LCC 2100: INTRODUCTION TO STAC Spring 2004
Dr. Narin Hassan
Skiles 362 404-385-3060 narin.hassan@lcc.gatech.edu
Office hours: TR 10:45-11:45
Course Description:
This course will examine the relationship of medicine, science and technology to the literature, history and culture of the nineteenth-century. As an introduction to the STAC major this course will introduce you to literary texts, cultural and theoretical debates in science studies, historical interrogations of the period, and nineteenth-century media technologies. We will cover a number of issues in the course, including:
Through the course of the semester, I will ask you to produce short presentations exploring these and other themes, and to produce a final presentation that will be based upon your own research. Portions of the course will be made up by material you will research and share, and there is room in the syllabus for your suggestions. Therefore, bear in mind that this is a preliminary syllabus and is subject to change.
Reading List: Books available at the EngineerŐs Bookstore
Primary texts:
H.G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Secondary Texts:
Bernard Lightman (ed), Victorian Science in Context (VSC)
Electronic reserve essays (ER)
Course Requirements:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
(This component of your grade includes regular attendance,
participation, and productive contribution to discussions on a
regular basis, a discussion leader session and presentation).
Midterm Exam 25%
Final essay 25%
Research Projects, Quizzes, Short Assignments 20%
WebX reading responses 10%
Final Grading scheme:
90-100: A; 80-89 B; 70-79: C; 60-69: D; 59 and below: F
Course Expectations:
*Be Here!
The first expectation is that you come to class prepared, on time and ready to work. Absences will impact your contribution and participation in the course and will obviously impact the attendance and participation component of the grade. However, you are allowed three unexcused absences before your final grade is affected. Each additional absence beyond three will lower your final grade by 1/3 (eg, a B becomes a B- at your fourth absence and a C+ at your fifth absence). Three late sessions count as one absence. More than eight absences result in automatic failure of the course. You are responsible for finding out about what readings and assignments you have missed due to absences. You cannot make up quizzes and in-class assignments missed due to an absence. These will receive a grade of "0." Exceptions to this attendance policy are made only in the case of medical emergencies and extended hospitalization, for which I require documentation.
*Reading and preparation:
I will expect you to complete all reading assignments before class, bring the reading to class and arrive prepared to discuss readings thoughtfully and intelligently. Active participation and regular attendance is a crucial component of this class. I expect our class environment to be one of lively debate where we can challenge and respect the opinions and comments of others, and where we can all be prepared to discuss these texts.
*Your role as discussion leader: You will be asked to sign up as a discussion leader for one class session. This is your opportunity to initiate and facilitate our discussion for that day. As a discussion leader you should be fully prepared to discuss the reading for that day. You may distribute questions to the class to facilitate our analysis of the reading, select particular passages that you see as relevant or interesting, make connections to other texts we have read, and/or bring in additional material to share with the class that relates to the reading.
*Papers and Writing Assignments:
Your final paper is a formal, research based paper. I expect you to introduce and develop a clear thesis, support a sustained argument with evidence, address and respond to relevant critical arguments and debates, and revise and edit for clarity, cohesion and presentation. Other writing will be in the form of short assignments and response essays and Web X responses where I will ask you to look closely at a particular aspect of our reading or produce a more informal response of your own, For short assignments I may also ask you to do short research based explorations or web projects. Papers are due in class, typed and double- spaced in a professional size font. You are allowed one 24 hour extension without penalty during the course of the semester. For all other late papers, your grade will drop by 1/3 for each day it is late.
*WebX postings: Web X postings are always due by 9am before class. You have a total of 10 postings due. You may choose which days you provide a posting. I will read these postings before class and as a group we can use them as part of our discussion of the reading for that day. The postings will serve as a reading log and as a forum for discussion outside of class. These will not be graded individually but you will receive a final Web X grade based upon your postings and your analysis/responses to our reading material.
*Exam/Quizzes: You will have one exam in this class. It will cover material from our reading and discussion. In addition to the exam, you will have some (approx 3-4) short quizzes over the course of the semester.
*Additional issues:
ACADEMIC HONESTY: all work you turn in for this class must be your own work, with all outside references sources properly cited and acknowledged. All written assignments for this course will be turned in through the anti-plagiarism program "Turn It In" (http://www.turnitin.com).
The "Student Conduct Code of Rules and Regulations" (Georgia Institute of Technology General Catalog Section XIX) states "Academic misconduct is an act that does or could improperly distort student grades or other student records" and offers the following descriptive list:
--possessing, using or exchanging improperly acquired written or verbal information in the preparation of any essay, laboratory report, examination, or other assignment included in an academic course;
--substitution for, or unauthorized collaboration with, a student in the commission of academic requirements;
--submission of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another person or persons, without adequate credit notations indicating authorship (plagiarism);
--false claims of performance or work that has been submitted by claimant;
--alteration or insertion of any academic grade or rating so as to obtain unearned academic credit;
--forgery, alteration, or misuse of any institute document relating to the academic status of the student.
The Code continues, "While these acts constitute assured instances of academic misconduct, other acts of academic misconduct may be defined by the professor." Consult the Honor Code outline at http://www.honor.gatech.edu/ or in the General Catalog to remember your primary commitment to academic honesty. Students who engage in academic dishonesty may receive a 0.0 on the assignment or fail the course, In addition, the instance will be reported to the Dean of Students who may take further action.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Please make an appointment to see me if you need to discuss special accommodations for a documented disability or special need. Students with disabilities should also contact Access Disabled Assistance Program for Tech Students (ADAPTS) to discuss reasonable accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor call 404-894-2564 (voice) /404-894-1664 (voice/TDD) or visit Suite 210 in the Smithgall Student Services Building.
MISCELLANEOUS:
1. This course carries a heavy reading load. I will share all the tips I have for dealing with this reading load, but it is you responsibility to make reading and preparation for class a priority for this course. Turn to the reading tips on the class website for more on reading.
2. I will not discuss grades over email. Please come and see me during office hours or make an appointment with me if you would like to discuss a grade, or if you have questions regarding your papers and assignments.
3. Office hours are the best time to meet with me. Please feel free to make an appointment at a different time if my office hours are inconvenient for you. This semester I will be on campus on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
4. The best way to contact me is by email. Unless I am out of town for some reason I will be able to reply to your email within 24 hours.
5. Please use this syllabus as your guide to the course. Read it closely and refer to the course website for updates and changes.
6. I welcome your suggestions if you have material you would like to include in this course, or comments regarding the course and its organization.
Syllabus: Note: Dates are subject to change with prior notice. Suggestions for readings and topics are welcome.
Literature and Science: Constructions of Monstrosity and Difference
in the Early 19th Century
Tues. Jan 6: Introductions. Overview of course and syllabus
Thurs. Jan. 8: Shelley, Frankenstein
Tues. Jan 13: Shelley, Frankenstein
Thurs. Jan. 15: Shelley,
Frankenstein
Tues. Jan 20: Complete Shelley, Frankenstein; in class film clips, critical essays to be announced.
Cultural Histories of Science and Medicine: Classification, Gender, Race and Contagion
Thurs. Jan 22: Read Douglas Lorimer, "Science and the Secularization of Victorian Images of Race" (VSC) View Sara Baartman, The Hottentot Venus; Discussion of film
Tues, Jan 27: Sander Gilman, "The Hottentot and the Prostitute," Anne Fausto Sterling, "Gender, Race and Nation" (ER)
Thurs. Jan. 29: Sims, selection from Story of My Life, Terry Kapsalis, "Mastering the Female Pelvis" (ER); William Acton, "The Functions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs" (ER)
Tues. Feb. 3: Selection from Cynthia Russet, Sexual Science, "How to Tell the Girls from the Boys"
Thurs. Feb. 5: Anne McKlintock, selection from Imperial Leather; selection from Stephen Jay Gould, Machines as the Measure of Men (ER)
Tues. Feb. 10: Mary Louise Pratt, selection from Imperial Eyes: "Science, Planetary Consciousness, Interiors" (ER)
Harriet Ritvo, selection from The Platypus and the Mermaid (ER)
Thurs. Feb. 12: Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle; Martin Fichman, "Biology and Politics: Defining the Boundaries" (VSC) ; Evelleen Richards, " Redrawing the Boundaries: Darwinian Science and Victorian Women Intellectuals" (VSC)
Tues, Feb. 17: H.G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau
Technologies and Anxieties of Mass Production, Circulation, and Empire
Thurs. Feb. 19: Complete Wells; Bram Stoker, Dracula (31-122 Through Chapter 7)
Tues. Feb. 24: Bram Stoker, Dracula (123-231 Through Chapter 15)
Thurs. Feb. 26: Bram Stoker, Dracula, (232-328 Through Chapter 21); Richard Von Krafft -Ebing, "Psychopathia Sexualis" (ER)
Thurs. March 4: David Arnold, Selection from Colonizing the Body,"Cholera"; Erin O' Conner, "Asiatic Cholera" (ER)
**********SPRING BREAK***********
Sexuality, Spectacle, Visual Culture and Science
Tues. March 16: Foucault, "We Other Victorians" ; "Docile Bodies" ; Freud, "New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis: "Femininity" (ER)
Thurs. March 18: Malek Alloula, The Colonial Harem; (ER) Lisa Sigel,"Filth in the Wrong People's Hands: Postcards and the Expansion of Pornography" (ER)
Tues. March 23: Midterm Exam
Thurs. March 25: No class. I am at a conference.
Tues. March 30: Lisa Cartwright, "Decomposing the Body: X-Rays and the Cinema"(ER); Jennifer Tucker, "Photography as Witness, Detective and Imposter: Visual Representation in Victorian Science" (VSC)
Thurs. April 1: Gould, "Curiosities and Anomalies of Medicine" (ER); Film screening: Freaks
Tues. April 6: Discussion of the Crystal Palace and Victorian exhibitions (reading TBA).
Collecting and Fetishizing Objects/Science of Exhibition and Display
Thurs. April 8: Articles TBA on the Crystal Palace; Donna Haraway, essay on taxidermy.
Tues. April 13:
Celeste Olalquiaga, The Artificial Kingdom
(ER); Begin Lawrence Weschler, Mr Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder
Thurs. April 15: Thomas Weschler, Mr Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder
Tues. April 20: Presentations
Thurs. April 22: Presentations
Final papers due on April 27 by noon in my office.