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Spring 1999 |
Rice 111 Ext. 6585 |
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MW 12 - 1:15 |
Office hrs: M 1:30-2:30; |
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King 339 |
TTh 11-12, and by appointment |
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In the literature of social consciousness, literary descriptions are made to represent - that is, to stand in for - social reality and moral truth, in the hopes that these representations will promote social change by "raising consciousness" and galvanizing moral feeling. Why do we allow literature to function in this way, when we also recognize that literature is artful, contrived, conventional, and fictive? In this course, we will examine the historical origins, rhetorical techniques, and political and philosophical underpinnings of the literature of social consciousness, as well as exploring some of the theoretical problems associated with this mode of representation. I will suggest that the literature of social consciousness took shape under the auspices of eighteenth-century sentimentalism, which sought to reconcile the new philosophy of empiricism with the old problem of ethics. For the first three weeks we will discuss eighteenth-century empiricism and its relation to moral philosophy and literary representation. For the rest of the term, we will compare eighteenth-century sentimental literature and twentieth-century social consciousness literature, as we investigate the political, epistemological, rhetorical and moral implications of "raising consciousness."
As a seminar, this course will rely heavily on class discussion. Come to class each day prepared to speak about the assigned readings; class participation will count towards the final grade. The reading list is short on theory, in order to encourage you to develop your own theoretical approaches to this material. Students will write one short essay (3-4 pp.), one exploratory essay towards the final paper (3-4 pp.), a final paper proposal and working bibliography (1-2 pp.), and a final paper (10-12 pp.). Due dates for the papers are indicated on the syllabus. Late papers may be penalized with grade reductions. Each student will also do a short presentation at the end of the semester on his or her final paper project.
Required Texts (available at the Co-op Bookstore):
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Feb. 8 (M): |
introductions; the appeal of Jim the Dog |
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Feb. 10: (W): |
selections from Sprat's History of the Royal Society, dedication to p. 86; pp. 111-15 (CP) |
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"An Account of a Dog dissected" (CP) |
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selection from Transactions, "Shining Flesh" (CP) |
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Feb. 15 (M): |
Hobbes, Leviathan, "introduction"; ch. 11; ch. 13 (CP) |
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Butler, "The Elephant in the Moon" (CP) |
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Shadwell, The Virtuoso |
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Feb. 17 (W): |
Shadwell, The Virtuoso |
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Feb. 22 (M): |
Locke, Essay concerning Human Understanding, Bk I, ch. 2 & 3 (CP) |
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Burnet, "First Remarks" (CP) |
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Shaftesbury, "An Inquiry Concerning Virtue and Merit," III.i. |
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Tatler no. 254 (supp. CP) |
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Feb. 24 (W): |
Mandeville, "An Enquiry into the Origin of Moral Virtue" (CP) |
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Hutcheson, An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue, pp. 1-26; sec. 1 of "Moral Good and Evil"; preface to An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections (CP) |
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Tatler nos. 100 & 102 (supp. CP) |
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***Paper I (3-4 pp.) DUE: Friday, February 26, by 5 pm. |
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Mar. 1 (M): |
Fielding, The Adventures of David Simple, vol. I-II |
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Mar. 3 (W): |
David Simple, vol. III-IV |
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TBA: screening of Dead Man Walking (122 minutes) |
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Mar. 8 (M): |
discussion of film version of Dead Man Walking |
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Mar. 10 (W): |
Prejean, Dead Man Walking |
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Mar. 15 (M): |
no class (Spivak lecture) |
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Mar. 17 (W): |
Dead Man Walking |
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Spring Break |
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Mar. 29 (M): |
Mackenzie, The Man of Feeling |
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Mar. 31 (W): |
The Man of Feeling |
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Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments, I.i. (CP) |
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Apr. 5 (M): |
Carter, The Education of Little Tree |
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Apr. 7 (W): |
The Education of Little Tree |
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Apr. 12 (M): |
Fergusson, "The Sow of Feeling" (CP) |
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Carter, "Southern History, American Fiction" (supp. CP) |
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Gates, "Authenticity,' or the Lesson of Little Tree" (CP) |
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Ellison, "A Short History of Liberal Guilt" (CP) |
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Apr. 14 (W): |
Wollstonecraft, Mary, A Fiction |
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***Paper II (3-4) DUE: Friday, Apr. 23 by 5 pm. |
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Apr. 19 (M): |
Mackinnon, Only Words, pp. 1-68 |
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Apr. 21 (W): |
Only Words, pp. 69-110 |
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Apr. 26 (M): |
Berlant, The Queen of America, pp. 1-81 |
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Apr. 28 (W): |
The Queen of America, pp. 83-144 |
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***Final paper proposal (1-2 pp.) and working bibliography DUE: Friday, Apr. 30 by pm |
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May 3 (M): |
Carson, Silent Spring |
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May 5 (W): |
Silent Spring |
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May 10 (M): |
student presentations of final paper topics |
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May 12 (W): |
fill out evaluations |
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***Final Paper (10-12 pp.) DUE: Monday, May 17 by 5 pm. |
***indicates dates on which work is due, though the class does not meet
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