discussions, oral reports, and a final research paper.

LIBA 102, Section 04 — Contemporary Topics in Multiculturalism on College Campuses
MW 4:00-5:15
Donald Cole (Mathematics)
dcole@olemiss.edu, 915-1712

The course will consist of writing, speaking, library research, and style book assignments 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. Some of these topics are listed below. Students will be expected to attend several seminars, performances and/or campus lectures related to the course’s contents. Many assignments will parallel current debate and editorials regarding multicultural topics in the academy. Student’s papers will discuss fact and opinions on these topics.

LIBA 102, Section 05 — “Civil War in Virginia: The Road to Appomattox ”
MWF 10:00-10:50
Donald Trott (Music)
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 examination 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, Spotsylvania and Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the entire retreat route from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House.

LIBA 102, Section 06 — Law and the College Student
TTH 1:00-2:15
Kerry Melear (Education)
kbm@olemiss.edu, 915-5016

The legal issues affecting the lives of American college students span a broad range of engaging topics, from free speech on campus to search and seizure in the residence halls. This seminar is designed to introduce these and other concepts and allow students 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, and to inform key dimensions of course writing assignments. Course writing elements will include a series of case briefs and reflective essays, a short research paper, and a group presentation, as well as other writing components as assigned.

LIBA 102, Section 07 — “Youth Culture and the Power of Music: From Bluesmen and Crooners to Gangsters and Pop Divas”
MWF 10:00-10:50
William Mark Franks (Department of Sociology and Anthropology)
wmfranks@olemiss.edu, 234-4671

The power of music grows every day in American popular culture, and the youth market finds itself increasingly influenced by music in a variety of formats, for a variety of purposes. This course aims to improve each student’s ability in the areas of critical thought, responsible research, composition, and oral presentation. Anna Tomasino’s excellent and accessible text, MUSIC AND CULTURE, provides a springboard for developing thought-provoking topics, and features critical writing about music and issues, often controversial, that envelop youth culture. We’ll also use Strunk and White’s THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, fourth edition, in addition to a common reference source, A WRITER’S RESOURCE. The goal is to produce students who are more confident, competent, and curious academic thinkers, researchers, writers, and speakers. We will focus on a work rhythm of reading, reasoning, and writing; and the skills acquired in the course will serve all students well in their major fields of study, and beyond. After all, what profession or academic discipline doesn’t seek persons who can frame intelligent questions, responsibly seek answers to those questions, and present their findings in an impressive written or oral format?

LIBA 102, Section 08 — Jewish identity in the modern novel
MWF 10:00-10:50
Patricia O'Sullivan (Philosophy and Religion)
posulliv@olemiss.edu, 915-7020

In this section of LIBA 102, we will explore the internal and external struggles of Jewish adolescents coming of age in novels such as The Chosen, Daniel Deronda, and A Conspiracy of Paper. In particular we will explore the themes of survival, identity and nationality in these narratives. Students will be expected to read between 150-200 pages each week, compose and complete discussion questions, participate in class discussions, and successfully complete five 3-page book reviews, an annotated bibliography on a research topic and a three oral presentations.

LIBA 102, Section 09 — The Civil Rights Movement
MWF 11:00-11:50
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: Bruce J. Dierenfield's The Civil Rights Movement, 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 10 — An examination of the thriller novel’s parts and characters
MWF 11:00-11:50
James Piiparinen (English)
jmpiipar@olemiss.edu, 915-7679

In all good thriller novels there are basic reoccurring characters such as the hero, the villain, and the femme fatale. In this class we will look at these characters, as well as such things as the money and the chase, and examine how they differ from novel to novel. We will read and study the likes of

Ian Femming’s James Bond and Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe to comprehend what is being said about the thriller.

LIBA 102, Section 11 — Beyond Protest: Music Affecting Social Change
TTH 11:00-12:15
Greg Johnson (Library)
gj1@olemiss.edu, 915-7753

While music often simply mirrors cultural, societal, and political landscapes of the time in which it is composed, it is also used to affect changes and directly influence societies and institutions.

Throughout history, musicians have written music critical of oppressive governments, disagreeable political policies, dangerous societal attitudes, and hypocritical religious leaders or teachings. This course will examine the many varied ways music has been used as an agent of social change throughout history, in various cultures, and through different musical genres. Students will learn about music of the Nueva Canción movement in Latin America; Mapfumo and other protest musicians of Africa; and war protest songs from the American Revolution, Vietnam, and today’s war in Iraq. From Victor Jarra to Frank Zappa, Pete Seeger to Green Day, Josh White to Willie Nelson, and Dmitri Shostakovich to Bob Dylan, students will be exposed to a wide array of musical dissent of varying genres and time periods. In addition to critical listening and analytical skills, the student will learn to utilize library resources to improve research quality.

LIBA 102, Section 12 — A Century of Cinema
MW 3:00-4:15
Phyllis Nobles (English)
pnobles@olemiss.edu, 915-7718

This course seeks to acquaint students with the history, tradition and evolution of the cinema. We will look at major American and international cinematic works, beginning with the Lumière Brothers’ first motion pictures, continuing with the works of Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Federico Fellini, Woody Allen, Claire Denis—just to name a few—and ending with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s latest work Volver. This course will provide an understanding of cultural and artistic issues at work in film and will supply a technical and literary vocabulary for discussion and critical analysis. Students should be advised that no mainstream films will be shown in this course and that some films might contain language/ situations which might offend the sensibilities of some.

LIBA 102, Section 13 — Healing, Helping, and Teaching: The Voice of Nursing
TTH 8:00-9:15
Sherry Hill Felder, PhD, RN (Site Director, Oxford Campus)
sfelder@son.umsmed.edu, 915-3031

Buresh and Gordon (2006) in their book, From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public, asserted people in the nursing profession “need to talk in clear, everyday language to illustrate just how nurses save lives, alleviate suffering, and even keep down health care costs” (p.21). 

This section of LIBA 102 will utilize literature, art, television, and the cinema to focus on issues in nursing and to develop students’ voice through written and oral communication. Issues about nurses’ history, image, ethics, and professionalism will be explored. Critical thinking, writing, and informed speaking will be the foundation of this course.

LIBA 102, Section 14 — Satire: A Roman Original
TUTH 11:00-12:15
Charles Gross (English)
jcgross@olemiss.edu, 915-7679

This seminar will examine the origins of satire among the Romans. Students will read selected satires of Horace and Juvenal as well as the Satyricon of Petronius. Johnson’s London, and Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels will be among some additional readings. Students will do research leading to their selection of some more modern examples of this literary genre. These could include selections from books, the theater, cinema, and television.

LIBA 102, Section 15 — Current Theories of Foreign/Second Language Acquisition
MW 3:00-4:15
Susan Major (Linguistics)
smajor@vista-express.com, 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 17 — American Popular Images of Russia
MWF 1:00-1:50
Svetlana Ilinskaya (English)
silinska@olemiss.edu, 915-7684

In this course we will see how images of the outside world are created in our heads, how they become a part of our beliefs.Do we perceive reality the way it really is or the way other people want us to see it? How can an image or anidea become a stereotype?

We will be using the tumultuous relationship the US has had with Russia for over seventy years as our primary example. The textbook that will help us see what it was like is a beautifully illustratedRed Scared!: The Commie Menace inPropaganda and Popular Culture.Its authors, Michael Barson and Steven Heller, provide us not only with historic data, excerpts from real newspapers, magazines and other mass media productions, and their analysis of them, but also with pages and pages of colorful reprints of original posters, pamphlets and book covers that your parents and grandparents may still remember!

We will be also reading Walter Lippmann’s ageless classic Public Opinion, which covers some of the important issues of political science, psychology, communications, history and logic, and applying it to our analysis of Red Scared!;movies like Ninotchka and The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!, and our daily lives.

At the end of our class we will take a brief look at some of the attitudes Russians have towards America today. Are their views and opinions objective? What could they have been influenced by?

Quizzes, five two-page analytical papers, a 5-to-10-page research paper and a presentation will be required.

LIBA 102, Section 18 — Literature of World War I
MWF 2:00-2:50
Peter Wirth (English)
phwirth@olemiss.edu, 915-5035

We will consider the history of World War I in its political, military, and human aspects. The emphasis will be on the following works of literature:

The grade will be based on four four-page papers, an oral report, midterm and final examinations, quizzes on the reading, and class participation.

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
J. Carden, CLU, ChFC, CFM, BA, MBA, JD (Economics Department Instructor)
jmcarden@olemiss.edu, 915-5700

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 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 — Western on Film
TTH 4:00-5:15
Whitney Hubbard (English)
wahubbar@olemiss.edu, 915-7718

This section of Liba 102 is intended for film enthusiasts. In this course we will watch and study Westerns directed by the likes of John Ford, Sergio Leone, and Sam Peckinpah. We will place each film in a historical and present day context, analyzing and writing about their content. We will do the same for each director’s cinematic style as it pertains to the way their artistic visions reshaped the genre.

LIBA 102, Section 21 — Banned and Challenged Books
MW 4:00-5:15
Michelle Emanuel (Library)
memanuel@olemiss.edu, 915-7953

Books are usually challenged with the best intentions: to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information, with parents challenging materials more often than any other group. Books are most commonly suppressed in school and public libraries on political, social, sexual and/or religious grounds. This course will examine four books from the “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” list, maintained by the American Library Association, looking at why and where the books have been challenged or banned, and the dangers to intellectual freedom that censorship presents. Assigned readings will also include popular press and scholarly articles. Writing assignments will include minute papers, critical essays, and a final project in which the student will choose an additional challenged/banned book to analyze and present to the class.

LIBA 102, Section 22 — Psychological Theory and Literature
TTH 8:00-9:15
Scotty Hargrove, (Psychology)
pydsh@olemiss.edu, 915-5187

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 courseprovides opportunities to write, edit and revise one's own work, and make oral presentations relatingpsychological theory to the literature of Tyler.

LIBA 102, Section 23 — Writing for the Masses
TTH 8:00-9:15
Carman Manning-Miller (Journalism)
cmanning@olemiss.edu, 915-5505

Writing is basic to any area of the mass media. Few things are printed or broadcast without being written down first. Students must recognize that despite the narrowness of their interests, they must know about the mass media to survive and be successful. An in-depth treatment of news reporting skills or advertising copy writing techniques will not be found in this course. The purpose of this course is to simply introduce students to the major forms of writing for the mass media.

LIBA 102, Section 24— Katrina and the Hurricane Cultures of the South
TTH 1:00-2:15
Annette Trefzer (English)
atrefzer@olemiss.edu, 915-7685

This course examines the history and the representations of hurricanes like Katrina in literature, film, history, politics and the media. Students will research, read, and write essays about the storm that devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast in fall of 2005. Students will research and write about various different aspects of the disaster including race, class, and gender and their representations in the mainstream and the local press, in personal eyewitness accounts as well as in film, literature, and history. These materials from oral, written and visual culture will be the basis for academic essays that integrate informative, argumentative, personal and creative aspects. Thinking and learning to write critically is the main goal of this course.

*Course Goals and Objectives: *

This course is intended to provide students with

LIBA 102, Section 25 — Critical Issues Facing Higher Education in America
TTH 8:00-9:15
Michael McCready (English)
mccready@olemiss.edu, 915-5052

The readings and related writing assignments in this course examine critical questions concerning student expectations and experiences related to higher education in America. The readings introduce students to ideas and issues - - - ways of thinking about higher education - - - that are cutting edge and that will help the reader make sense of the variety of purposes underlying postsecondary education in the United States. The course includes the following topics: the relationship between higher education and the surrounding cultures; analyses of college life as experienced by both students and teachers; an analysis of "Why go to college in the first place"; issues regarding testing and assessment in higher education.

LIBA 102, Section 26 — Wellness: Facts, Fads and Fallacies
TTH 9:30-10:45
Dr. Michael A. Dupper (HESRM)
mad@olemiss.edu, 915-5564

The 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 27 — Existential Ecology
TTH 8:00-9:15
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", where Pulitzer prize winning author Jared Diamond compares past and pending ecological/societal crises, and analyzes why some end in disastrous 'collapse' while others survive the bottleneck relatively unscathed. Within the first week, students will choose a chapter to present to the rest of the class orally using power point. Students will also 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 engage 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 28 — Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life
TTH 9:30-10:45
William Lawhead (Philosophy & Religion)
wlawhead@olemiss.edu, 915-7345

In this course we will read, discuss, and write about ethical questions that everyone has to face. We will be using the anthology Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life which provides a range of conflicting viewpoints on ethical issues. Our focus will not be so much on whether this or that particular action is morally right or wrong as much as it will be on the fundamental issues underlying all ethical discussions. However, along the way, we may discuss a few concrete issues (such as human reproductive cloning). Throughout the semester we will read and discuss a variety of viewpoints on such questions as: Are all ethical judgments completely and irreducibly relative (to either the culture or the individual) or is there an underlying objective basis for ethical judgments? Why should we be concerned with being moral in the first place? What makes an action right or wrong? Is it the consequences of the action, the nature of the action itself, or the person's intentions and motives? What should be the relationship between morality and the law?

LIBA 102, Section 29 — Critical Issues Facing Higher Education in America
TTH 9:30-10:45
Michael McCready (English)
mccready@olemiss.edu, 915-5052

The readings and related writing assignments in this course examine critical questions concerning student expectations and experiences related to higher education in America. The readings introduce students to ideas and issues - - - ways of thinking about higher education - - - that are cutting edge and that will help the reader make sense of the variety of purposes underlying postsecondary education in the United States. The course includes the following topics: the relationship between higher education and the surrounding cultures; analyses of college life as experienced by both students and teachers; an analysis of "Why go to college in the first place"; issues regarding testing and assessment in higher education.

LIBA 102, Section 30 – “Monster Narratives in Literature and Film”
TTH 11:00–12:15
Allison Burkette (English)
Burkette@olemiss.edu, 915-6642

This section of LIBA 102 has as its texts literature, film, and non-fiction writings that deal with the topic of monsters. The underlying idea is that monster narratives, whether we experience them on the page or on the screen, represent much more than a simplistic idea of good versus evil; instead, the monster is a being through which we confront (and, to an extent, deal with) human nature. We will read Shelley’s Frankenstein, Stoker’s Dracula, and Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as well as various literary interpretations of each work. Secondary readings come from a variety of sources, from Stephen King to Sigmund Freud. We will also discuss another form of ‘interpretation’ as we examine how these monsters are brought to life by Hollywood. To that end, we will view a number of monster movies, both 1930s black and white films as well as more recent interpretations of these three classic tales. Our writing for the course will revolve around the idea of a monster – depicted on the page or on the screen - as a complex being that gives us access to modern society’s underlying anxieties.

LIBA 102, Section 31 — CANCELLED

LIBA 102, Section 32 — Greek Mythology
TTH 1:00-2:15
Ted Capps (Emeritus Professor of Classics)
ecapps@olemiss.edu, 915-7679

The main goal of this section will be to explore what some Greek (and a few Roman) myths, being among the first stories recorded, have to say about human relationships. The assigned readings will be translations of 3 ancient sources of these myths, Hesiod (most of his Theogony and a couple of selections from his Works and Days),many of the Homeric Hymns (the 5 full-length hymns and 4 shorter ones), and the Metamorphoses of Ovid. There will be four papers --2, 3, 4, and 6 pages in length -- counting as 80% of the grade--with the remaining 20% based on class participation including an oral presentation to the class.

LIBA 102, Section 33 — Developing Communication Strategies
TTH 1:00-2:15
Jere Littlejohn (Management)
jlittlejohn@olemiss.edu, 915-5728

You cannot not communicate. That is a fact. Everyday we face situations in which communication choices produce a wide spectrum of results. From satisfying exchanges with friends or family to a total impasse in workplace politics, we can take the communication process for granted, or we can actively pursue a plan destined for effective outcomes. Students in this seminar will examine the communication process as theorized and practiced in literature and other secondary resources to discover possible strategies. Through the reading, researching, writing, and discussing, they will have opportunity to develop their writing and speaking skills in an interactive classroom.

Grading will be based on written and oral critiques. Students will develop papers conveying their own communication hypotheses, validated by their research and critical reasoning. An oral group presentation will be required.

LIBA 102, Section 34 — Minds, Machines, and Morality
TTH 1:00-2:15
Robert Barnard (Philosophy and Religion)
rwbjr@olemiss.edu, 915-7020

This course will examine some of the ways that technology forces us to re-examine philosophical questions about the nature of the mind and the moral character of human life. Possible issues for class consideration include: whether machines are conscious, whether machines are entitled to moral recognition, whether (virtual) actions performed in virtual environments can be immoral, or even criminal, and how technology has changed our conception of ourselves.

LIBA 102, Section 35 — Italian Culture Through Cinema, Literature & Art
TTH 9:30-10:45
Angela Tumini (Modern Languages)
atumini@olemiss.edu, 915-7298

This course aims at providing the students with a stimulating Italian cultural experience, while improving their composition skills and their ability to think critically. Each section of the course will explore how Italian culture is best expressed trough cinema, literature and art, and how these three areas are inter-related. The students will also analyze the importance of these three elements in Italian culture and life and why is Italian identity so strong and so recognizable throughout the world. The students will have the opportunity to deal with an interesting topic with the help of the professor who is a native of Italy , while doing writing based on their understanding of the course material, as well as on their own independent research on the subject.

LIBA 102, Section 36 — So you want to go to law school?
TTH 2:30-3:45
Jason Derrick (Law)
wjderric@olemiss.edu, 915-6879

Did you know, in the world right now, there are more people in law school than there are actual practicing lawyers? If you’re thinking about law school, this course offers a survey of the law school experience, and goals for the course include understanding both state and federal court structures, understanding the procedural aspects of lawsuits, and mastering legal research and writing techniques. The course also includes a survey of some first-year law school classes, including Torts and Contracts. Students will prepare several interoffice legal memos, negotiate a contract, and hone their advocacy skills. Additionally, we’ll take a look at pop culture perspectives on the law school experience in literature and film. Texts include Robert H Miller’s Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience and Scott Turow’s One L. Additional readings will be provided.

LIBA 102, Section 37 — Social Issues in 20th Century Musical Theatre
TTH 2:30-3:45
Rene Pulliam (Theatre Arts)
rpulliam@olemiss.edu, 915-6991

This is a writing course that will base all assignments and discussions on the exploration of Twentieth Century American Musical Theatre, 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.

Through a series of in class discussions, written assignments and oral presentations the student should have acquired the following competencies:

TEXTBOOK:

REQUIRED MUSICAL LIBRETTI: *Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Additional video support will be used in class.

LIBA 102, Section 38 — Katrina and the Hurricane Cultures of the South
TTH 2:30-3:45
Annette Trefzer (English)
atrefzer@olemiss.edu, 915-7685

This course examines the history and the representations of hurricanes like Katrina in literature, film, history, politics and the media. Students will research, read, and write essays about the storm that devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast in fall of 2005. Students will research and write about various different aspects of the disaster including race, class, and gender and their representations in the mainstream and the local press, in personal eyewitness accounts as well as in film, literature, and history. These materials from oral, written and visual culture will be the basis for academic essays that integrate informative, argumentative, personal and creative aspects. Thinking and learning to write critically is the main goal of this course.

*Course Goals and Objectives: *

This course is intended to provide students with

LIBA 102, Section 39 — Somethin’s Happening Here: The History of Student Protest
TTH 5:00-6:15
Sparky Reardon (Leadership & Counselor Education)
sparky@olemiss.edu, 915-7248

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 40 — Faulkner and Detective Fiction
TTH 4:00-5:15
Chatham Ewing (Library)
cewing@olemiss.edu, 915-7408

In this course we will read and write about texts by Doyle, Poe, Chesterton, and Chandler for background in the history of the detective story. We will use these authors to establish a context for reading and writing about Faulkner’s Knight's Gambit and Sanctuary. We will visit Rowan Oak and Faulkner's grave, consider some of the special collections in the library having to do with Faulkner's career, and watch critically a film that Faulkner worked on as a screenwriter, The Big Sleep. At the end of the semester we will read Sanctuary and watch the film based upon it, The Story of Temple Drake.

LIBA 102, Section 41 – It’s News to Me: The Role of the Writer in the Media
TTH 4:00-5:15
Robin Street (Journalism)
rbstreet@olemiss.edu, 915-5081

Explore the world of newspapers, magazines, broadcast news, public relations and advertising. These forms of media share one skill in common: good writing. Media writers educate, entertain and influence us, using a style and format unlike any other writing.

This class will examine the role of the media in our lives and the role of the writers in those media. We’ll learn the “who, what, why, where and how” of writing for the various forms of media, practicing each form of writing. We’ll look at behind-the-scenes decisions such as how reporters decide something is newsworthy, how advertising and public relations writers influence public opinion, and how magazine writers develop articles.

No journalism skills or experience are needed for this class.

LIBA 102, Section 42 — Environment and the media
MWF 9:00-9:50
Terra Bowling (National Sea Grant Law Center)
tmharget@olemiss.edu, 915-7775

From celebrities to politicians, everyone is weighing in on the environment. How do these personalities and the general public form their opinions? This class will explore how the media expresses environmental information and its effect on individuals, industries, and governments. Students will learn how to evaluate scientific information and sharpen their writing skills by analyzing how the mass media presents environmental information.

LIBA 102, Section 43 — The History of New York through the Arts
TTH 1:00-2:15
Laura Antonow (Art)
lantonow@hotmail.com, 915-7193

Once the nation's capital, New York City is considered by some "the center of the universe." While its political importance may have diminished, the city's significance to the art world is immeasurable. From skyscrapers to street performers, New York's cultural influences are undeniable. This course examines New York City through the visual and performing arts. Architecture and urban design will be explored so students can gain an appreciation of the cityscape. Painting, sculpture, photography and film by New York artists and about New York themes will also be examined. Important events in the arts -- the gift of the Statue of Liberty, the Harlem Renaissance, the establishment of New York's great museums, the development of the skyscraper, and development of artistic movements such as the Ashcan School, the New York School and Pop Art -- will be explored. Readings will include selections from several texts including How the Other Half Lives, Inventing the Skyline, Off the Wall, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol and The New York Times

LIBA 102, Section 44 — 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, women, 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 through the writing of essays, readings, and a research paper. The plays contain mature themes and mature language.

LIBA 102, Section 45 — The Good Life
TTH 8:00-9:15
George Kehoe (English)
gkehoe@bus.olemiss.edu, 915-5471

Society’s long-lived institutions from the campaign trail to the marketplace appeal to perpetuate our concept of the Good Life, and yet when asked for a lively, concrete definition of that concept, we often struggle to move beyond further abstractions and generalities. How do we define the values that shape our decisions and the goals we pursue? Where do they come from and how do they manifest themselves in our everyday lives? Writers throughout time and from all parts of the world have wrestled either implicitly or explicitly with these fundamental questions. With readings (ranging from Cicero’s orations to Larry Brown’s fiction), class discussion, and writing assignments designed to propel an undogmatic exploration of what constitutes the Good Life, this course considers issues such as friendship, responsibility (to oneself and to others), moral integrity, and contemplative experience.

LIBA 102, Section 46 — Western on Film
MW 3:00-4:15
Whitney Hubbard (English)
wahubbar@olemiss.edu, 915-7718

This section of Liba 102 is intended for film enthusiasts. In this course we will watch and study Westerns directed by the likes of John Ford, Sergio Leone, and Sam Peckinpah. We will place each film in a historical and present day context, analyzing and writing about their content. We will do the same for each director’s cinematic style as it pertains to the way their artistic visions reshaped the genre.

LIBA 102, Section 47 — Satire: A Roman Original
MWF 2:00-2:50
Charles Gross (English)
jcgross@olemiss.edu, 915-7679

This seminar will examine the origins of satire among the Romans. Students will read selected satires of Horace and Juvenal as well as the Satyricon of Petronius. Johnson’s London, and Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels will be among some additional readings. Students will do research leading to their selection of some more modern examples of this literary genre. These could include selections from books, the theater, cinema, and television.

LIBA 102, Section 48 — “Youth Culture and the Power of Music: From Bluesmen and Crooners to Gangsters and Pop Divas”
MWF 11:00-12:15
William Mark Franks (Department of Sociology and Anthropology)
wmfranks@olemiss.edu, 234-4671

The power of music grows every day in American popular culture, and the youth market finds itself increasingly influenced by music in a variety of formats, for a variety of purposes. This course aims to improve each student’s ability in the areas of critical thought, responsible research, composition, and oral presentation. Anna Tomasino’s excellent and accessible text, MUSIC AND CULTURE, provides a springboard for developing thought-provoking topics, and features critical writing about music and issues, often controversial, that envelop youth culture. We’ll also use Strunk and White’s THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, fourth edition, in addition to a common reference source, A WRITER’S RESOURCE. The goal is to produce students who are more confident, competent, and curious academic thinkers, researchers, writers, and speakers. We will focus on a work rhythm of reading, reasoning, and writing; and the skills acquired in the course will serve all students well in their major fields of study, and beyond. After all, what profession or academic discipline doesn’t seek persons who can frame intelligent questions, responsibly seek answers to those questions, and present their findings in an impressive written or oral format?

LIBA 102, Section 49 — Deviance in U.S. Society
TTH 11:00-12:15
Jennifer Snook (Sociology & Anthropology)
Skadivitnir@hotmail.com, 915-

In this course, we will explore the notion of “deviance” as it is applied to people, including their identities, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We’ll explore the ways that people or their actions come to be defined as deviant or not, as well as the effects of that labeling on the individuals and groups involved. We’ll examine formal and informal social control mechanisms, learning about the ways that deviance is discouraged or minimized and the ways that “normativity” is maintained and reproduced. We’ll also learn about how specific forms of deviant behavior or identity operate, and will apply varioussocial theories that seek to answer general questions about deviance in individuals, in group contexts, and in society in general.

LIBA 102, Section 50 —"Music and Identity"
TTH 1:00-2:15
Matthieu Dessier (Sociology)
mdessier@olemiss.edu, 915-7295

This seminar proposes to stir students' curiosity about the social world through the study of a familiar object. Contemporary literature in social sciences suggests that music plays a significant role in the construction of our sense of identity. Through the direct experience of music, we place ourselves in imaginative cultural narratives. In other words, the music that sounds good, the musical experience we value, is the one that allows us to construct an ideal perception of social reality. Likewise, if "bad" music is so unbearable, it is because the cultural narrative it embodies is wrong, offensive, even humiliating. By analyzing music as a social phenomenon, students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills about the social forces that impact their perception of the world and construction of identity. The material will consist of academic articles and books from cultural studies and social sciences dealing with the production, diffusion and experience of music and its role in the construction of the social self. Throughout the semester, short writing assignments will encourage students to reflect on the concepts encountered in the readings. A final research paper will lead them to apply the material to their own understanding and experience of music.

LIBA 102, Section 51 — An examination of the thriller novel’s parts and characters
MWF 8:00-8:50
James Piiparinen (English)
jmpiipar@olemiss.edu, 915-7679

In all good thriller novels there are basic reoccurring characters such as the hero, the villain, and the femme fatale. In this class we will look at these characters, as well as such things as the money and the chase, and examine how they differ from novel to novel. We will read and study the likes of

Ian Femming’s James Bond and Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe to comprehend what is being said about the thriller.

LIBA 102, Section 53 — Understanding Today’s Science News
MWF 9:00-9:50
Gary Gaston (Biology)
bygaston@olemiss.edu, 915-7162

What should a college-educated person know about science?  This semester we will discuss current events and science news.  Students will read assignments in the news media, participate in class discussions about relevance of the articles in today’s world, and pen their interpretations and feelings in writing assignments.  Students will be expected to discuss topics in science and put that knowledge to pen with effective writing. Text required: The Cooper Hill Stylebook: A Guide to Writing and Revision, Second Edition.