College Seminar (101-7-5)

Topic

Law and Disorder

Instructors

Robert Launay
847/491-4841
1810 Hinman Ave., Room #205, EV Campus
Office Hours: By appointment
Robert Launay is Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University. He has conducted extensive field research among Muslim traders in Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. He has published two books and numerous articles, particularly on the anthropology of Islamic societies. He is currently editing a volume on Islamic education in Africa.

Meeting Info

University Hall 118: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

Anthropologists are committed to understanding other cultures in their own terms. One way of developing such an understanding is to read works that they have written or recited. This class will focus on two such works from cultures as different from each other as they are from ourselves. Njal's Saga is a medieval Icelandic story of a series of revenge killings that spins further and further out of control. Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee is a fictional account of how a real 8th century magistrate solves three mysterious Through each of these books, we will explore the different ways in which cultures understand and implement law and lawlessness, justice and injustice, loyalty and treachery.

Registration Requirements

First-years only

Class Materials (Required)

Njal's Saga, translated and edited by Robert Cook, Penguin ISBN 978-0140447699 Jesse Byock, Viking Age Iceland, Penguin ISBN 978-0140291155 Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, translated by Robert Van Gulik, Dover ISBN 978-0486233376 Jonathan Spence, The Death of Woman Wang, Penguin

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required