12th Grade Humanities: II!

Mr. Zinn!
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Ideologies!
Dec. 1, 2014January 23, 2015!

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind Emerson!

In class society everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking,
without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class Mao Tse-Tung.!

In this humanities track class we look ideologiescoherent and encompassing belief systems that
explain great questions in life and provide a rationale for action and conduct. Through careful
reading, class discussion, and independent research, we will explore particular ideologies, the ways
in which ideologies shape our lives, and the relationship between ideologies and freedom. We begin
with Ralph Waldo Emersons essay, Self-Reliance and then examine two influential examples of
20th century ideological thought: Sigmund Freuds Civilization and its Discontents and George
Orwells novel 1984. We will also look at other theories of social and individual freedom. Each
student is expected to investigate and give a report on some modern ideology and also to develop,
outline, and present their own ideology.!

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Your work will be evaluated in these basic areas:!

Participation (30%) Reading, discussion, and writing are the core methods we will use in this class. The
readings are challenging but also intellectually rewarding. You are expected to read the assignments
thoroughly and intently and to contribute substantially to class discussions, listening and engaging with
the views of others while patiently and carefully presenting your own. You should be well prepared for
class each day, with reading and writing assignments completed and classroom materials (books, paper,
pencils, pens) ready. You are expected to keep a reading journal which you can draw on for class
discussions as well as your own reports. !

Critiques (20%) You are expected to prepare three critiques (typically, 2-3 pages), one on each of the three
major readings (Emerson, Freud, Orwell). It is especially important that you begin to work on your
assignments promptly and complete them on time. Late assignments will not receive credit. !

Ideology Report (20%) You will research and present a report on a specific modern ideology of your
choice (see the list below). !

Personal Ideology (30%) You will develop a personal ideology over the course of the block and
present your ideology in class during the final week. Your personal ideology should be presented in
a an expressive format of your choiceas a pamphlet or video, for exampleas long as it clearly
explains your beliefs and your reasons for holding those beliefs. Your personal ideology will include:!

!!A statement that explains your basic principles in narrative form (I believe because ). !
!!A description of the social/political forms and consequences of your ideology if taken up by large
numbers of people!
!!A flag, logo, or visual symbol of your ideology!
!!A slogan or creed that summarizes your ideology (i.e. Think globally, act locally)!
!!A list of sources and influences books, movies, songs, essays etc. that influence and inspire your
ideology!

Schedule of Readings and Discussions!

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Week

Date

Reading

Week One!

12.112.5

Self-Reliance, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Week Two

12.812.12

Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents

Week Three

12.1512.19

Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents

Week Four

1.5-1.9

George Orwell, 1984

Week Five

1.12-1.16

George Orwell, 1984

Week Six

1.19-1.23

Other ideologies

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Some modern ideologies:

Anarchism!
Anti-Semitism!
Behavioralism!
Capitalism!
Communism!
Conservatism!
Cosmopolitanism!
Environmentalism!
Existentialism!
Fascism!
Feminism!
Fundamentalism!
Liberalism!
Libertarianism!
Marxism!
Nationalism!
Nihilism!
Objectivism!
Pacifism!
Post-colonialism!
Post-modernism!
Primitivism!
Racism!
Scientism!
Situationism !
Socialism!
Totalitarianism!

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Ideologies Honors Requirements!

Below is a list of books that express and define particular modern ideologies. To receive Honors credit,
choose and read one of these books (or suggest another) and write a brief report (23 pages) explaining
the books point of view. !

Anthony Appiah, Cosmopolitanism!

Hannar Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem!
Martin Buber, I and Thou!
Albert Camus, The Stranger!
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring!
Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene!
Guy Debord, The Society of the Spectacle!
P.K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?!
Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique!
Paul Goodman, Growing Up Absurd!
Thch Nht Hnh, Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life!
Vladimir Lenin, Imperialism!
Bill McKibben, Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet!
Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain!
Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead!
Edward Said, Orientalism!
B.F. Skinner, Walden Two!
Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You!
Virginia Woolf, A Room of Ones Own!

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