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2008 FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR: SUMMARIES
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A Brief History of the Future
This seminar looks at technological change.
We will begin by examining how this change
has affected society in the past. The compass,
the printing press, the telegraph, television,
the Internet—each was an invention that
promised to transform the world's politics
and business. The history of these inventions
also shows that emerging technologies follow
patterns of acceptance and abandonment.
Next, we will discuss what technological
trends are present in the world today and
how they are influencing science, art, politics
and business. Finally we will examine what
trends will probably be important in the next
twenty years.
Roadside America (LLC)
What images come to mind when you hear
someone say "road trip?" A convertible
kicking up dust as it flies down the highway,
surrounded by vast open spaces and
adventure? Weary travelers staring numbly
out the windshield, longing for home? Who
produces these images? Who consumes them?
What do they mean? How are they shaped by
cultural ways of seeing, doing, knowing, and
representing? This seminar explores representations
of road trips, highway landscapes, car
culture, and "the road" in road movies such as
"Thelma & Louise," road novels such as Jack
Kerouac's On the Road, and in the popular
visual culture of roadside America as well as
our own personal stories of road travel.
Travel, Tourism and Encountering "the Other"
This seminar explores travel, tourism and other forms of international encounter that entail cross-cultural contact, including the Peace Corps and study abroad. We will consider the implications of such forms of contact across time and space. What does it mean to encounter the "other?" How is this desire expressed differently through travel, tourism, humanitarian work, or study? And how do meanings differ for the traveler and for the destination/person(s) at the other end of the encounter? We will investigate themes like these through history, anthropology, literature, and film.
Multi-Chocolated: The Wonders of Chocolate in the Liberal Arts (LLC)
Nearly everyone loves some kind of chocolate.
Chocolate's versatility in uses reaches back
centuries, yet emerges routinely in our social
lives, our environmental concerns, our health
applications and our aesthetic experiences.
We will use chocolate as a context for finding
connections among multiple disciplines
including biology, chemistry, history, psychology,
art, business and anthropology, to name
a few. Students will participate in labs that
showcase the physical properties of chocolate
and discuss texts that shed light on the past
applications and controversies surrounding
this delightful resource. The class will culminate
with pairs of students developing their
ideas to market a new application of chocolate
by showcasing its multidisciplinary nature.
Politics by Other Means: The Demons of War (In Film and Literature)
Almost everyone would agree that war is
harmful to children and other living things,
yet we never seem to internalize the intensity
of this destructive pursuit and we seem condemned
to periodically repeat the errors of
the past and be devoured by its insatiable
demons. This seminar intends to examine
the perspectives of war expressed by a few
filmmakers and writers attempting to capture
this phenomenon. Works from all over the
world and from different historical periods
have been selected in an attempt to provide
a multifaceted and multilayered vision of this
devastating phenomenon. One of the goals
of the seminar is to provide new insights and
inspiration to alter our consciousness enough
to develop an undying commitment to a state
of permanent peace.
You Are What You Eat: Religious Conceptions of Food (LLC)
Food can be used to connect with the sacred,
feed divine beings through ritual offerings,
and transform the human self physically, morally
and spiritually. Religious conceptions of
food and drink infuse cultural ideas about
the human body, and about the relationship
between humans and sacredness. Through a
variety of texts and films we will investigate
specific rituals and traditions in some of the
world's major religions; decipher some useful
cross-cultural themes; and gain a broad
understanding of religious concepts and
behaviors surrounding food.
Do They Really Drink Green Beer?: The Irish in America
Every March sees massive St. Patrick's Day
parades, rivers and beer are dyed green, and
revelers wear "Kiss Me—I'm Irish" buttons.
Popular images of Irish Americans range from
the kindly priests in Bing Crosby movies to
murderous thugs in films like "Gangs of New
York." This seminar will study who the Irish in
America really are: how they survived starvation
during the great famine to seeing one
of their own elected president of the United
States. Students will use the framework of
the Irish-American story to look at their own
families' immigration histories, and analyze
the issues facing those who are immigrating
to the United States today.
Our Music, Their Music (LLC)
This seminar examines American culture
through some of its popular music. Our
approach will be multidisciplinary; we will
consider music and musicians from aesthetic,
historical, economic and sociological perspectives.
The seminar will begin with Louis
Armstrong and end with Techno and Hip-Hop.
In between, we will read about, listen to,
and discuss other popular and significant
figures including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday,
Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, the
Beatles, Madonna, Willie Nelson and Nirvana.
Thoughtful, well-articulated, and supported
ways of listening to, discussing, and writing
about music and culture will always be at the
heart of the seminar.
Political Spin Meisters Back in the Day: Alexander the Great and Caesar Augustus (LLC)
Alexander and Augustus were the greatest
political spin masters of Classical antiquity.
Modern-day politicians could take lessons.
Their state machinery projected their imperial
images and programs. These rulers spun their
political images through the use and abuse
of the multimedia of their day, that is, stateinspired
literature, dedications, sculpture,
coins, and architecture. We will read selected
ancient sources in translation and observe
ancient art and architecture to see exactly
how these rulers were portrayed. We also
will compare contemporary use/abuse of, and
by, the media in 2008 campaign coverage. No
background in Classics is assumed.
Going to the Dogs
Dogs appear at every major juncture
in human history, with over 70 million
dogs in the United States today. A recent
National Geographic stated, "Dogs are not
just our proverbial best friends in the animal
world . . . They evolved from wolves long ago,
found a home alongside humans before history
makes a record, and never left." We will
analyze portrayals of dogs in various media,
examine the biology of dogs, and explore the
Homo sapiens-Canis familiaris relationship.
So, has the relationship between humans
and dogs impacted the development of
human culture?
Seeing the Water: Mass Media Literacy (LLC)
Sut Jhally has said that you shouldn't ask fish
about water, because for them, water isn't
some thing, it's just where they live. Most
Americans today are inundated with mass
media messages whose main purpose is to
make them feel as if they lack something
important that a consumer purchase of one
sort or another can provide. It is hard to
see those messages and how they operate
upon us clearly. They are like water for fish.
In this seminar we will examine recent
media discourse practice and the impact of
that practice on most aspects of our daily
lives. We will also learn and practice a set
of analytic tools with which to engage and
critique that practice, equipping us to see
through methods employed by the media to
persuade us to see the world their way. We
will learn to see the water.
Educational Equality: Myth or Reality? (LLC)
When John Adams set forth his "Thoughts on
Government" in 1776, he asserted that "Laws
for the liberal education of youth, especially
of the lower class of people, are so extremely
wise and useful, that, to a humane and generous
mind, no expense for this purpose
would be thought extravagant." Many critics
of American public education would argue,
however, that this vision of providing equal
access to a quality education for all children is
essentially a dream unfulfilled. This seminar
will provide students with an opportunity
to examine and critically analyze trends and
issues related to equal educational opportunity
in America.
Photograph Culture and the Force of Images
Photographs are everywhere these days.
People display personal pictures ranging
from the silly to the risqué on Facebook. We
are bombarded almost every day by violent
pictures in the news. History tells us that
photographs can produce significant social
change: for instance, famous pictures of
police attacking protesters during the civil
rights movement seared the conscious of the
nation and led to significant reforms. Taking
pictures is routine at most family gatherings.
In our photograph-saturated society, how
does this widespread circulation of images
change our selves, our culture, and our
expectations about privacy, censorship and
public decency?
Lies Teachers Tell (LLC)
What does it mean to be a Texan, an American,
a national hero or villain? What stories have
teachers and textbooks told us about our
national identity? What lies have we learned?
Whose voices have been excluded from our
mainstream historical narratives? How do
these lies and omissions inform our sense of
national "others?" In this seminar, we will
question and analyze the stories that teachers
(and other authorities) tell us about what it
means to be "American" and a "citizen" so
that we might create historical narratives and
historical sensibilities that are more complex,
accurate and inclusive.
Better Babies, Monster Moms, & Clones: Reproductive Justice in the Age of Genetics (LLC)
From The New York Times to "Ugly Betty,"
stories of human cloning, surrogate moms and
assisted reproduction raise questions about
what constitutes "natural" reproduction and
who should be allowed to reproduce. Are all
requests for a particular kind of baby morally
suspect, or are we willing to allow some interventions?
How do understandings of identity,
family, "mother" and "child" shift in the era
of genetics? What constitutes reproductive
justice, and for whom? In this seminar, we
will engage in an interdisciplinary exploration
of these issues, paying particular attention
to gender, race, class, sexuality and ability
in these debates.
The Endless Summernar: Lessons Learned From the Search for the Perfect Wave
Ford and Brown (2006) describe the "dream
of surfing" as "an embodied experience with
an addictive tendency . . . that inspire(s) journeys,
lifestyles and, in retrospect shapes and
informs memories of personal significance."
Yet, for many, surfing conjures up the image
of Jeff Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont
High." Just a cursory review of surfing
literature reveals diverse writings covering
religion, anthropology, physics, neuroscience,
physiology, ecology, sociology and psychology.
The purpose of this seminar is to examine
the allure of surfing and to discuss how an
activity such as this can so profoundly impact
the lives of those who participate.
The Amazing Adventures of Michael Chabon
Jewish comic book artists. U.S. immigration
quotas during WW II and the Shoah. Suburban
life and its discontents. Life in pre-Stonewall
America. This is the stuff of The Amazing
Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael
Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winning historical
novel. By focusing on this text and a few
of Chabon's earlier works, we will explore
the ways in which literature represents and
shapes our ideas about ethnicity, religion,
gender and sexuality. Along the way we will
also reflect upon and expand our assumptions
about the role that authors and readers play in
determining the meaning of literary texts.
Political Ethics: A Contradiction in Terms?
This seminar explores the ethical issues posed
by the practice of politics in the American
system. Should a "good" politician act differently
than a "good" person? Do ethical
imperatives differ in the public as opposed
to the private realm? Is there a difference
between useful deception and simple lying?
Should a public official ever willfully disobey
the law? Should leaders ever use citizens as a
means to an otherwise worthy end? Are there
some things worth dying for? Killing for? Can
a politician be both ethical and powerful?
Salt Cod & Cool Whip: Adventures in American Gastronomica (LLC)
Food is an old subject. But the academic study
of the way people produce, procure, prepare
and eat food as a path to understanding culture
is relatively new. This seminar will situate
itself at the multi-disciplinary interchange
that characterizes this new field of inquiry
and will introduce students to the ways in
which practices of everyday life as well as
historical and literary texts may be open to
intellectual inquiry about food and eating.
Among the questions we'll pursue are, what
was the impact of West African slaves in the
development of American food, what was the
"home economics movement" and how did it
effect gender roles, why is American food still
considered inferior as a world cuisine, and
how are food and politics intertwined?
A River Runs Through It: The Ecology and History of the San Gabriel River (LLC)
Running through the center of Georgetown
and alongside Southwestern University is the
San Gabriel River, mostly a tranquil, clearflowing
stream, but occasionally a raging,
destructive torrent. This seminar explores
the human-nature relationship, as illuminated
by rivers in general and the San Gabriel River
in particular. We will examine the science of
water, the ecology of the San Gabriel River,
and how the San Gabriel River has shaped
the history of Williamson County. During the
seminar, we will experience the San Gabriel
River firsthand as we hike its banks, canoe its
waters, and visit nearby historical sites.
Bringing Across: Writing About Chinese in English
What gets lost in translation? Some people have
the idea that Chinese cannot be translated,
that the language and culture is so different
from our own that it cannot be conveyed in
English. This seminar is about those who have
made the attempt to carry things over from
Chinese into English, from Amy Tan's first
novel to smatterings of poetry, with a look at
the characters too. As we work through some
of these fascinating and beautiful texts we will
see translation involves more than conveying
things from different languages; it is also an
attempt to bridge different selves.
Pop-up Books: Peep Shows of Today
What an amazing creation—literature that
springs to life with every turn of the page.
This seminar will look at pop-up books and
the cross-curricular nature of paper engineering
as it relates to interactive images such
as pop-ups, reveals, pull-tabs and dioramas
that are used in book illustrations. We will
explore the innovation, playfulness and artistry
of pop-ups and other paper-engineered
creations that illustrate all areas of our world,
such as theatre, art, religion, science, mythology
and literature.
In the Spotlight Note: this Seminar will not be offered this fall.
Do you have an urge to be in the center
of attention or do you prefer watching the
action from the safety of the audience? In
other words, do you get a rush of adrenaline
thinking about stepping into the spotlight,
or is your heart beating quickly because you
are running away? This seminar will study
the thrill of performing—literally and virtually.
We will study the lives and careers of
performing artists and study performance
venues for the "person next door" (Karaoke,
reality television, social networking Web
sites, and YouTube). Seminar participants
will be required to attend a variety of live
performances on campus.
The Secret History of the Twentieth Century (LLC)
How do you "know" what you "know" and
what does it mean that you do? What's lurking
in Anti-Flag's "Turncoat" or The Matches "Salty
Eyes?" What does M.I.A. know that we don't
(yet)? What do The Velvet Underground and
silent French movie serials tell us? Medieval
democratic pirate enclaves? How about the
connections of Good Charlotte to 16th century
Anabaptists and 20th century Delta blues
singers with 11th century Assassins? The Paris
Commune, Situationists, and "punks?" Our
conceptions of what is (im)possible have been
profoundly shaped by moments that barely
left a trace in history, sites where people
struggled to realize their private dreams and
desires in public; counter-hegemonic space(s)
where people sought to gain control over the
material and ideological conditions of their
everyday lives.
September 11, Terrorism, and Response
The shocking event of September 11 merits
attention beyond what the media have covered.
Why was the United States the target of those
terrible attacks? Who is Osama bin Laden, and
what are the goals, strategies and tactics, and
resources of Al Qaeda? What explains the rise
of Islamic militancy in the Middle East? Why
and how has terrorism become internationalized?
How should the United States respond
to terrorism? These are the major questions
we will discuss in this seminar.
When You Walk Through the Garden: Race and Place in the American Imagination (LLC)
As you encounter this new world of
Southwestern, this seminar examines other
American "encounters" to consider how different
cultures have shared the same physical
space. How do these cultures understand and
misunderstand each other? How does the
American imagination transform "alien" spaces
into "homes?" Specifically, we will investigate
these questions through HBO's "The Wire,"
which depicts black and white encounters in
contemporary Baltimore. To get a sense of the
variety of American encounters—and the way
the American mind processes them—we will
also read explorers' journals, Native American
tales, travel narratives of Texas and fiction.
* (LLC) indicates this is a Living-Learning Communities seminar.
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