Spring 2012 Courses

Sophomore Level Courses

HP 2151-01 “Modern China” 3 cr. TR 11:00-12:15pm, PS 237. (CH, G, A&S Non-West) Instructor: Tyler Fall, CRN-23901

This course is designed as a broad, and admittedly selective, survey of Chinese culture and Chinese history from the decline of the Ming Dynasty in the 1500s to the present day.  Our survey will delve into China’s political history, its cultural productions, the role of non-elites, and its interactions with the rest of the world, particularly with the West.  Through close attention to these themes, we will examine the development of modern China, assess the tension between tradition and outside influence, and consider both the challenges and possibilities facing China in the future. 

HP 2151-02 “Indian Epic” 3 cr. TR 1:20-2:35pm, Room: TBA. (CH, G, A&S Non-West) Instructor: Barbara Logan, CRN-24885

We will examine religious experience and expression in Hindu India in their diversity and regional variation with special emphasis on the contemporary persistence of traditional values and practices. Relevant historical background will be surveyed to help assess continuity and change in learned and vernacular Hindu religious practices and the values that both influence and are displayed in them.

This course explores the many ways in which Hindus visualize and talk about the divine and its manifestations in the world, using mythic stories, the images used in worship, explanations of the nature of the soul and the body in relation to the divine, and the belief in living, human embodiments of God in Hindu holy men and women. Topics addressed include: the religious meanings of masculine and feminine in the divine and human contexts; the idea of local, family, and "chosen" divinities; and forms of Hindu devotion for women and men.

HP 2151-03: Modern Japanese Society and Culture; 3 cr. MWF 10:00-10:50am, Room: MH 103; (CH,G,A&S Non-West) Instructor: Noah Miles

This course is designed to introduce Japanese society and culture. The class will take a thematic approach to the study of Japan. We will integrate history and literature from the Jomon to the Edo periods, covering a diverse range of topics including: language development, the introduction of Buddhism, poetry, classical and modern literature, traditional arts and holidays concluding with the development of popular culture.

HP 2153-01: Bali: Life and Art; 3 cr.; F 2:10-5:00pm, Room: CR 137 (CA, G, A & S Non-West) Instructors Rod Garnett & Pak Made, CRN-22819

This class will offer experiences for learning about life in Bali and the wonderful music, dance, and various artistic forms that are so essential every day. Students will work under the excellent teaching of Balinese gamelan master I Made Lasmawan and dancer Luh Made Dwi Wahyuni in weekly sessions. In addition Professor Rod Garnett will assist the class with individual projects and guided readings. The class will perform Balinese music and dance in a public concert. 

Junior Level Courses

HP 3151-01: Classical Mythology; 3 cr; TR 9:35-10:50am, Room: HO 121B, (CH), Instructor: Barbara Logan, CRN-21965  

The Greek and Roman legacy in Western culture is almost immeasurable:  Our systems of government, laws, philosophy, literature, and art all bear the traces of Greek and Roman roots, but it is in their mythology that the Greeks and Romans reveal their most intimate sense of being in the world.  In their myths of gods, mortals, monsters, crimes, and quests, we see the intimate imaginary of how Greeks and Romans explained the purpose and place of humankind in the universe.  By examining the primary source materials of Greece and Rome – the myths as the Greeks and Romans told them to themselves – we can gain a deeper understanding of the place that these peoples thought they occupied in history while they were still creating history.

HP 3151-02: Concepts of the Holy War; 3 cr; W 4:10-7:00pm, Room MH 103, Instructor: Erin Abraham, CRN-25380

This course will examine the complexities of religious violence through investigations into how the relationship between Christianity and Islam has been – and continues to be – in large part defined in increasingly interchangeable terms of holy war. We will examine early concepts of holy war, including the modifications of early Christian formulations of justum bellum and of jihad in early Islam.  We will evaluate the transmission and changing connotations of these concepts in comparative contexts, including popular perceptions and official definitions, through various media, including film, print, and electronic sources.     

HP 3151-03: Disney Discourse; 3 cr; TR 11:00-12:15pm; Room: MH 103; (CH) Instructor: Susan Aronstein, CRN-25381

In the 1960's, Mike Wallace wrote: "Disney has succeeded in putting a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on every developing personality in America." In this class, we will examine the myths about America and Americans that accompanied those mouse ears - that we were a nation of dreamers and doers, that science and technology would usher in a "great big beautiful tomorrow," that manifest destiny would march from the frontier (Frontierland and Adventureland) to the stars (Tommorowland). We will look at a variety of Disney texts-animated and live action movies, theme parks, television shows, documentaries, speeches and interviews, merchandise - in the context of both their political and historical moment and Disney's real and imagined biography. Requirements: midterm, class presentation, a 12-15 page critical conference paper. Possible long weekend at Disneyland and analytical report on the park.

HP 3152-01: Game of Sports; 3 cr; TR 11:00-12:15pm; Room: EA 211; Instructor: Jeremy Weaver, CRN-25379

Sports make a lasting impact on everyday culture and society. Whether we participate in athletics, competitions or merely watch them, we are exposed to sports. As a cultural value, sports have come to dominate American minds progressively over the last 100 years. This course will look at the relationship between the cultural aspect of sports and American society using a sociological perspective. Concepts relating to gender, ethnicity, economics, politics, health, education and sports will be examined throughout the course utilizing writing, discussion, media and hands on observation.

HP 3153-01: Investigating Cultural Identity; 3 cr. TR 1:20-2:35; Room: Art Museum; (CA) Instructors: Diane Panozzo and Wendy Bredehoft, CRN-23286

This class meets in the UW Art Museum’s galleries and studio. Students will closely observe and investigate the imagery, the cultural contexts, the processes and methods used in the work of the artists exhibited in the UW art galleries. They will conduct research on cultural and personal identity as addressed in the art. The work in the galleries and studio will inspire and motivate the students to create their own art work in any medium or mode of choice which could include film making, visual imagery work such as drawing, painting, sculpture, etc., creative writing, research writing, multi-media work or any imaginable work that will be created as a project of choice. Students will maintain a research journal of observations, writing, drawing, visual imagery, research on artists and identity theory. Students will read selected pieces defining and discussing Identity Theory: cultural and personal. Participation is key to this class along with a spirit of creativity and adventure. Final projects will grow out of the research and experiences students will have in the UW Art Museum inspired by the current exhibitions. Student investigations may take any form imaginable as agreed upon by instructors and students. This is the class students have been waiting for to challenge them.

HP 3153-02: American Popular Music; 3 cr. TR 1:20-2:35pm; Room: MH 103; (CA, D) Instructor: Jeremy Weaver, CRN-23746

This course will develop an understanding of how popular music, music artists, and the music industry interact with society. Students will be able to conceptualize this incredibly rich area of culture and social production and consumption. We will outline and explore a variety of topics related to these concepts and popular music: the development of "popular music" globally in its social and historical context; the relationship between music artists and the music industry yesterday and today; the socioeconomic and political statuses of the music artists; censorship; genres of music; the implications of technology and music; and finally, the politics of musical representation. 

Senior Level Courses

HP 4152-01: Crime and Deviance in Rural America; 3 cr. TR 9:35-10:50am; (CS, D) Instructor: Jeremy Weaver, CRN-24887

This course examines the criminological concepts of crime and deviance as applied to rural communities and states within the U.S.  The course will cover criminological theory and law and investigate why crime and deviance occur in this setting. 

HP 4152-02: Contemporary Issues in South Africa; 3 cr. W 6:00-9:00pm; Instructor: Lisa Philander, CRN-23287

South Africa is a highly diverse country, both biologically and culturally; this course is designed as a broad survey of South African culture and history. Discussion of colonization, apartheid and the contemporary political, environmental and social issues faced in South Africa will be used to assess contemporary global issues. Tracing South Africa’s development as a young democracy will highlight both national and international challenges and opportunities. This course will cover multiple topics including race, social movements, natural resource allocation, land and health care policies, and international relationships. We will read quintessential South African literature that portrays racial and cultural struggles. The second half of this class will focus on the history of medical systems in South Africa.