 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
Syllabus Introduction: This course is designed to create a deeper understanding and interest in contemporary issues in political thought. Its topics change frequently to keep up with the latest developments in the field. This semester, the focus is on democracy. One of the areas of greatest concern and debate in recent political thought has been the communitarian challenge to the classical liberal tradition. In the first part of this course, we will explore the communitarians' ideas of political friendship as a critique of contemporary liberal ideas of citizenship and political participation within democracy. We will also explore competing liberal and conservative understandings of democracy that challenge communitarianism as anti-democratic. In the second part of the course, we will turn to a study of the democratic ideology of America through another lens, America's popular culture, and in particular popular television. Popular television shows such as Start Trek and The X-Files are examined for what they convey about American democracy and America's impact on the world. We will look at the globalization of America's democratic culture and examine the claim that this global culture is "delegitimizing the nation-state." Required Texts: Paul
Cantor, Gilligan Unbound, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers,
Inc., New York, 2001. Grading: In-class
midterm essay exam: 35% Note:
The "book review and analysis" portion of your grade consists
of a 7-10 page typewritten, doublespaced paper in which you choose
a book available in KSU's library, review it and incorporate into
your review your own analysis of its merits and its application
to issues raised in class. A list of applicable books
is available on the political thought web page, address above.
Communitarianism1. Introduction to Communitarianism Frohnen,
"Introduction: The Rediscovery of Virtue," pp. 1-17. 2. The Crisis of Liberalism Frohnen, Ch. 1: "A Liberal Community?" pp. 18-56. Online
Video of Amitai Etzioni, on privacy, from NewsHour: link
on Communitarian
Network 3. The Model of Friendship Aristotle,
selection from Rhetoric, pp. 72-76 in Other Selves. 4. How Can We Unite? Civil Religion and Founding Myths Frohnen,
Ch. 2: "From Social Cohesion to Radical Reform: The Politics of
Civil Religion," pp. 57-74. 5. Education: The Path to Proper Socialization? Frohnen, Ch. 5: "Liberalism as Social Movement: Communitarianism in Practice," pp. 150-176. "Undergraduate
Education and the Development of Moral and Civic Responsibility,"
by Anne Colby and Thomas Ehrlich http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/Colby.html
6. The Liberal and Conservative Response Frohnen,
Ch. 6, "Covenant, Contract, and the Power of Interpreters," pp.
177-203.
Popular Culture in the Age of GlobalizationNote: Links in this section are for your reference and do not include required reading unless otherwise announced in class by the instructor. 1. Why Popular Culture is Important Cantor,
"Introduction," pp. ix-xxv. 2. National Television and the Democratic Ideology of America Cantor, "The Courage of the Fearless Crew": Gilligan's Island and the Americanization of the Globe," pp. 3-33. TV
Tome's Gilligan's Island with episode synopses... 3. America: The End of History? Cantor, "Shakespeare in the Original Klingon: Star Trek and the End of History," pp. 35-64. Excruciatingly
Detailed Guide to the original series's plots 4. Global Television and the Decline of the Nation-State Cantor, "Simpson Agonistes: Atomistic Politics, the Nuclear Family, and the Globalization of Springfield," pp. 67-109. Explore
Springfield on the web... 5. The X-Files: Mainstreaming Paranoia Cantor, "Mainstreaming Paranoia: The X-Files and the Deligitimization of the Nation-State," pp. 111-198. I want to believe X-Files Movie info 6. Cantor's Conclusions Cantor, "There's No Place Like Home," pp. 199-211. Copyright 2009 Laurie M. Bagby as to syllabus and all lectures.
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
