for Mon. 11/10 and extra

Read the first two articles in Chapter 2 of DPC: pages 45-63. Answer questions 1-3 on both pages 55 and 63.

Also, for anyone interested in taking Introduction to Literature, I am scheduled to teach a section on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:50. I just found out today, but I still thought I'd spread the word. Tell your friends!

Lastly, next Wednesday (11/12) we will be workshopping an introduction (1-2 pages) of your ethnography final paper, in small groups. Use today's readings as a guide, as we discussed in class.

bests,

C.

for Wed. 11/5

Read the following articles, considering the language. Pay attention to how quickly the authors get into description of the place and the people. What kind of detail is being used to set the scene ASAP? How is each neighborhood defined within the larger city that surrounds each?

Also, pay attention to the structures of each article; how the authors decided to organize how to show you each city, and in what order they provided info. 

These articles are meant as some inspiration in your own ethnography writing. As you begin to draft the first pages of that final paper, look at how these published travel writers deal with writing of other cultures.

The first is  article is "36 Hours in Paris."

The second is "Newly Chic in Istanbul."

Myth and Spirituality

Dear Students: Below are some poems that invoke or respond to mythical characters and/or spirituality in their connection to our physical world. I'd like you to read them, and come up with one original question on myth, spirituality, religion; a question you could use in your own research of your specific cultures. Put this question in your Ethnography Journals.

In addition, I'd like you to write what we'll call a Halloween Cultural Encounter in your journals. This is to be short narrative where you write on something that happens to you in the next few days that involves Halloween in some way! This is kind of vague, so within each of our classes we will discuss it more. The last explanation: after telling your true story, you are to then give some brief analysis to what you learned about a culture, or American culture, or what was reinforced about either, from this encounter. Think of our topic of myth and spirituality and how that plays a role in the encounter . . . .

A REMINDER: We will meet on the THIRD FLOOR of the library on Monday for class. BRING YOUR JOURNALS so that I can grade them. 

The poems

Jack Gilbert's "Failing and Flying"

Yusef Kumonyakaa's "Instructions for Building Straw Huts"

Mary Karr's "Field of Skulls"

Michael Collier's "All Souls"

Sylvia Plath's "Edge"

Eamon Grennan's "The Cave Painters"

Percy Bysshe Shelly's "Hymn of Pan"

John Keat's "Hyperion"

Letters to the Editor - The Crescent News

Dear Students,

Below are two Letters to the Editor from my hometown's daily newspaper, The Crescent News. I am sharing them as they exhibit two different political view points (but not the only ones for either party, mind you), but also because we are in the midst of discussing our own projects this week and I thought there is some discussable behavior. As we discuss religion, spirituality and myth and where it appears in culture . . . and in what forms . . . below are two fine examples of 1) myth and 2) religion  and how they enter into the political forum. 

Also, I was looking on the website after hearing that John McCain is giving a rally Thursday morning on the steps of the Junior High auditorium in my hometown of Defiance, Ohio! 

First Letter:

We all need each other

I love my country and I believe this is one of the most important elections that we will have in my lifetime. Our country faces huge challenges which will affect each one of us of voting age, as well as our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My concern is what comes after the election. Recently, I received a robotic call from the RNC telling me that Sen. Obama is a terrorist. It's one thing to draw differences between policies and maybe even stretch the truth a bit. But to accuse a United States senator, a presidential candidate of being a terrorist -- knowing full well that it's not true -- and also knowing that a small minority may believe it, that's not only irresponsible, but it could be dangerous for him personally.

Why is John McCain willing to say that when he knows it isn't true? Sen. McCain has said quite frequently "country first." It seems to me that he's more than willing to continue the slash and burn politics that divide us and ultimately sacrifice the strength of our great country which is its people -- Republican and Democrat, Independent and Green Party. How will that help us go forward? How will that help us work together and do what we need to do to get us out of the mess we're in?

These types of personal and false attacks that we've seen recently are how we ended up with George Bush. Our country is more divided today than ever. Remember when George Bush said, "I'm a uniter, not a divider." Well, Sen. McCain is not bringing us up together either. He's going down that same old path.

We will need to be together to face our future, but instead he's saying anything -- some quite outrageous things in fact -- to get elected. I plead with the citizens of Defiance: Think country first. Don't let the fear mongering and lies continue to divide us. We all need each other in the years to come.

Barbara LaForce

Defiance


Second Letter:

Who do Christians want to be president?

Who shall we vote for? What is the most important issue on the ballot? Where does the candidate stand on biblical scripture?

Why vote for the candidate who professes to be a Christian but does not take action against abortion nor stand up for the institution of marriage between one man and one woman? Voting for the candidate who takes no action against these two issues, supports abortion and homosexuality.

If you are a Christian read Proverbs 6:16-17, Romans 1:27, Leviticus 20:13 and then think before you act. Who do you want to be the leader of country?

Emma Brandt

for Monday 10/27 Cultural Vocab 2

Here are this weeks list of words to work with in your ethnography

journals, and be prepared to discuss.

1. diffusion
2. symbiosis
3. reciprocity
4. altruism
5. paralanguage
6. proxemics

Also, here is the Critical Encounters guidelines for those interested in submitting their creative non-fiction pieces to the Columbia Chronicle:

“Natural Tendencies”: Personal Narratives on Human|Nature

Throughout the 2008-09 school year, Critical Encounters, in partnership with the Columbia Chronicle, will present a weekly column titled “Natural Tendencies: Personal Narratives of Human|Nature.” These will be concise, personal narratives drawn from within our community, from a cross-section of faculty, staff, and students who represent the diverse population on our campus. These voices will provide us with perspectives that cut across ethnicity, class, region, gender, generation, and nationality. Each contributor will present a personal narrative that will highlight ways in which he/she is inspired by the natural world or reflections on a personal relationship with nature. The narrative might offer personal opinions on environmental issues and concerns, or specific social causes or actions undertaken to positively impact the planet.

The “Natural Tendencies” column will bring Critical Encounters to our community in a way that is immediate and personal. The narratives will forge connections with readers who will appreciate and hopefully be inspired by the efforts and ideas of other Columbia College citizens.

Contribute a Narrative.

We look forward to fresh stories and personal revelations that will emerge from these diverse voices.
- Write about any aspect of your life that you feel comfortable sharing.
- Make it personal and thoughtful.
- Submissions should be approximately 600 words.
- Please include your major and your classification (student, staff, faculty, and administrator)
- If you are a student, please indicate your level (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
- Include contact information (name, email address, phone number.)

Send narratives via email to: Kevin Fuller at kgfuller@colum.edu or criticalencounters@colum.edu

These narratives will be edited for inclusion either in The Columbia Chronicle or on the Critical Encounters website. We hope to send edited drafts to each contributor before final print.

field notes example jottings

for Wed. 10/22

As we begin to discuss more and more the HOW and WHY of cultural interaction, as we try to make sense of what each of our culture's value most . . . 

Read the following linked article from the NY Times. 

Answer in your journals: “What kind of place and space has the author painted of the country?” 

Explain your answer with textual evidence.

Also, come to next class having five questions for your ethnography research, based on what you’ve learned and are considering after discussion of the our first Cultural Vocabulary terms. What kinds of questions on your own culture do you have that involve the concepts discussed in the terms?