College Seminar (101-7-4)
Topic
The Goddesses
Instructors
Mary J Weismantel
847/491-4822
1812 Hinman Ave., Room #105, EV Campus
Professor Weismantel has written on a wide variety of topics, ranging from food to adoption, and from contemporary popular culture to ancient ceramics. Two threads connect her work: a sustained interest in theorizing materiality, and a lifelong interest in the Andean region of South America. Her areas of expertise include race and sex.
Meeting Info
University Hall 118: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
This class is for anyone who enjoys reading (or writing) about goddesses, witches, saints, heroines, and other powerful, larger-than-life feminine, genderqueer or womanly figures from myth, history and fiction. The first part of the course will introduce a few figures from Native and Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the African diaspora. Possible figures include Deer Woman; Coatlicue; the Virgen de Guadalupe; Joan of Arc; Yemanya; as well as fictional characters from contemporary writers such as Madeline Miller and N K Jemisin. Each week, we will explore the social and political dimensions of our goddesses: how have authors and artists used these figures to express critiques of gender, race, and social inequality; re-examine troubled histories; or re-imagine human/nonhuman relationships, and envision environmental futurities? In the classroom and outside it, we will use these explorations to learn, practice and hone a variety of writing skills. In the second part of the course, students will choose one goddess as their topic, and then learn the fundamentals of academic research by investigating the social and cultural history behind ‘their' goddess, culminating in a final paper.
Registration Requirements
first year students only
Learning Objectives
First, students will learn, practice and hone writing skills including: how to craft an opening; how to write vivid descriptions of people and places; ekfrasis [writing about images]. Secondly, they will develop skills for writing up the results of their research, including summarizing a body of research; engaging with the work of a single author; crafting an argument; and supporting that argument with quotes and citations from other authors.
Teaching Method
Short lectures, some synchronous and some asynchronous; class discussion; in-class and out of class writing exercises; in-class critiques and re-writes; practicums on research skills; guidance for individuals and groups on conducting research and summarizing results.
Evaluation Method
In part one and throughout, students will be evaluated on: generous and thoughtful participation in classroom discussions and demonstrated familiarity with assigned readings and other materials; notable effort in writing exercises. In part two, evaluation will also include energetic attempts and successful completion of research exercises; interesting and informative final presentations; and a well-crafted five page final paper. Final grades are based on improvement and effort over the quarter. Extra-credit assignments can also be made available for those who want additional opportunities to improve their grade or enhance their learning.
Class Materials (Required)
Weekly readings will be available on-line. All students will also purchase one novel, chosen from a list provided during the first week of class or with instructor approval. Students will use the library to find research materials.
Class Materials (Suggested)
"We may read excerpts from the following novels, and some students may wish to purchase them as books:
For the Wolf Hannah Whitten
Circe Madeleine Miller
Wild Seed Octavia Butler
She Who Became the Sun Shelley Parker-Chan
The Fifth Season N K Jemisin
The Warrior Moon K Arsenault Rivera
The Witch's Heart Genevieve Gornichec"
Class Notes
Although the focus of this class is on writing for academic success, it will also provide opportunities for students to experiment with fiction writing if they wish to do so.
Class Attributes
WCAS College Seminar
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for First Years and Sophomores.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required