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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH 231"
COURSE NAME: "Utopia"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Tiziana Provvidera
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course purposes to show how a wide range of early modern utopian writers used the genre to articulate novel ideas about politics, education, religion and science. It will explore some of the genre’s roots in writings from the ancient world, most notably Plato’s Republic, together with a look at visual and architectural representations of utopias and ideal cities.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Introduction to Utopian Writing; the genre of Utopia; the geography of Utopia; Utopian Society, Utopia and Education; Utopia and Science, Utopia and religion, Utopian Government.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course gives students the opportunity of studying early modern society not as it was, but as some of its most engaged critics thought it might be. The gap between their utopian societies and the actual conditions of early modern Europe raises some fundamental questions about the nature of historical interpretation. Hence as well as introducing utopian writing, the course also offers an accessible and stimulating introduction to intellectual history and the history of political thought.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Utopianism: A Very Short Introduction | L. Sargent | Oxford University Press | 978-0-19-957340-0 | | | | | |
| The Faber Book of Utopias | J. Carey | Faber | 9780571203178 | | Texts from: Hesiod, Homer, Ovid, Plato, Plutarch, Irenaeus, Lucian, More, Montaigne, Campanella, Bacon, Cavendish, Milton, Swift, Rousseau, Saint-simon, Fourier, Dickens, Marx, Besant, Births, Burdekine, orwell, Vonnegut, Huxley, Piercy, Vallely, Kaku | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Utopian Thought in the Western World | F.E. Manuel-F.P. Manuel | Harvard University Press | 9780674040564 | | |
| The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature | G. Claeys | Cambridge University Press | 9780521714143 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| "Create your own Utopia" project | In the "Create your own Utopia" project you are required to write a paper (2.500-3.000 words ca.) designing your own utopian society. In this piece of well-informed and researched “utopia,” you should describe the model of your "ideal society" through the eyes and experiences of your character, as well as giving your contribution to a possible social change. This description should be turned in with the notes and materials you used in preparing it so that your work will serve as a guidebook for someone who may want to live in your Utopia. You can also use cut outs from magazines and color pictures printed from home as well. Your grade will be determined by the strength of your analysis, the thoroughness and relevance of your research, the persuasiveness of your argument (including quality of writing), and the originality of your thought. Fianlly, you will be presenting your finished communities to the rest of the class. The goal of your presentation is to persuade the people in your class to be a part of your community. | 30% |
| In class participation | Active participation in our discussions is absolutely necessary to making the course work well. | 15% |
| midterm exam | The midterm exam will consist in a research paper (1.500-2.000 words ca.) exploring and discussing a contemporary utopian community as well as presenting it to the rest of the class. | 20% |
| final exam | Essay questions | 35% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Sept 1-3
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What is Utopia? Introduction to utopian writings Heaven as a Utopia |
Hesiod: “The Five Ages” from Works and Days; Bible: Genesis 1-9; Revelation 1, 4-22. |
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Sept 8-10
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The shape of utopia |
Plato: Selections from The Republic (Book V, especially lines 449-480) |
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Sept 15-17
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The invention of Utopia |
Lucian, A True History; Sir Thomas More, Utopia
FILM: Atlantis: End of a World, Birth of a Legend |
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Sept 22-24
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Utopia and religion |
St. Augustine, The City of God against the Pagans; Tommaso Campanella, The City of the Sun |
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Sept 29-Oct 1
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Utopia and science |
Francis Bacon, New Atlantis; Margaret Cavendish, The Description of a New World called the Blazing-World |
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Oct 6-8
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Utopia as a literary genre
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William Shakespeare, The Tempest; Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels
Film: Gulliver's Travels |
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Oct 13
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CLASS DISCUSSION AND REVIEW |
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Oct 15
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MID-TERM EXAMINATION |
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Oct 20-22
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Utopia and politics
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David Hume, Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth; K. Marx, The Manifesto of the Communist Party
Film:
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Oct 27-29
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Utopia and education
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Émile
Film: The wild child |
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Nov 3-5
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Feminist utopia
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Christine de Pizan, City of Ladies; Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time
Film: Antonia's line |
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Nov 10-12
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The danger of Utopia: the Dystopia |
H.G. Wells, The time machine; G. Orwell, 1984; S. Kubrick, A Clockwork orange |
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Nov 17-19
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Psychological dystopia
Utopia as a state of mind |
M. Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale; S. McKee Charnas, Walk to the End of the World
Film: Vanilla sky |
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Nov 24-26
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19th-20th American Utopias
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Kallenbach, Ecotopia;
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| Dec 1 |
Does Utopia have a future?
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Dec 3
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CLASS REVIEW |
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Dec 6-12
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FINAL EXAMINATION |
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