SOC399 - Tricksters, Ghosts, & Other Strangers in the Making of a Culture

[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2005/2006

Tricksters, Ghosts, & Other Strangers in the Making of a Culture
SOC 399 SP

This course may be repeated for credit.

The seminar invites research and analysis of the role of tricksters, ghosts, and strangers in the making of American Culture, with an emphasis on late 19th through 20th century. Among the subjects considered will be Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, Crazy Horse, Gloria Anzaldua, South Asian and Chinese Americans. Students will read both fiction and non-fiction. The idea of an "America" will be taken as a topic for analysis of culture as a cover for exclusion in the name of inclusion. Instances of disruption and transformation of the cultural norm will be considered.

MAJOR READINGS

Avery Gordon, GHOSTLY MATTERS
Charles Lemert, MUHAMMAD ALI: TRICKSTER IN THE CULTURE OF IRONY
Selected books and articles on the nature of culture and cultural change, including references to new cultural and social movements.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Short papers, group research and presentation, attendance, a major research paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Please do not register if you are unwilling to read all the assignments and participate in an intensive seminar class.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: SOC151

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Lemert,Charles C.

Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: PAC421;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 20)

SR. major: 5 Jr. major: 5

SR. non-major: 0 Jr. non-major: 5 SO: 5 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Ethical Reasoning, Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006