FALL 2009 BLOCK COURSES*

Students enroll in all the block courses listed below. These make up your complete fall schedule. All block courses fulfill general education requirements and include weekly trips to New York City. Block courses are a great way to start your college experience — small classes, new friends, and excellent teachers.

NC 30D, sec. 01/02: American Modernism (LT) (4 s.h.)
M/T/W/TH, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Dana Brand

In this course, we’ll examine American Modernism: a literary and artistic movement that tried, between 1920 and 1960, to develop new ways of writing, looking, and living appropriate to the new realities of the American 20th century. We’ll read works by authors such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, Faulkner, Ellison, Nabokov, Ginsberg, and Kerouac, and we’ll consider films, art, music, advertising, and popular culture that represent the landscape, tempo and complexities of national identity in “the American century.” In New York City, which was thought to embody the energy and style of modern America more than just about any other place in this period, we’ll explore the art, architecture, words, and design that changed forever the way the world looks and feels. This is a Place & Identity course.

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NC 16B, sec. 01/02: Hard Times: Choices for Cities in Crisis (HP) (4 s.h.)
M/T/W/TH, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Carolyn Eisenberg

New York City is now faced with its most serious economic crisis since the Great Depression of 1929-41. In this class, we will employ historical and other social science methodologies to analyze the dimensions of the current crisis. We will begin with a historical exploration of governmental responses during that earlier period. Through reading and field work, we will try to gauge the dimensions of the current situation. We will want to consider the levels of unemployment and their impact on social services — including housing, health care and education. How are the lives of people being affected? How are community groups attempting to protect their interests? And what steps are being taken at the local, state and federal level to improve the situation? We will also pay attention to the military budget and how its size is shaping governmental action.

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NC 31C, sec. 01/02: Understanding the Craft of Theater: Skill, Inspiration and Spontaneity (AA) (4 s.h.)
M/T/W/TH, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Peter Sander

A seminar on the paradox of the creative process. Using the multifaceted disciplines of theater (acting, playwriting, directing and designing), the course will explore the relationship between skill (control and understanding) and inspiration (free and expressive intuition). We’ll read works by Emerson, Herrigel, Pirandello, and Stanislavsky, among others. We’ll also analyze contrasts between stage and film versions of the same play and attend theater productions at Hofstra and in New York City. Practical application and theater attendance will be expected. No previous experience in drama activity is required.

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NC 36B, sec. 01/02: The Philosopher’s Journey: Beyond Tolerance to Reason (HP) (4 s.h.)
M/T/W/TH, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Joseph Marino

Philosophy is not simply a “study about” the ideas of past or current thinkers; it’s a vital process that questions, in a critical but constructive way, the manner in which we understand our lives and the ways we go about conducting ourselves within human communities. Our interdisciplinary exploration of philosophical thought will begin with a discussion of the historical origins of philosophy through the work of Plato and Aristotle and then focus on human personhood against the background of selected moral issues. We’ll consider problems such as terrorism, torture, genocide, and individual responses to personal and communal moral dilemmas. Additional readings will include selections from Sartre, Buber, Frankl and Ilibagiza. We’ll also reflect on these issues by drawing on works of literature and film, and through field trips.

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NC 16W, sec. 01S/02S: Writing Practicum
(Meeting time: TBA), Patricia Horvath

This course helps students develop the abilities they need for college writing assignments and for using writing effectively throughout their lives. In tandem with the Place & Identity block courses (fall) and designated literature courses (spring), students meet both as a class and individually with the instructor to strengthen their academic writing. Can be used to satisfy the University’s English composition requirement.

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* Because of the large number of field trips and out-of-class activities, the Block Program has an additional fee of $500 per semester.