Course Objectives and Requirements

Course Objectives

The primary goals of the course are to foster critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. We will pursue these goals through assigned readings, several types of writing—free-writing, early paper drafts, and formal polished writing— in-class discussions, museum visits, film viewings, web-site analysis, and oral presentations.

Above all, the course will foster a critical approach to the analysis of visual material. This means learning to assess what is made visible, what is rendered invisible, and the consequences of such an optic.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the course materials, we will also gain the ability to think across disciplinary boundaries making fruitful connections and to approach problem solving by combining different modes of thought.

Finally, we will also learn how to use the library as a physical space in the academy.  The assignments will help us find, evaluate, use and properly cite resources, particularly those available in the various archives of the library.

Course Requirements

The following course requirements ensure your continuous engagement with the class and are central to the design of the course.

  • Read assigned material
  • Active and rigorous participation in class discussion
  • Submit all required essays on time
Discussion and Participation
Discussions are a central element of the course.  I cannot emphasize enough the need for you to participate actively with the texts, think critically about them, and respond to various issues raised during the course of the semester. What you say and what your classmates say will add important elements to our understandings; we can learn a lot by listening to each other. This course is not designed to find the “right answer”; I want you to think critically about the images we see and the scientific ideas they help to bolster. As a result, you must complete all the readings for each class and participate thoughtfully in class discussions.

Students are responsible for announcements made in class and materials distributed. If you miss a class, please meet with a classmate to review what you have missed. You can have two unexcused absences during the semester, remember though that if you miss a class, you forgo earning your participation points. After a third unexcused absence, you will be penalized 0.5% of your final grade for each absence.

Film Screenings

Tuesday evenings are scheduled for movie screenings; attendance is mandatory. We will discuss the movies and explore the ways in which they help amplify or elaborate on ideas explored in the assigned reading materials.  Please bring your notes from these screenings to class discussions.