Fall term:
AMST 226--Global American Studies.
(R. Joo)
The intensification of globalization since the 1980s has transformed the United States and the field of
American Studies. In this course we will explore cultural and social changes that are linked to global flows
of media, money, and migration in and out of the United States. Contemporary theories of globalization in
the humanities and social sciences will be explored through a number of case studies. Some of the
themes covered will include: the relationship between globalization and Americanization, imperialism and
American militarization, transnationalism and media, and neoliberalism and finance.
AMST0309A-F13 / HIST0309A-F13: Technology and Power in American History
(D. Thompson)
TR 03:00-04:15pm AXN 103
In this course we will consider how technological artifacts and systems have constituted, mediated, and
reproduced relationships of power with a particular attention to hierarchies of race, gender, class, and
nation. We will examine the relationships between humans and technologies within the context of
globalization from early colonial America through the 21st century. We will consider a variety of
technologies and social settings such as guns, slave ships, plantations, factories, prisons, physical and
virtual border fences, computers, mobile phones, human bodies, and reproduction. We will ask whether
technology has produced a better America, and for whom. 3 hrs. sem.
AMST0358A-F13 / ENAM0358A-F13: Reading, Slavery, and Abolition
MW 12:15-1:30pm MNR 404
(W. Nash)
In this course we will study both black and white writers' psychological responses to, and their verbal
onslaughts on, the "peculiar institution" of chattel slavery. We will work chronologically and across genres
to understand how and by whom the written word was deployed in pursuit of physical and mental freedom
and racial and socioeconomic justice. As the course progresses, we will deepen our study of historical
context drawing on the substantial resources of Middlebury's special collections, students will have the
opportunity to engage in archival work if they wish. Authors will include Emerson, Douglass, Jacobs,
Thoreau, Stowe, Walker, and Garrison. 3 hrs. sem.
ARBC0219A-F13: Palestine and its Diaspora through Film and Literature (in English)
MW 02:50 PM-04:05 PM
OCH 401
(A. Almallah)
In this course we will explore various answers to one essential question: what is Palestine? We will
examine different notions of being Palestinian by focusing on the film and literature produced by three
main axes of Palestinian society: Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians within Israel, and
the Palestinian Diaspora. We will read works by Emil Habiby, Mahmoud Darwish, and Sahar Khalifeh;
and analyze films including Wedding in Galilee, Paradise Now, and The Time that Remains. Secondary
readings and discussions will set these works in contemporary historical, cultural, and political
perspectives. 3 hrs. lect.
EDST0107A-F13 / LNGT0107A-F13: Introduction to TESOL
(S. Shapiro)
TR 03:00-04:15 PM HLD 103
In this course we will study theories and practices relevant to Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL) in the U.S. and abroad. We will examine curricular resources used with adolescent
and adult learners, and practice developing materials applicable to a variety of classroom settings. We
will also discuss critical issues in the field, such as linguistic prejudice, language maintenance, and social
justice pedagogy. Class sessions are largely hands-on, and include student teaching demonstrations with
peer feedback. Opportunities for community engagement are also available. The final project is a portfolio
that includes a personal philosophy of teaching. (Not open to students who have taken LNGT/EDST 1003)
FYSE1263A-F13: We Got to Move: African American Migrations
(W. Nash)
MWF 10:10-11:00 RAJ CONF.
This course will consider the phenomenon of migration in 20th century African American life. We will draw
on texts from fields such as literature (works by Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Lorraine Hansberry, and
Dinaw Mengestu), art (paintings by Jacob Lawrence and Kerry James Marshall, FSA photos), music
(blues, soul, and hip hop), sociology (Cayton and Drake, Black Metropolis), American Studies (Griffin,
Who Set You Flowin’) and history (Berlin, The Making of African America). Our objectives will be to
understand both the actual impact of the migrant experience on the African American community and
African American artists’ creative responses to it.
FYSE1405A-F13: Language and Social Justice
(S. Shapiro)
TR 9:30-10:45am
WNS 507
In this seminar, we will explore questions such as the following: What is the relationship between
language and power? How does linguistic prejudice contribute to social inequality? Is language a human
right, and if so, what are the implications? We will engage with scholarly, journalistic, and artistic works,
including writings by Julia Alvarez, James Baldwin, Deborah Cameron, Lisa Delpit, William Labov, Rosina
Lippi-Green, Thomas Ricento, Richard Rodriguez, Amy Tan, and many others. Students will develop a
range of reading, writing, and oral presentation skills, and will receive frequent feedback on their work
throughout the semester. 3 hrs. lect.
LNGT0331 Multilingualism & Second Language Acquisition in Africa (lect./disc.)
(J. Thomas)
TR 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM WNS 202
How come the average person from Swaziland to Morocco often speaks several languages? What is to
be gained from using more than one language in conversation? How might language teaching impact
power relations? In this course on second language learning and teaching we will reflect upon our own
linguistic encounters in contextualizing the experience of the individual as language learner and speaker
within society. Discussion will reference the rich linguistic profiles of the African continent from protolinguistic to neocolonial, and we will critically explore language ideology and second language identity in
African countries through the lenses of government, education, and popular culture. 3 hrs. lect/disc.
LNGT0392 Language Learning in Africana Studies: From Colonial to Global (seminar)
(J.Thomas)
R 01:30 PM - 04:15 PM WTH SEM
The interdisciplinary studies of Africa and the African Diaspora intersect within the study of Africana. What
role did language learning have in the development of these fields? Why is Swahili the most studied
African language outside of Africa? In this course we will consider the impact of colonial linguistics on the
transnational study of Africa and its Diaspora, as well as the linguistic diversity of these contexts. We will
also examine the general diffusion of Swahili through Africana studies programs worldwide—from Mexico
and Russia to India, the U.S., and Botswana. In discussing the place of language study in our personal
explorations of Africana, we will consider the value of primary resources in the languages of Africa and its
Diaspora, and critically assess the future of Africana studies. Swahili-speaking students will review
supplemental primary sources in Swahili. 3 hrs. sem.
PGSE0353A-F13: Faces of Brazil
(F.Rocha)
TR 11:00 - 12:15 PM MNR 404
In this course we will study four central elements in contemporary Brazilian culture which have been
reshaping the country's "face." We will focus on the legacies of a slave-based social structure by studying
the favelas and the MST (Landless Rural Workers' Movement) which led to new formations in both urban
and rural landscapes, but also to a perplexing mirror of social violence. We will analyze different narrative
texts from directors and authors such as Sérgio Bianchi and Ferréz. Critical texts will be drawn from social
activists as well as from theorists, such as philosopher Renato Janine Ribeiro and anthropologist Alba
Zaluar. (PGSE 0215 or one course at the 0300 level or above) 3 hrs. lect./disc.
PHIL 0214 Science and Society (Fall 2013)
(H. Grasswick)
TR 09:30- 10:45 AM AXT 302
Scientific theories are not developed in a vacuum. Social circumstances influence the practice of science,
and science, in turn, influences how we organize ourselves as a society. This course will investigate both
directions of the relationship between science and society. We will ask such questions as: how do the
values of society drive scientific research? What do we mean when we claim that science is 'objective'
and what do we expect of an objective science? Can there be 'good' politically-motivated science, or does
this conflict with the norms of 'good' science? How important is science as a way of bettering society? Do
scientists bear an extra burden of responsibility when they generate scientific results of particular social
significance (such as the development of the atomic bomb, or the development of techniques of cloning)?
We will examine particular cases of socially significant scientific research, and we will consider larger
philosophical questions concerning the status of science, given its interconnections with society. 3 hrs.
lect.
PHIL/GSFS 0234 Philosophy and Feminism (Fall 2013)
(H. Grasswick)
TR 01:30-02:45 PM AXT 305
This course will examine the contributions of various feminists and feminist philosophers to some of the
central problems of philosophical methodology, epistemology, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and
ethics. Are there gendered assumptions in operation in the way particular philosophical problems are
framed? For example, do the politics of gender contribute to accounts of objective knowledge and
rationality? Are some philosophical perspectives better suited to the goals of feminism than others? We
will also examine the general relationship between feminism and philosophy, and we will reflect on the
relevance of theorizing and philosophizing for feminist political practice.
PSCI0232A-F13: The Politics of Diversity in Western Europe
(E. Bleich)
TR 01:30 - 02:45 PM HLD 103
Contrary to common perceptions, most West European populations are no longer overwhelmingly white
and Christian. The new diversity prompted by post-World War II immigration has generated opportunities
and challenges for European societies. In this course, we will examine how ethnic diversity is affecting
contemporary West European politics. We will cover the topics of citizenship, immigration, immigrant
integration, the rise of far right parties, and state policies toward Europe's new ethnically, racially, and
religiously diverse societies. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
PSYC0224 - Psychological Disorders
(S. Gurland)
MW 11:15 AM 12:05 PM MBH 219
What makes an individual “abnormal”? Under what circumstances do mental health professionals classify
emotions, thoughts, or behaviors as “disordered”? In this course, we will explore these questions with
attention to their historical, theoretical, ethical, and diagnostic implications. We will investigate various
classes of disorders, like anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders, with a focus on their causes and
treatments. Throughout, we will aim to appreciate the complexities and uncertainties surrounding
diagnosis, and to recognize and challenge common assumptions about psychological disorders. In
addition to lecture, the course will include discussions of current and controversial topics, and occasional
demonstrations, analysis of clinical case material, and/or role plays. (PSYC 0105; open to seniors by
waiver only) 3 hrs. lect./ disc. SOC (Fall 2013: S. Gurland; Spring 2014: S. Collado)
PSCI0240A-F13: Race Around the World: The Comparative Politics of Ethnic Diversity
(E.Bleich)
MWF 01:45 PM 02:35 PM LIB 230
This course aims to promote reflection on the interactions between the state and ethnic and racially
diverse societies. We will examine the political development of concepts of race and racism and address
topics such as slave emancipation, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, and decolonization, as well as
contemporary issues such as affirmative action, hate crimes, and Islamophobia. We will draw on readings
and case studies from North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
SOAN 0103 - Selected Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
(E. Oxfeld)
MW 10:10-11:00 AM AXN 100
This course introduces students to the varieties of human experience in social life and to the differing
approaches and levels of analysis used by anthropologists to explain it. Topics include: culture and race,
rituals and symbolism, kinship and gender roles, social evolution, political economy, and sociolinguistics.
Ethnographic examples are drawn chiefly from non-Western societies, from simple bands to great
agrarian states. The ultimate aim is to enable students to think critically about the bases of their own
culture and about practices and beliefs previously unanalyzed and unexamined. 2 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc., 2
hrs. screen (Anthropology) CMP, SOC
SOAN 0325 Indigeneity and Colonialism in Native North America (Fall 2013)
(M. Nevins)
MWF 10:10-11:00 AM
MNR 314
In this course we will approach Native North America and the American political mainstream as
dynamically intertwined. Through ethnography, ethno-history, oral literature, and indigenous film we will
examine the history of colonial encounters between the Indigenous and the 'Western'. We will examine
how indigenous cultural difference and moral claims to land have challenged dominant political cultures
across the history of the North American settler states. Our analysis will extend to ongoing questions
concerning cultural knowledge, sustainability, and imagined futures. 3 hrs. sem. (Anthropology)
SOAN 0355 Race and Ethnicity Across Cultures (Fall 2013)
(E. Oxfeld)
MW 02:50-04:05 PM
MNR 401
Ethnicity and race are social phenomena that influence group relations, as well as personal identity, in
many areas of the world. But what is "ethnicity" and what is "race"? In this course we will explore the
varied approaches that have been utilized to understand race and ethnicity across diverse cultural
settings. No single explanation of race and ethnicity is all encompassing, and so we will explore a number
of different approaches. Among the issues we will examine are: alternative explanations of ethnic and
racial identity formation; the causes and consequences of ethnic violence and competition; the
connections among ethnicity, gender, and class; and the processes through which distinctions between
self and other are created. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Anthropology)
SOAN0212A-F13 / GSFS0212A-F13: The Family in Contemporary Society
(P. Nelson)
TR 11:00 AM 12:15 PM AXN 109
This course will investigate the social, economic, and political forces that have brought about changes in
family life in the beginning of the 21st century. We will begin by looking at various attempts to define "the
family," and we will then explore a range of topics, including the webs of family relationships (e.g.,
mothering, fathering, kin networks), labor and family intersections (e.g., mediating between work and
family; the household division of labor), gay and lesbian family life, and domestic violence. Although the
focus will be on contemporary United States, we will also examine some cross-cultural and historical
material. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
SOAN0215A-F13: Sociology of Education
(P. Nelson)
MW 12:15 PM 01:30 PM AXN 103
In this course we will study education both as a social institution and as a social process. In our analysis
of education and its relationship to the structure of society, we will pay particular attention to the
intersection of gender, class, race, and ethnicity within schools. Our objective will be to explore the ways
in which education might contribute to the reproduction of social inequalities, as well as its potential for
social change. The substantive focus will be on American society. Limited places available for students to
satisfy the college writing requirement. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
SPAN0361A-F13: Hispanic Musical Films
(E. Garcia)
MWF 10:10-11:00 AM
OCH 206
M
07:30-10:25 PM
MBH 104
In this course we will study Hispanic musical films (including fiction and documentaries) from Spain, Latin
America, and the United States. Our main goal will be to understand how Hispanic countries use this
cinematic genre to establish nationalist constructions and ideologies, and how this has consequently
affected the development of Hispanic musical narratives in the United States. Analyses will focus on how
different ethnic aspects are defined as 'Other' in musical genres such as Flamenco, Tango, Rancheras,
Tex-Mex, Salsa, Reggaeton, Merengue, and Spanish Rock. We will explore why Hispanic musicals are
perceived as exotic in relation to their Anglophone counterparts while studying films such as Buena Vista
Social Club, Allá en el rancho grande, Selena, and El día que me quieras. (At least two Spanish courses
at the 0300 level or above, or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./screening.