Events
SEMINARS - Fall 2008
ART HISTORY
1. AH 14F, sec. 01: Introduction to Architecture (AA) (3 s.h.)
T/TH, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m.,
Joseph Masheck
How is it that only certain buildings count as architecture? Fostering a sense of building structure along with an understanding of architectural art, this course has three parts: (1) basics of architectural form and style; (2) social context and the preservation or restoration of past styles; and (3) practical investigation of a lost modern masterpiece – I. M. Pei’s Roosevelt Field Shopping Center (1955-56). Two field trips are part of the course: one to study specimens of ancient, medieval and Renaissance architecture at New York museums, and the other to see the present condition of Pei’s mall in light of the original design. No previous knowledge of architecture is required.
2. AH 14F, sec. 02: Great Artists in Great NYC Museums (AA) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 2:20-3:45 p.m.
Claire Lindgren
The museums in New York City house some of the finest collections of art in the world. Here, the works of great artists are accessible to the visitor: Picasso’s and Monet’s greatest works are on view at The Museum of Modern Art; Rembrandt and El Greco’s masterpieces are part of the extensive collection of The Metropolitan Museum of art, as well as works by Goya, Bernini, Rubens and David. In the Fragonard Room of The Frick Collection, we see how art and architecture were combined to create a time capsule of 18th-century luxury, while The Cloisters offers a peek into the artists/art/ architecture of the Medieval period. The course will study specific artists such as Picasso and Monet and then make appropriate field trips to see their works “in the flesh,” so to speak. The class will together make at least five field trips to the museums in NYC. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
DRAMA
3. DRAM 14F, sec. A: Broadway (and More)! (AA) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 4-5:55 p.m.
Maureen McFeely
Tourists sometimes think that theater in New York City means Broadway and nothing else. But New York City also boasts hundreds of exciting off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions each season. This seminar ventures beyond the classroom to explore the rich variety of these stage offerings. By seeking good theater in all its guises – on Broadway and off, commercial and not-for-profit – we will come to understand what makes New York the theater capital of the world.
ECONOMICS
4. ECO 14F, sec. 01: Urban/Suburban: The Political Economy of Urbanization (BH) (4 s.h.)
M/W/F, 9:50-11:05 a.m.
Masoud Fazeli
Why do most Americans live in cities? Why have our cities and their suburbs developed as they have? How are American cities different from European ones? Why have some less-developed countries experienced “over-urbanization”? What accounts for the growth of “sunbelt” cities in the western and southern U.S. states? Why did many great American cities experience decay in the aftermath of World War II, and what has caused the recent revitalization and gentrification of some of those cities? Why did a suburban center such as Long Island grow, and what are the consequences of this impressive growth to the population density and economic activities? This course offers a historical and socioeconomic approach to the emergence of urban and suburban communities with an emphasis on New York City and Long Island.
5. ECO 14F, sec. 02: The Fed, the Markets and the Economy (BH) (3 s.h.)
T/TH, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
Rosemary DeRiso
This seminar focuses on the role of the Federal Reserve in policymaking and the effects of Fed decisions on our financial markets and the overall economy. Students will analyze current economic topics in various forms of mass media, including newspapers, radio and television, and the Internet. The emphasis is on understanding the impact of economic policy on our lives. The course presupposes no background in economics.
ENGLISH
6. ENGL 14F, sec. 01: Baseball in Literature (LT) (4 s.h.)
M/F, 11:15 a.m.-1:10 p.m.
Richard Pioreck
Historian Jacques Barzun observed, “Whoever would understand the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” This seminar explores the weave of baseball’s ubiquitous presence in American life, from its influence on language and expression to its connection with the American persona and identity through literature from Ring Lardner to August Wilson. While maintaining a predominant literary focus, the course also examines other forms of popular culture, from songs to vaudeville to other forms of popular culture that inform the literature. Course includes trips to the local baseball shrines, Yankee and Shea Stadiums.
7. ENGL 14F, sec. 02: Gender Trouble in Shakespeare’s England (LT) (3 s.h.)
M/F, 11:15 a.m.-12:40 p.m.
Craig Rustici
Men dressed as women, women dressed as men, Amazon queens, formerly virile warriors made effeminate by desire, a woman ruling over sea captains and generals – Shakespeare confronted or imagined all these challenges to the neat opposition between masculine and feminine genders. We investigate plays and poems (e.g., Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra) in which Shakespeare explores conventional gender boundaries. For example, we consider how Queen Elizabeth’s roles as “supreme governor” of church and state compelled English writers to rethink their ideas about women’s abilities and how the transvestite pickpocket Mary Frith became a London celebrity. Gender bending occurred long before such modern creations as Shakespeare in Love and The Crying Game. Course includes trips to Shakespeare productions in New York City.
8. ENGL 14F, sec. 03: Fairy Tale in Literature (LT)(3 s.h.)
T/TH, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
Scott Harshbarger
In the classic fairy tales of Perrault, Andersen, Wilde, and the Brothers Grimm, we encounter not only murderous stepmothers, abandoned children, and avenging woodsmen, but also love-struck beasts, wily girls in red hoods and triumphant mermaids. This course investigates the many social, historical, and psychological meanings of classic fairy tales and their modern adaptations. We examine the role fairy tales play in child development and in shaping, or challenging, cultural values. We also consider the various literary qualities that help to account for the remarkable staying power of these strangely enchanting stories.
9. ENGL 14F, sec. 04: Shakespeare: Rulers and Rebels(LT) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 10:35 a.m.-noon
Linda Reesman
This course examines the significance for both the Renaissance and our own age of the conflicts between rulers and their rebellious subjects, which are depicted in five works by Shakespeare. The works we consider are chosen from a range of genres: from the history plays, Richard II and Henry IV, Part I; from the tragedies, Macbeth; from the tragicomedies, The Winter’s Tale; and from the romances, The Tempest. Course includes trips to Shakespeare productions in New York City. This seminar includes one semester hour of library instruction.
FINE ARTS
10. FA 14F, sec. 01: Face to Face: Sculpture and Painting (CP) (3 s.h.)
M/W, 9:15-11:05 a.m.
Douglas Hilson
This is a course in basic drawing with a primary focus on the portrait as subject. While predominantly a studio course, we also study the basic history of both portraiture and self-portraiture. We look at how the purpose of portraiture has varied through history and different cultures, with a close look at the portrait in contemporary art and postmodern society. Designed to be of interest to all students, the course also includes some assigned readings, class discussions, demonstrations, illustrated lectures, and field trips to New York City museums and galleries.
11. FA 14F, sec. 02: Graphic Design Inspirations (CP) (3 s.h.)
M/W, 1-2:50 p.m.
Beth Ocko
Design history provides a wealth of inspiration to contemporary graphic designers. In this introduction to graphic design, we look at twentieth-century avant-garde movements and their influence on graphic design. Examples also provide the basis for our class projects in logo, poster, book cover and motion graphics design. Among the movements to be included are Art Nouveau, Vienna Workshop, De Stijl, Russian Constructivism and Futurism. Pre-requisite: basic knowledge of Adobe graphics software.
12. FA 14F, sec. A: What Good Is Art?(AA)(3 s.h.)
M/W, 4:30-5:55 p.m.
Laurie Fendrich
This course studies art and artists. Through a variety of readings, including selections from philosophy, art criticism, fiction and historical documents, we ask questions such as: How does art appeal to us? How does art fit into a society? Is there a “nature” to the artist that makes artists somehow different from other members of a society? Are art and artists necessarily good for a society, or even, for that matter, for individuals? How does fine art fit in our own mass democracy, where mass culture and entertainment are dominant? This course includes travel to New York City art museums.
GEOLOGY
13. GEOL 14F, sec. 01: Field Geology of New York City and Long Island (NS) (3 s.h.)
Lecture M/W, 10:10-11:05 a.m.;
Lab GEOL 01L. M, 2:10-4 p.m.;
Three one-day field trips on selected weekends
Charles Merguerian
Public health, public transportation, water works, and environmental protection – all these affect our daily lives, and all depend on the subjects of geology and engineering. This seminar is conducted in a lecture and field trip format, and involves travel to various sites around New York City and Long Island. We will see first-hand how science connects with public policy. Students will learn to look at large-scale issues of public concern in NYC and Long Island through the lens of the field geologist. Open to science and non-science students; no prerequisite.
14. GEOL 14F, sec. 02: Dinosaurs (NS) (4 s.h.)
Lecture, M/F, 12:20-1:15 p.m.; Lab GEOL 02L, T, 2:20-4:10 p.m.
J Bret Bennington
Dinosaurs and related “ruling reptiles” were the dominant animals on Earth during the 180 million years of the Mesozoic Era. Recently, there has been a renaissance in dinosaur paleontology, which has resulted in a wealth of new fossils and new insights into the nature and evolution of dinosaurs and other animals that first evolved in the Mesozoic Era (birds, placental mammals, modern reptiles and amphibians). In addition, the study of plate tectonics has demonstrated that the Mesozoic was also a time of enormous geological change around the globe. Drawing on the latest geological and paleontological research, this course presents the evidence and the scientific detective work that geologists and paleontologists use to reconstruct the Mesozoic world. Course includes trips to museums in New York City. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
HISTORY
15. HIST 14F, sec. 01: Women in New York City, 1870 to the Present (HP) (5 s.h.)
M/W, 9-11 a.m.
Sally Charnow
The study of the history of women, gender and sexuality has transformed our understanding of the past. This seminar is designed to provide an in-depth exploration of the experiences of women in New York City during formative years of social, economic, political and cultural transformation. We look at changes in women’s work, authority and leisure during industrialization; the multifaceted experiences of immigration throughout the period; competing ideas of womanhood, motherhood and sexuality; and the impact of social class, ethnicity and race on women’s lives. We read novels, short stories, and historical monographs to understand their worlds, and we walk in their footsteps through the streets of New York City. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
16. HIST 14F, sec. 02: New York Raw (HP) (4 s.h.)
M/W, 2:55-4:20 p.m.
John Munz
This course focuses on the underside of urban experience in the period 1790-1950 and includes an investigation of topics such as: prostitution, criminal enterprises and organizations (from the ethnic street gangs of the 19th century to the era of organized crime), drug and saloon cultures, manifestations of alternative sexualities, street life and tenement communities, the urban poor and structures for their control/relief, and the emergence of the hustler/con man/grifter. We make several trips to New York City to visit the present location of the Five Points district as well as other notorious, historically important sites.
17. HIST 14F, sec. 03: Can a Woman Be Elected President of the United States? (HP) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 10:05 a.m.-noon
Susan Yohn
This course takes up the many women who, from the beginnings of the Republic, argued that women should play a central role in the political life of the nation. We begin with Abigail Adams, who implored her husband, John, to “remember the ladies” when the “Founding Fathers” debated to whom political rights should be extended. We will discuss the Grimke sisters, who in the 1830s challenged the prohibition of women speaking in public; the women who called the Women’s Rights Convention of 1848; and Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested for attempting to vote in 1872. We examine the campaign of the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull, and the women’s organizations that lobbied for the 19th amendment, or women’s suffrage, in 1920. We conclude the course by examining the ways women have been political agents from the 20th century to the present, for example, Eleanor Roosevelt, conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, welfare rights activists in the 1960s, second wave feminists like Pauli Murray, and contemporary female politicians like Hillary Clinton.
18. HIST 14F, sec. A: Baseball in America (HP) (4 s.h.)
M/W, 4:20-6:15 p.m.
John Staudt
Baseball has played a central role in American culture for almost 200 years. The game’s events and characters reflect critical issues confronted in the larger society. How have people absorbed and participated in the game of baseball? We explore how the game paralleled the growth of the United States from an agrarian society through industrialization and into the 21st century. Topics include: the origins of baseball and its development as a business; its role in national segregation and integration policies; topics of gender, regional identity and immigration; and economic issues such as the disparity between rich and poor teams, and labor-management issues. Finally, the course touches on great moments in baseball history, such as Satchel Paige’s strikeout of Josh Gibson, Bobby Thompson’s “shot heard ’round the world,” and “the catch” by Willie Mays. The course includes travel to night games at Yankee and Shea Stadiums and to several of the local minor league ballparks.
JEWISH STUDIES
19. JWST 14F, sec. 01: Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought (HP) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 9:35-11 a.m.
TBA
This seminar introduces students to the principal issues and figures in Jewish philosophy from the Enlightenment to the present. Topics considered include the nature (and possibility) of Jewish philosophy; the concepts of God, nature and the world; the status of religious knowledge, law and practice; and the concept of election in relation to the people and land of Israel. Thinkers to be considered and read may include authors such as Moses Mendelssohn, Solomon Maimon, S.R. Hirsch, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Ahad Ha’am, Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas, A.J. Heschel, Hannah Arendt and Joseph Soloveitchik. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
LABOR STUDIES
20. LABR 14F, sec. 01: Work and Class in the New York Economy (BH) (5 s.h.)
M/W, 2:45-4:40 p.m.
Gregory DeFreitas
Is the American Dream of upward mobility an attainable goal for most working people today? Why, in an advanced economy like the United States, has class reemerged as a powerful socioeconomic and political force? How are changes in the labor force, job markets, corporate and union behavior, and government policies affecting the income prospects of young people in New York and other major metropolitan areas? This seminar introduces students to diverse theoretical perspectives and analytic approaches to answering these and related questions, then critically examines both contemporary and historical research findings on a number of controversial topics. These may include: occupational and income mobility, industrial restructuring, educational access, unemployment, racial/ethnic and gender inequalities, health care coverage, immigration’s impacts, union organizing, worker-management relations, labor laws and public policies, and new labor market strategies. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
LGBT STUDIES
21. Gay Film and Literature (total = 8 s.h.)
In these three connected seminars, we will analyze literature and film from France and other countries where French is the principal language. All literature will be read in English translation; all films will have English subtitles. We will use various literary criticism methods to analyze the queer message, symbols, context and significance of these cultural artifacts. At the same time, we will look into historical, social, political, legal, and linguistic components of these texts that will (1) help us understand them and thereby help us analyze them, and (2) uncover other layers of queer significance. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
LGBT 14F, sec. 01: Gay Film and Literature (IS, LT) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 2:15-4:10 p.m.
David Powell
WSC 1, sec. FX: Composition (3 s.h.)
M/W/F, 12:50-1:45 p.m.
Lisa Dresner
MARTIAL ARTS
22. PESP 32, sec. F80: Tai Chi Chuan (2 s.h.)
M/F, 9:35-11 a.m.
David Knee
Tai Chi Chuan is among the most sophisticated of all the martial arts, and while its spirit is nonaggressive, it is superior in some ways to the more well-known “hard” styles. It is known as an internal system because its source of strength lies in the development of internal power rather than muscular strength. As a system of self-defense, Tai Chi Chuan is widely considered to be among the most complete systems. Anyone who studies Tai Chi Chuan seriously can expect to benefit greatly – even in unexpected ways. Eventually it becomes a peaceful, graceful, and creative path to relaxation and self-awareness.
MATHEMATICS
23. MATH 14F, sec. 01: Zero and Much More (MC) (3 s.h.)
M/W/F, 10:10-11:05 a.m.
Sylvia Silberger
This course surveys the history of mathematics as it follows the history of the mathematical world’s acceptance of the number zero. Students will find that key mathematical topics such as imaginary numbers, concepts of infinity, the Cartesian plane, derivatives and integrals, and some more modern concepts all can be illuminated through their relationship to zero. Students in this course should have an interest in philosophy and mathematics, a reasonably strong algebra background, and an understanding of the real number system.
MUSIC
24. MUS 14F, sec. 01: Jazz! (AA) (3 s.h.)
M/W/F, 10:10-11:05 a.m.
David LaLama
Music connects our present to our personal, cultural and historical past. The history of jazz is also the history of America’s continuing struggle toward racial equality, as well as the cultural development of cities such as New Orleans, Chicago and New York. American painters and writers looked to jazz as a model of spontaneity, improvisation and experimentation. Jack Kerouac, for example, coined the term “bop prosody” to describe his rhythmic, stream of consciousness paragraphs that merged poetry with prose by attending to the felt rhythm of words and breath. Students learn to identify periods where musical, literary and visual arts have overlapped, and also explore the ways their own musical tastes shape their writing and cultural participation. The course presupposes no background in jazz; includes trips to jazz clubs in NYC.
PHILOSOPHY
25. PHI 14F, sec. 01: Knowledge and Reality (HP) (3 s.h.)
M/W/F, 10:10-11:05 a.m.
Dietmar Heidemann
“Knowledge” and “reality” are basic philosophical concepts. For more than 2,500 years, philosophers have tried to answer questions such as: Can we define “knowledge”? Are there limits of knowledge? What is true as opposed to false knowledge? What, if anything, can we know? Are there methods of acquiring knowledge? What is reality? Is reality independent from what we believe? Does external reality exist? If yes, how can we know that it exists? Is knowledge of external objects possible? In this seminar, students will explore answers to these questions from such philosophers as Plato, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Ayer and Nagel. By studying the answers others have given, students will formulate responses of their own.
26. PHI 14F, sec. 02: Philosophy Through Film (HP) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 12:10-2:05 p.m.
Amy Karofsky
In this course, students will explore some significant philosophical problems, using contemporary movies. By considering the themes and content of films like The Matrix, I Robot, Total Recall, Memento, and Blade Runner, students will be introduced to philosophical issues such as: personal identity, free will and determinism, the mind/body problem, our knowledge of the world and our place in it. In addition to the movies, students will also read works from philosophers such as Plato, Descartes and Hume, and some contemporary thinkers. Students will be taught skills in critical thinking and philosophical method and analysis. This course has no prerequisites.
27. PHI 14F, sec. 03: Presidential Politics, Power and Philosophy (HP) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 2:15-4:10 p.m.
Kenneth Henwood
Since World War II, American presidents have bestridden the world like colossi, exercising enormous power and influence over events, nations and alignments of nations. What has philosophy to say about politics and the exercise of power, about the qualities of leadership and the structure, use, limits and legitimacy of power? This course investigates such questions through the double lens of history and philosophy. By examining a series of events in the histories of ancient Athens and Rome, Renaissance Europe and 21st-century America while studying the works of Plato, Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill, the course seeks insight and perspective on the office and person of the American president.
PHYSICS
28. PHYS 14F, sec. 01: Modern Introduction to Physics (NS)
Lecture, T/TH, 9:10-11 a.m.
Lab PHYS 011B sec. FA
M, 2:55-5:45 p.m.
or
sec. FB, TH, 8-10:50 a.m.
or sec. FC,
Gregory Levine
This course has two objectives: 1) to serve as an introduction to Newtonian mechanics, covering the laws of motion, energy and momentum, and 2) to serve as an introduction to the modern understanding of space-time geometry and quantum mechanics, which replace Newtonian mechanics and gravity. Examples of space-time geometry will be drawn from expanding universe cosmology, black hole physics and time dilation effects, which underlie the familiar Global Positioning System. Topics include energy quantization in atoms, the uncertainty principle and quantum tunneling. This course covers material comparable to PHYS 11A and serves as a prerequisite for PHYS 12A. Students considering a major or minor in physics are urged to take this course rather than PHYS 11A. Prerequisites: MATH 70 (or some exposure to calculus) and a substantial high school physics course (e.g., Honors or AP).
POLITICAL SCIENCE
29. PSC 14F, sec. 01: Who Made Your MP3 Player? A Look at the Asian Century (BH) (4 s.h.)
M/W/F, 1:20-2:35 p.m.
Takashi Kanatsu
Many people are already referring to the 21st century as “The Asian Century.” So many of the products we take for granted are designed or manufactured in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Why don’t they come from France, Brazil or Canada? When your grandmother was your age, were her parents driving a Japanese brand of automobile? Why not? The Asian countries are developing so rapidly that it is difficult to keep track. In this seminar, we begin by finding out the country of origin of various consumer products. Then, we explore the politics and economics of Asia, asking how and why they have industrialized so quickly. You will come to understand the secret histories, the cultural mysteries, and the international contexts that have produced some of your favorite items. Your MP3 player will become more than just a tool for music and movies. It will symbolize the massive political, economic and cultural changes occurring before our very eyes. This course includes one semester hour of instruction in library research methods.
PSYCHOLOGY
30. PSY 14F, sec. 01: My Freshman Year: Psychological Change in College(BH)(4 s.h.)
M/W, 2:45-4:40 p.m.
Stavros Valenti
College is often the most radical change experienced in the first two decades of life. Think of your own life up until now: The food ... the people you meet several times a day ... the places where you work, study or play ... where you sleep. At college, most or all of these will be different. How do these changes affect how you think, feel and behave? Will you emerge from college a wiser version of yourself, or will you become a different person altogether? What makes for the highest satisfaction with the college experience? In this seminar, students will learn how to approach questions like these from the point of view of a research psychologist. As a group, we will generate our own hypotheses, design our own research studies, collect data, and determine if the data support or contradict our initial predictions.
31. PSY 14F, sec. 02: Psychology Through Film and Literature (BH) (3 s.h.)
M/W, 2:55-4:20 p.m.
Lola Nouryan
This course provides a basic understanding of psychological disorder through film and literature. By studying the work of selected writers, directors and filmmakers, we will investigate the basis of “abnormal” behavior. Our goal is to understand mental illness and its treatment. To that end, we will examine the ways in which writers and filmmakers portray character, communication, and perceptual experience.
32. PSY 14F, sec. 03: The Resilient Child: Early Experience and Later Life (BH) (4 s.h.)
T/TH, 2:15-4:10 p.m.
Brian Cox
To what extent do experiences in childhood affect who we become as adults? Can we overcome a bad start? How are our personalities formed by learning, temperament, and the events of lives caught up in history and cultural change? In this seminar in developmental psychology, we will begin by examining our beliefs about children’s natures in the past and present. Then we will examine the scientific evidence ranging from case studies to extraordinary longitudinal studies of children’s development that have lasted for as long as 50 years. The course will conclude with a discussion of adult “identity crises” and how we explain the process to ourselves in biography and autobiography. As the philosopher Kierkegaard has said: “Life is lived forward, but understood backward.”
RELIGION
33. RELI 14F, sec. 01: The Salem Witches (HP) (3 s.h.)
T/TH, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
Jody Cross-Hanson
This seminar aims at a general understanding of the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692 and 1693. Attention will be given to the historical, social and economic contexts of the events in and around Salem, Massachusetts, but we will focus on their religious dimensions. What experiences did the women report? How were their experiences connected to their religious beliefs? What effect did the “outbreak” have on the local religious community?
SOCIOLOGY
34. SOC 14F, sec. 01: House, Home and Society (BH) (3 s.h.)
T/TH, 12:45-2:10 p.m.
Gail Satler
What do our homes say about us as individuals and as a society? This course offers a sociological analysis of the changing notion of home through an overview of housing types as they exist and as they have been imagined. Various conceptions of family and household types as they intersect with housing options in our country and in other parts of the world will be explored. Examining the similarities, differences and evolving notions of home will provide a framework with which to consider what housing reflects about our social priorities, values and norms.
WRITING STUDIES AND COMPOSITION
35. WSC 14F, sec. 01: How Writers Break the Rules — and Why (3 s.h.)
T/TH, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m.
Ronald Janssen
Have you ever wondered why so many of the writers you read don’t seem to follow all those rules you worked so hard to learn in English class? In this course, we will review those rules with a critical mind and examine a range of essays that part company with all apparent norms of writing. Readings will include a couple of traditional essay models and a variety of exploratory, experimental and hybrid examples, as well as visual essays. We will examine how the alternative forms work and why the writers felt a need to create them. Our goal, through reading, discussion and writing, will be to reformulate the old rules to make our own writing possible and effective for the purposes and readers we have targeted.