Cultural Seminar Course Descriptions (Fall 2011)

What is this Document? This document contains course descriptions of the Cultural Seminar courses to be offered during the Fall 2011 semester. The course designation for the Cultural Seminar is CCS 100. Students are encouraged to select a seminar topic with a subject on culture that interests them, regardless of their intended major. Cultural Seminar topics cover a broad range of ideas and issues, but all with a focus on culture. Honors Program students should enroll in the designated honors sections (CCS 100H) described on the final page.

CCS 100 courses meet for fifty minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Most of them are offered at three times: 11-11:50, 12-12:50 or 1-1:50.
What is the Cultural Seminar? The Cultural Seminar (CCS 100 or CCS 100H) is taken in the first semester and is a course designed to support a students successful transition to Carroll University. It is an academic course that challenges students to think about the topic of culture. It is also a course through which important academic and life skills are developed. Each Cultural Seminar course will have an Orientation Mentor, which is an upper class student who will be in contact with the freshmen during the summer and sit in on the class during the fall. Cultural Seminar includes a required summer reading. More information about the summer reading will be provided through each students my.carroll web portal and through email contact with the Orientation Mentor. More about Carrolls Cultural Seminar and General Education Program The Carroll educational experience is built upon four pillars that reflect the mission of the university: gateway experiences, enduring values, integrated knowledge and lifelong skills. Carrolls General Education Program consists of two components: the Cross-Cultural Component and the Distribution Component. The Cross-Cultural Component is a five-course series that focuses on the study of culture and begins with Cultural Seminar. Interwoven throughout these courses is an intentional cross-cultural thread connecting the student's learning experience from freshman through senior year. Cultural Seminar (CCS 100 or CCS 100H), taken during the first fall semester, is a gateway experiences that begins the exploration of culture through the study of one's own culture and a different culture. This course develops oral communication and reading skills.

Cultural Seminar - Sections Meeting 10:00-10:50

Section A: 10:00-10:50 MTRF Harry Potter: Good, Evil, and Moral Choice Alice Korach This class will read the Harry Potter series and explore themes common to many cultures: love, friendship, loyalty, jealousy, prejudice, etc. The story explores the cultural assumptions of Harry's world (the Muggle and magic worlds) and offers readers a lens through which to explore their own culture. As we read this story, we will connect it to historic cultures such as Nazi Germany and contemporary cultures in England and the United States. For example, Voldemort (a Hitler figure) and his followers evince many parallels to World War II history. Magic makes the story appealing; but ultimately, Harry's modesty keeps reinforcing the idea that it isn't magic but character that matters. Section PP: 10:00-10:50 MTRF Scientists and Humanists Can they work together? Fred Beuttler A generation ago, scientist and novelist C.P. Snow warned that two cultures were emerging, between those trained in the humanities and those in the sciences, and that these two cultures were almost speaking two different languages. What can scientists learn from humanists, and humanists from scientists? Is there knowledge that all educated people must know? This course will examine the tools and institutions for the production, application, and dissemination of knowledge, such as the library, the liberal arts college, the university, the republic of letters, various academic disciplines, the hospital, the laboratory, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. We will also look at the various cultures of students, teachers, professors, and researchers, all to understand what a global citizen needs to know. As such, this course will serve as a map and gateway to the higher educational experience, as we seek to bridge the cultures of the humanities and the sciences.

Cultural Seminar - Sections Meeting 11:00-11:50

Section B: 11:00-11:50 MTRF The Modern-Day Immigration Experience Linda Phillips What are some of the reasons people today are emigrating? What makes an individual a refugee and what are some of the conflicts behind the refugee camps so often in the news? What are some of the causes and results of illegal immigration? These and other issues such as immigrant communities, health care for immigrants, English language acquisition for adults, support services for refugees, and contributions of immigrants will be covered in this course. Join us on a journey that includes a couple miles in the shoes of an immigrant. Section C: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Marriage: An All-Too-Human Institution Allison Malcom The topic is marriage as it has been established across cultures over time. Marriage, one of the most basic and universal of human institutions, can also be a lens through which to understand culture a whole. The class will discuss marriage as it developed, evolved, and currently exists in the dominant European- and Judeo-Christian- based American culture; discuss marriage as it exists in several American sub-cultures; and finally compare the dominant monogamous American model of marriage to polygamous marriage as it developed in parts of
2

West Africa. This comparison will involve a close study of major touchstones in understanding human culture. Understanding a cultures assumptions about marriage, family-structure, and sex is dependent on understanding a cultures religion, its economic structures, its gender norms, and its particular consideration of community inclusion and exclusion. Section D: 11:00-11:50 MTRF From Hot Dogs to Thalis: A Study of Food and Culture Jen Moon Like the U.S., India is a remarkably diverse country with a history punctuated by waves of immigration. Each group of newcomers brought innovations in cooking and eating which helped define their cultural identities. Throughout this course we will study the relationship between food and culture. Students will have the opportunity to explore how culture is defined then compare and contrast American and Indian cultures through the study of food. Section E: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Reels and Reality Katherine Larsen In this section of Cultural Seminar, we will be meeting the stated goals of the Cultural Seminar program while at the same time exploring the topic of documentary. We will ask and answer questions like: what are the different ways to represent reality? What makes a "fair" representation of reality? How are documentaries related to persuasive writing (rhetoric)? How should documentaries approach ethical issues, and, how can we join the discussion, or frame our own ideas about social issues? The course will be divided into two thematic sections: "Industry & Culture" and "Race & Poverty." In addition to watching as many documentaries as time permits, we will read articles to facilitate our thinking and discussion about films and filmmaking. We will also, toward the end of the semester, read Pascal Khoo Thwe's memoir as an accompaniment to the film Burma in VJ, as part of our "Race & Poverty" unit. There will be several small group projects and one oral exam. Section F: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Fast Food and Farmers Markets Jim Grimshaw Today, Americans eat radically different than their grandmothers ate 50 years ago. And this has made a huge impact on Americas health, family relationships, economy, and on the earth. This class will explore how Americans grow and eat food and what food habits reveal about cultural traditions and values. We will explore the rise and dominance of fast food and processed food and how that has shaped U.S. culture. The class will also examine the recent emphasis on organic and local food and the ways these practices are changing culture. In addition, we will look at the food habits and traditions of Hispanic culture and a few other American cultures. Section G: 11:00-11:50 MTRF "Guten Tag, Cowboy!" The American West in Kimberly Redding the German Imagination In the 1890s, best-selling German author Karl May created an imaginary American Wild West, in which a German immigrant befriends a young Apache warrior. The adventures of this unlikely duo have since been translated into thirty languages, transformed into more than twenty feature films, and inspired reenactment clubs throughout present-day Germany and Austria. What does this mythical west look like? How do May's stories reflect the fears, doubts and dreams of German society? In what ways do Mays heroes reflect and/or challenge Americans depictions of the Wild West? Why didand dogenerations of Americans and Europeans alike
3

escape into this fictitious world? Through Karl May's life, books, films and fans, we will explore these and other questions about imagination and culture. Section H: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Multicultural Cities Jessica Boll This course will look at historically multicultural cities, both in the US and abroad, to explore the way in which diverse populations interact and coexist in such intensely shared spaces. We will first study the vibrant city of Istanbul, Turkey, the only city in the world to be split across two continents and a site where Christians, Muslims and Jews have lived together for centuries. We will then turn closer to home to focus on the dynamic city of Chicago, again considering its history and the various populations that have called Chicago home throughout the years. Students will compare these two world centers to their own hometowns in terms of demographics, history and culture, examining the very idea of culture along with the ways in which cities shape and define both societies and individuals. Section I: 11:00-11:50 MTRF The Political Dr. Seuss Renee Foti The name Dr. Seuss, conjures up an image of the childrens book author of The Cat in the Hat or The Grinch who stole Christmas. What most people do not know is that Dr. Seuss was an advertiser, a political cartoonist, and a filmmaker. His stories not only entertained, but educated both children and adults across the United States about political and cultural issues that remain timeless. Dr. Seuss educated the world about American culture while educating America about world cultures, and he did it in a way that most didnt realize he was doing it. This class will explore the role of the influence of culture on Dr. Seusss works and the influence of Dr. Seusss work on cultural development in the United States. Sample topics include isolationism, racism, and the nuclear arms race. Section J: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Beastly Frogs and Tricky Rabbits: An Exploration of Barb Kilgust Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Film Fairy tales and folk tales have long been used to pass on cultural lessons and values. This seminar will look at the ways different cultures and communities each reflect their own ethos through tales that share common elements. We will read African-American folk tales and European fairy tales as our primary sources, and compare them to the fairy tale and folk tale films most of us grew up with. Secondary sources for context and analysis of the tales will come from literary and cultural analyses. In addition, we will explore our own communities in order to identify and create our own seminar tales. Section M: 11:00-11:50 MTRF The Music of the Movies: Cultural Perspectives Ron Foster Movie music has become an integral part of our lives, woven into the very fabric of our culture. In this course, we explore film music and films from around the world, including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. We discuss the ways in which cultures influence movies/movie scores, and how movies and their scores reflect and influence cultures. You will learn about film composers, the movies that inspired and gave voice to their musical and dramatic ideas, and how music can complement, enhance, or even hinder a film. We look at the techniques of scoring for the cinema, and developments in film-scoring technology. Comparisons are made between the musical sensibilities of composers from different cultures, subcultures, and genders, as well as their musical vocabularies and means of expression. From early Russian masterpieces to
4

Hollywood's "Golden Age" composers; British, French and Italian scores; Canadian Howard Shore's music for New Zealand director Peter Jackson; and the brilliant and prolific John Williams, you'll discover how and why movie music has such a significant impact on our filmgoing experience, our cultures, and our lives. Section MM: 11:00-11:50 MTRF The Beatles Keith Carpenter Rock music is often divided into two periods: before the Beatles and after the Beatles. Just what was the impact of the Beatles on popular music and popular culture in the 1960s? This course will examine the musical, cultural and political force the Beatles were. We will also examine the countervailing forces that the Beatles were set in opposition to, especially as the 60s became increasingly marked by traumatic political and cultural events. Critical to understanding the Beatles place in the 60s, we will examine in detail their most remarkable recordings. Section N: 11:00-11:50 MTRF The culture of hockey: "a form of disorderly conduct in Frances Tuer which the score is kept" (Larson) Ice hockey is a game that is becoming increasing popular, inside and outside North America. Popular sports are an important indicator of cultural values. Growth in hockey popularity, however, necessitates full or partial acceptance of the values, attitudes, and beliefs embedded in hockey, even though these might conflict with national, regional, or local cultural values, attitudes, and beliefs. In this seminar, we will explore the culture of hockey by looking critically at the origins and growth of ice hockey around the world, the physical objects, symbols, images, and sounds associated with hockey, and the learned and accepted behaviors of players and spectators including fighting. We will compare the cultural values of long-time hockey countries with the cultural values of countries who have adopted hockey more recently. In line with this year's Student Senate theme, we will also look at considerations surrounding the use of water in hockey (e.g. ice surfaces, off-season air conditioned arenas). There may be a fee for tickets to a Milwaukee Admirals game, but transportation will be provided. Section QQ: 11:00-11:50 MTRF Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo (the good, the bad, James Gannon the ugly): Identity and culture in contemporary Italia From Vittorio De Sica's stunning post WWII neo-realist masterpiece, Bicycle Thief, to Federico Fellini's fantastical masterpieces, La Dolce Vita and 8, Italian filmmakers have used their medium to explore the critical questions confrontingand comprisingItalian culture and identity. In this seminar, we will use a variety of contemporary texts (1991-2011)films, documentaries, and non-fiction writingsto examine these issues. From the ongoing debate over the "national" identity to the fiercely protected and idiosyncratic regional identities, we will use primary and secondary sources to explore these fascinating conflicts. Students will examine these nuances and complexities to not only better understand Italia but also to ask how this beautifuland turbulentcountry reflects and/or affects understandings of their own culture and identity.

Cultural Seminar - Sections Meeting 12:00-12:50

Section NN: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Latino Diasporas: Cross-Cultural Encounters in America Elena De Costa This course will explore the contemporary experience of Latino Diasporascommunities who conceive of themselves as a national, ethnic, linguistic or other form of cultural or political construction of collective membership living outside of their home lands. Focus will be placed on questions of identity and stereotyping on both national and local levels. Key issues to be addressed include defining what it means to have a disaporic experience; migration, settlements and the emergence of multiple senses of identity; culture, belongings and collective imaginations; acceptance vs. xenophobia; citizenship and multiculturalism; generational change, national consciousness and identity formation; the pursuit of the American dream. In particular, we will examine, discuss and experience the historical and current role that Waukesha and Milwaukee play as urban spaces in Latino culture, and how Latino migration has changed the way such sites are conceived. Consideration will be given to the ways in which Latino and American cross-cultural exchange has fostered new patterns of identity, acculturation and assimilation in our communities. Section O: 12:00-12:50 MTRF The Beatles Keith Carpenter Rock music is often divided into two periods: before the Beatles and after the Beatles. Just what was the impact of the Beatles on popular music and popular culture in the 1960s? This course will examine the musical, cultural and political force the Beatles were. We will also examine the countervailing forces that the Beatles were set in opposition to, especially as the 60s became increasingly marked by traumatic political and cultural events. Critical to understanding the Beatles place in the 60s, we will examine in detail their most remarkable recordings. Section P: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Reels and Reality Katherine Larsen In this section of Cultural Seminar, we will be meeting the stated goals of the Cultural Seminar program while at the same time exploring the topic of documentary. We will ask and answer questions like: what are the different ways to represent reality? What makes a "fair" representation of reality? How are documentaries related to persuasive writing (rhetoric)? How should documentaries approach ethical issues, and, how can we join the discussion, or frame our own ideas about social issues? The course will be divided into two thematic sections: "Industry & Culture" and "Race & Poverty." In addition to watching as many documentaries as time permits, we will read articles to facilitate our thinking and discussion about films and filmmaking. We will also, toward the end of the semester, read Pascal Khoo Thwe's memoir as an accompaniment to the film Burma in VJ, as part of our "Race & Poverty" unit. There will be several small group projects and one oral exam. Section Q: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Marriage: An All-Too-Human Institution Allison Malcom The topic is marriage as it has been established across cultures over time. Marriage, one of the most basic and universal of human institutions, can also be a lens in which to understand culture a whole. The class will discuss marriage as it developed, evolved, and currently exists in the dominant European- and Judeo-Christian- based American culture; discuss marriage as it exists in several American sub-cultures; and finally compare the dominant monogamous
6

American model of marriage to polygamous marriage as it developed in parts of West Africa. This comparison will involve a close study of major touchstones in understanding human culture. Understanding a cultures assumptions about marriage, family-structure, and sex is dependent on understanding a cultures religion, its economic structures, its gender norms, and its particular consideration of community inclusion and exclusion. Section R: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Reels and Reality Jacob Boyd In this section of Cultural Seminar, we will be meeting the stated goals of the Cultural Seminar program while at the same time exploring the topic of documentary. We will ask and answer questions like: what are the different ways to represent reality? What makes a "fair" representation of reality? How are documentaries related to persuasive writing (rhetoric)? How should documentaries approach ethical issues, and, how can we join the discussion, or frame our own ideas about social issues? The course will be divided into two thematic sections: "Industry & Culture" and "Race & Poverty." In addition to watching as many documentaries as time permits, we will read articles to facilitate our thinking and discussion about films and filmmaking. We will also, toward the end of the semester, read Pascal Khoo Thwe's memoir as an accompaniment to the film Burma in VJ, as part of our "Race & Poverty" unit. There will be several small group projects and one oral exam. Section RR: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Washington, D.C., and Madison: Scott Celsor Whats All the Fuss About? If youve paid attention to the news recently, you have no doubt heard about the fighting in Washington and Madison. Whether its debates over health care reform, the budget, or collective bargaining rights, politicians these days just cant seem to get along. Political discussion has always been home to dispute, but what is especially concerning today is the fact that politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties seem unwilling to talk with each other over issues vital to our fiscal health and national security. Theyd seemingly rather just fight. The result is the inability to get anything done in Washington and Madison, winnertake-all politics, and festering hatred and anger. These results can hardly be beneficial for our long-term health as a nation, not to mention your career and personal life. To understand why politicians fight with such ferocity, we will compare Pat Robertsons Christian Coalition of America, a political action wing of Evangelical Christianity, a major constituency of the Republican Party, and the Catholic Democrats Political Action Committee, a political action committee of Roman Catholicism, a traditional constituency of the Democratic Party. We will also work together on an issue of public policy and finance in the form of congressional debate, to see if we can do better than Washington. I anticipate vibrant discussion in this class and visits from religious and/or political leaders." Section SS: 12:00-12:50 MTRF A Short History of American Youth Cultures Bruce Strom In the 1920s, Americas Young, aged 15 to 30, invented a culture of their own. Since then, a procession of youth cultures have played an historic role in influencing everything about American Life food, language, music, fashion, politics, economics... Americas Young remain a powerful influence in our rapidly changing culture, while wearing different titles and expressing distinct attitudes about what is popular about Popular Culture. Using literature, film, music, food, and other sources as its texts, this course is an academic study of the youth cultures
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that have emerged in America over the last 90 years, including Flappers, the Greatest Generation, Beatniks and Hippies, Boomers, Generation Xers, and, currently, Millennials. Section T: 12:00-12:50am MTRF Harry Potter: Good, Evil, and Moral Choice Alice Korach This class will read the Harry Potter series and explore themes common to many cultures: love, friendship, loyalty, jealousy, prejudice, etc. The story explores the cultural assumptions of Harry's world (the Muggle and magic worlds) and offers readers a lens through which to explore their own culture. As we read this story, we will connect it to historic cultures such as Nazi Germany and contemporary cultures in England and the United States. For example, Voldemort (a Hitler figure) and his followers evince many parallels to World War II history. Magic makes the story appealing; but ultimately, Harry's modesty keeps reinforcing the idea that it isn't magic but character that matters. Section TT: 12:00-12:50 MTRF The Music of the Movies: Cultural Perspectives Ron Foster Movie music has become an integral part of our lives, woven into the very fabric of our culture. In this course, we explore film music and films from around the world, including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. We discuss the ways in which cultures influence movies/movie scores, and how movies and their scores reflect and influence cultures. You will learn about film composers, the movies that inspired and gave voice to their musical and dramatic ideas, and how music can complement, enhance, or even hinder a film. We look at the techniques of scoring for the cinema, and developments in film-scoring technology. Comparisons are made between the musical sensibilities of composers from different cultures, subcultures, and genders, as well as their musical vocabularies and means of expression. From early Russian masterpieces to Hollywood's "Golden Age" composers; British, French and Italian scores; Canadian Howard Shore's music for New Zealand director Peter Jackson; and the brilliant and prolific John Williams, you'll discover how and why movie music has such a significant impact on our filmgoing experience, our cultures, and our lives. Section V: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Dream Worlds & Nightmares: Kristen Seas Exploring Culture through Utopia and Dystopia From images of eternal paradise to cyberpunk visions of our technological future, humans around the globe have explored what an ideal world might look like - and how it could go terribly wrong. Indeed, a utopia - which means both "good place" and "no place" - reflects the beliefs and fears of a culture, and even shape that culture as people accept that ideal as reality. This course will explore how utopian dreams - and dystopian nightmares - appear across a variety of Western and Non-Western cultural texts: stories, films, graphic novels, essays, and songs. We will study these texts to see what they reveal about culture, and look at utopian and dystopian visions shaping our world right now.

Cultural Seminar - Sections Meeting 1:00-1:50

Section L: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Beastly Frogs and Tricky Rabbits: An Exploration of Barb Kilgust Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Film Fairy tales and folk tales have long been used to pass on cultural lessons and values. This seminar will look at the ways different cultures and communities each reflect their own ethos through tales that share common elements. We will read African-American folk tales and European fairy tales as our primary sources, and compare them to the fairy tale and folk tale films most of us grew up with. Secondary sources for context and analysis of the tales will come from literary and cultural analyses. In addition, we will explore our own communities in order to identify and create our own seminar tales. Section U: 1:00-1:50 MTRF The Political Dr. Seuss Renee Foti The name Dr. Seuss, conjures up an image of the childrens book author of The Cat in the Hat or The Grinch who stole Christmas. What most people do not know is that Dr. Seuss was an advertiser, a political cartoonist, and a filmmaker. His stories not only entertained, but educated both children and adults across the United States about political and cultural issues that remain timeless. Dr. Seuss educated the world about American culture while educating America about world cultures, and he did it in a way that most didnt realize he was doing it. This class will explore the role of the influence of culture on Dr. Seusss works and the influence of Dr. Seusss work on cultural development in the United States. Sample topics include isolationism, racism, and the nuclear arms race. Section UU: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Conspiracy Theories and Secret Societies Marcia Kafura The Freemasons, The Bilderberg Club, The Skull and Bones Society what do these groups have in common? For one, some of the richest and most influential people in the world, such as: former bank chairmen, media moguls, foreign dignitaries, David Rockefeller and several US presidents including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H. Bush. In fact, a majority of the signers of The Declaration of Independence are said to be Freemasons. Are these groups merely fraternal organizations who enjoy brotherhood and tradition? Or, could they be Machiavellian conspirators with a plot to someday take over the world? Once viewed with skepticism, conspiracy theories have become much more mainstream. In this course we will look at why conspiracy theories are quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. We will explore the history of secret societies and conspiracy theories to determine whether they are simply folklore or may contain some validity. In addition, we will investigate why we are drawn to these theories. Do they just make for good story telling? Or, does the presence of an all powerful evil free us from the responsibility of becoming politically active? Section X: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo (the good, the bad, James Gannon the ugly): Identity and culture in contemporary Italia From Vittorio De Sica's stunning post WWII neo-realist masterpiece, Bicycle Thief, to Federico Fellini's fantastical masterpieces, La Dolce Vita and 8, Italian filmmakers have used their medium to explore the critical questions confrontingand comprisingItalian culture and identity. In this seminar, we will use a variety of contemporary texts (1991-2011)films, documentaries, and non-fiction writingsto examine these issues. From the ongoing debate over
9

the "national" identity to the fiercely protected and idiosyncratic regional identities, we will use primary and secondary sources to explore these fascinating conflicts. Students will examine these nuances and complexities to not only better understand Italia but also to ask how this beautifuland turbulentcountry reflects and/or affects understandings of their own culture and identity. Section XX: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Washington, D.C., and Madison: Scott Celsor Whats All the Fuss About? If youve paid attention to the news recently, you have no doubt heard about the fighting in Washington and Madison. Whether its debates over health care reform, the budget, or collective bargaining rights, politicians these days just cant seem to get along. Political discussion has always been home to dispute, but what is especially concerning today is the fact that politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties seem unwilling to talk with each other over issues vital to our fiscal health and national security. Theyd seemingly rather just fight. The result is the inability to get anything done in Washington and Madison, winnertake-all politics, and festering hatred and anger. These results can hardly be beneficial for our long-term health as a nation, not to mention your career and personal life. To understand why politicians fight with such ferocity, we will compare Pat Robertsons Christian Coalition of America, a political action wing of Evangelical Christianity, a major constituency of the Republican Party, and the Catholic Democrats Political Action Committee, a political action committee of Roman Catholicism, a traditional constituency of the Democratic Party. We will also work together on an issue of public policy and finance in the form of congressional debate, to see if we can do better than Washington. I anticipate vibrant discussion in this class and visits from religious and/or political leaders." Section Y: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Dogs, Elephants and Cows: A Cross-Cultural Amy Cropper Look at Humans and Their Animals Did you ever wonder why some dogs have their own Christmas stockings while others are left to fight for scraps in the street, or why a dairy cow in India doesn't need a barn or even a fence? This course will look to India and the United States to explore cultural differences in the way humans live with and think about the dog, the elephant, and the cow. Evidence of human fascination with animals can be traced back to the cave paintings of Lascaux (15,000 B.C.) where horses, stags, and felines are just some of the many animals depicted with only one small image of a man. Love of animals may be innate to our humanity but expressions of that interest are strongly cultural. This course will grapple with the essential question, "What is Culture," in order to better understand our own culture as well as the differing relationships in India and United States between humans and animals. Section YY: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Be Water My Friend: The Dao in Chinese and Jeff Fisher Global Culture Daoism is one of the "three teachings" of China, together with Confucianism and Buddhism. A classic Daoist poem teaches that the Dao ("The Way") is like water, flowing everywhere. In this seminar we will explore the basic beliefs of Daoism, its historical development and place in Chinese culture, and the various ways that it has been adopted and adapted in other cultures around the world. In addition to classic texts of Daoism (Daode Jing/Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi, Yi Jing/I Ching), we will also consider Daoisms contribution to Chinese Buddhism, martial arts, medicine, and meditation practice, as well as its expressions in popular and religious culture elsewhere in Asia and the world, including "The Tao of Pooh," the
10

films and writings of Bruce Lee, and George Lucas' "Star Wars" films. Daoism itself, we will see, has been like water, pooling in China and from there flowing to the rest of the globe, providing nourishment to myriad ways of living in the world, adapting itself to varying circumstances, taking the shape of each culture or way of thinking it encounters. Section Z: 1:00-1:50 MTRF The Culture and Theory of Videogames B.J. Best In their short history, videogames have often been written off as brain-rotting ephemera. However, as an industry with revenues of more than $20 billion in 2009, videogames appear to be a permanent fixture of our cultural landscape, and the academy is increasingly attending to the messages coded within these games. In this course, we will analyze the culture of videogames in three ways: 1.) the culture represented within those games, considering issues of entertainment, narrative, art, and ethics, as well as larger issues of race, gender, and sexuality; 2.) the subculture of gamers and how it compares to mainstream culture; and 3.) the cultural role videogames play in society, as compared to other media. Students will play many videogames, classic and contemporary. Supplemented by substantial traditional readings, we will "read" these games by analyzing their forms and functions. The course will culminate its inquiry into the culture of videogames through a case study of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings, in which the violent first-person shooter Doom was claimed by some critics as an important motivation for the killers. Requirements: Students registering for this section are required to own or have daily access to a Windows-based (XP, Vista, or 7) personal computer on which they can download and install softwarepublic computers at the University do not allow this. Students must also have a credit card to pay for a subscription at gametap.com (currently $40 for four months). Section ZZ: 1:00-1:50 MTRF Advertising Around the World Dan Becker Advertising Around the World provides students with the opportunity to explore in geographic context the historic development and the present status of global advertising. In addition to reviewing case studies, analyzing commercials, print ads and viral videos, students will engage in a variety of new media technologies that will place them face-to-face with advertising professionals and their demographic audience from around the world.

Cultural Seminar - Sections Meeting 2:00-2:50 and 3:00-3:50

Section S: 2:00-2:50 MTRF The Culture and Theory of Videogames B.J. Best In their short history, videogames have often been written off as brain-rotting ephemera. However, as an industry with revenues of more than $20 billion in 2009, videogames appear to be a permanent fixture of our cultural landscape, and the academy is increasingly attending to the messages coded within these games. In this course, we will analyze the culture of videogames in three ways: 1.) the culture represented within those games, considering issues of entertainment, narrative, art, and ethics, as well as larger issues of race, gender, and sexuality; 2.) the subculture of gamers and how it compares to mainstream culture; and 3.) the cultural role videogames play in society, as compared to other media. Students will play many videogames, classic and contemporary. Supplemented by substantial traditional readings, we will "read" these
11

games by analyzing their forms and functions. The course will culminate its inquiry into the culture of videogames through a case study of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings, in which the violent first-person shooter Doom was claimed by some critics as an important motivation for the killers. Requirements: Students registering for this section are required to own or have daily access to a Windows-based (XP, Vista, or 7) personal computer on which they can download and install softwarepublic computers at the University do not allow this. Students must also have a credit card to pay for a subscription at gametap.com (currently $40 for four months). Section K: 3:00-3:50 MTRF Scientists and Humanists Can they work together? Fred Beuttler A generation ago, scientist and novelist C.P. Snow warned that two cultures were emerging, between those trained in the humanities and those in the sciences, and that these two cultures were almost speaking two different languages. What can scientists learn from humanists, and humanists from scientists? Is there knowledge that all educated people must know? This course will examine the tools and institutions for the production, application, and dissemination of knowledge, such as the library, the liberal arts college, the university, the republic of letters, various academic disciplines, the hospital, the laboratory, the Internet, and the World Wide Web. We will also look at the various cultures of students, teachers, professors, and researchers, all to understand what a global citizen needs to know. As such, this course will serve as a map and gateway to the higher educational experience, as we seek to bridge the cultures of the humanities and the sciences.

Honors Program Sections: CCS 100H For Honors Program Students Only
NOTE: These two sections are for Honors Program students only. Be sure you correctly indicate the Honors section when you register. It is designated as CCS100H, section A or B (not CCS100 section H). Section A: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Mystical Cultures Chris May Mysticism-- the pursuit of direct contact with an ultimate reality, spiritual truth, or God-has existed in many cultures throughout time, including our own day. In this course, students will explore the cultural and biological components of mysticism through the techniques of both the historian and the neuroscientist. The course will focus, in particular, on understanding medievel/early modern European Christian mysticism, mysticism in the Buddhist tradition, and contemporary incarnations of mysticism. Section B: 12:00-12:50 MTRF Mystical Cultures Scott Hendrix Mysticism-- the pursuit of direct contact with an ultimate reality, spiritual truth, or God-has existed in many cultures throughout time, including our own day. In this course, students will explore the cultural and biological components of mysticism through the techniques of both the historian and the neuroscientist. The course will focus, in particular, on understanding medievel/early modern European Christian mysticism, mysticism in the Buddhist tradition, and contemporary incarnations of mysticism.
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