COMLIT 131 Brave New Worlds
Spring 2002
Schedule number #18511
Lect 3
TTH 9:30-10:45
UNIV School of Management
Comparative Literature Department
UMASS-Amherst
Instructor: Enrique Garcia
Phone: (413) 253-0761
E-mail: Purpose of the class:
In this class, the students will be able to read and study a variety of literary texts with the purpose of understanding how literature is used to critique societies and their utopian and dystopian concepts. The readings will range from ancient literature like the bible to modern media like comic books and films with the purpose of making the student aware of how any particular media can be used with this purpose.
I GRADING
Participation (10%):
I encourage participation because class discussion provides a better learning experience than just hearing my lectures. Students must be ready to answer any questions asked.
Attendance (10%):
I will take attendance
at every class. Two absences will be excused at the end of the semester.
A: 0-2 absences
AB: 3-4 absences
B: 5-6 absences
BC: 7-8 absences
C: 9-10 absences
CD: 11-12 absences
D: 13-14 absences
F: 15 or more absences
Presentation (10%): The students must do at least one presentation for the semester. Only groups formed by two or three students are allowed to present and must bring interesting points that will help discussion.
Quizzes (25%):
This is the only way I will really know that you are reading. The quizzes’ dates are in the schedule for the semester so, there is no excuse for not knowing when they are. I will eliminate the two lowest scores and compute an average score with the remaining ones.
Journal (25%):
You have to write a journal entry for every reading and movie we see. The entries’ themes are in the schedule for the semester and they must be typed and handed to me the day they are due. I will return them back to you after I read them and you must keep them safe as at the end of the semester you have to give me the whole journal with a final three page entry where you write about your learning experience in the class. This is due the same day of the final paper: May 19 by 10:00 AM.
Final Paper (20%):
For the final paper, I will give you several topics and you will write five pages on the one you choose. The paper is due on May 19 by 10:00 AM. You should leave it in my mailbox at the Comparative Literature department (South College 303).
II BOOKS FOR THE CLASS (available at the Atticus Bookstore).
Becoming Madame Mao. by Anchée Min. ISBN 0-61812-700-3
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Vol 1 by Hayao Miyazaki. ISBN 1-56931-096-3
Starship Troopers. by Robert A. Heinlein. ISBN 0-441-78358-9
Sula. by Toni Morrison. ISBN 0-452-26349-2
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. by Mishima Yukio. 0-679-75270-6
III MOVIES
The films will be screened outside of the class’ time schedule. I know that many of the students will not be able to make it to the screenings so I will put a copy of them in reserve in the library.
April 2, 2002.
Starship Troopers. Dir. Paul Verhoeven.
Easily available in any videostore.
May 6, 2002.
Battle Royale.
Not available in the US. The rental store DVDen has an imported DVD copy that can be rented.
IV COURSE PACKET (Available at Copy Cat)
The course packet is required and very essential for the class.
V SCHEDULE FOR THE SEMESTER
First part: Christianity and Utopian Dreams
January 28 Introduction to the class. Discussion of syllabus.
January 30 Excerpts from the Old Testament. Course Packet.
Journal Entry #1: What are your personal views on the differences between Utopias and Dystopias? Explain what you know about them before taking the class.
Group Discussion.
February 4 Excerpts from the New Testament. Course Packet.
Student Presentation #1.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #2: Compare Jesus’ idealism with the realization of the first Christian communities and the terrible future presented in the book of Revelations.
February 6 Introduction to Sir Thomas More’s Utopia.
February 11 2nd book of Utopia. Course Packet
Quiz on the 2nd book of Utopia.
February 13 2nd book of Utopia. Course Packet
Student Presentation #2.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry#3: Which elements of More’s fictional city truly create a perfect society? Does any country in our modern society possesses them?
February 18 No classes because UMASS will use the Monday class schedule.
February 20 Introduction to Bernal Díaz del Castillo’s The Conquest of New Spain.
February 25 The Conquest of New Spain (Spain). Course Packet.
Quiz on The Conquest of New Spain (Spain). Course Packet.
February 27 The Conquest of New Spain (Spain). Course Packet.
Student presentation #3.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #4: Is the Aztec society a dystopia? Do you think the Spanish would create a better society with their victory?
March 4 Introduction to Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote.
March 6 Don Quixote. Course Packet.
Quiz on the reading.
March 11 Don Quixote. Course Packet.
Student presentation #4.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #5: Analyze Don Quixote’s quest for a Golden Age that never existed. Can Utopian visions be a nation’s fantasy of a particular past or Golden Age that never existed?
March 13 Classes will be canceled because usually students are absent because of the Spring Break
March 15 Spring Break begins! Have a nice break!
Second Part: Fascism, Capitalism, Communism and the struggle to define the new Utopian kingdom after the fall of Christianity.
March 25 "The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception". Course Packet.
Introduction to the Second Part of the Semester.
Journal Entry #6: Do you agree with Adorno and Horkheimer’s views on the Media? Are movies and other entertainment a way to manipulate the masses into believing that their society is perfect when that is not the truth?
Student Presentation #5.
March 27 Starship Troopers.
Quiz on Starship Troopers.
April 1 No class.
April 2 Screening of Starship Troopers
April 3 Starship Troopers.
Student Presentation #6.
Group discussion
Journal Entry #7: Do you think that the book and the movie project different messages? Does Heinlein and Verhoeven have different agendas? How does the Adorno and Horkeheimer article fit into the discussion?
April 8 Introduction to Superhero comics.
Quiz on comic books.
April 10 Superhero adventures and crime comics on course packet
Student Presentation #7
Group Discussion
Journal Entry #8: Do you think that the crime comics in the course packet were an effective counterpart to the propagandistic and utopian WWII and Cold War superhero comics? Was it fair that they were banned in the 1950's? Are dystopian views hurtful to any society?
April 15 Sula
Quiz on Sula.
April 17 Sula
Student Presentation #8.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #8: Can a society be a dystopia to a particular ethnicity?
April 22 Communist Manifesto. Course Packet.
Quiz on the Communist Manifesto.
Student Presentation #9.
Group discussion.
April 24 First half of Becoming Madame Mao
April 29 Second half of Becoming Madame Mao
Quiz on Becoming Madame Mao.
May 1 Second half of Becoming Madame Mao
Student Presentation #10
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #9: Is Marx’s dream fulfilled in the events that are covered in Becoming Madame Mao?
May 6 The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
May 6 Screening for Battle Royale.
May 8 The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Student Presentation #11.
Group Discussion.
Journal Entry #10: Explain the nihilistic vision presented in The Temple of the Golden
Pavilion. Can you identify with the main character’s hatred toward what is supposed to represent the beauty of his nation and culture? Is there any link to the Battle Royale film?
May 13 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Quiz on Nausicaa.
Journal Entry #11: Can a dystopia be redeemed? Analyze the hopeful views of Hayao Miyazaki in his Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
May 15 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Student Presentation #12.
Group Discussion.
May 19 Collected Journal and Final Paper are due. They are to be left in my mailbox at the Comparative Literature department (South College 303).