[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2004/2005

Evolution, Pictures and Publics
WMST 127 FA
Crosslistings:
HIST 127
SISP 127

This seminar is designed to introduce first-year students to critical issues arising from the circulation and display of scientific illustrations in the public sphere. Ironically, the theory of evolution-one of the most difficult scientific phenomena to represent visually-also is among the most widely illustrated. Today, evolutionary imagery appears in scientific textbooks, museum displays, comic books, paintings, films, and magazines. The course provides an in-depth look at the history and social meanings of evolutionary imagery in the trans-Atlantic world from the scientific illustrations of Darwin's theory of natural and sexual selection in Victorian London, to the family trees produced during the Scopes "monkey" trial in Dayton, Tennessee, to the anti-evolutionary imagery circulated by scientific creationists, to a range of recent artworks that explore evolution as a central motif. Students learn how to write histories of popular scientific illustrations by studying the images themselves. Throughout the course, attention will be paid to how evolutionary imagery has been infused with changing visual codes of gender, race, class, sexuality, nationalism, and ethnicity. This course is appropriate for students with interests in biology, gender studies, visual culture, science policy, science and law, and science and the media.

MAJOR READINGS

Recommended Reading
Charles Darwin. ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY NATURAL SELECTION, OR THE PRESERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. Murray, London, 1859.
Charles Darwin, THE DESCENT OF MAN AND SELECTION IN RELATION TO SEX. Murray, London, 1871.
Adrian Desmond and James Moore. DARWIN.
Duane Gish. EVOLUTION: THE FOSSILS SAY NO!
Stephen J. Gould. DINOSAUR IN A HAYSTACK: REFLECTIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY.
Donna Haraway. PRIMATE VISIONS: GENDER, RACE AND NATION IN THE WORLD OF MODERN SCIENCE.
Edward Larson. SUMMER FOR THE GODS: THE SCOPES TRIAL AND AMERICA'S CONTINUING DEBATE OVER SCIENCE AND RELIGION.
Optional:
James L. Hayward. THE CREATION/EVOLUTION CONTROVERSY: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
There will also be a Course Reader.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A midterm, a final, and short papers.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459