CULTURES and TRADITIONS II: Fall 1998

PART I: Reading in Depth

Day
Date
Reading
M
Aug 31

Introduction to C&T; Greek and Chinese Poetry [Readings Book B]

W
Sept. 2

LECTURE: The Odyssey (David Kubiak)

F
4

Odyssey, Books 1-4

M
7

Odyssey, Books 6, 8, 9; synopses [Readings Book C]

W
9

Odyssey, Books 10, 11, 12

F
11

Odyssey, Books 21, 22, 23; synopses [Readings Book C]

 

PART II: Reading for Themes

Day
Date
Reading
M
14

LECTURE: Does Human Suffering Have Meaning? (Bill Placher)

W
16

The Epic of Gilgamesh

F
18

Job [Readings Book D]

M
21

Wiesel, Night

W
23

Buddhist Readings from the Teaching of the Buddha [Readings Book E]

F
25

LECTURE: Humans and the Divine (Stephen Webb)

M
28

Augustine, Confessions [Readings Book F]

W
30

Julian of Norwich, Showings [Readings Book G]

F
Oct 2

Stories of Saul and David, 1 Samuel 8-24, 27-28, 31 [Readings Book H]

M
5

Tolstoy, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," in The Death of Ivan Ilyich, pp. 93-152

W
7

LECTURE: Human Beings and the Natural World (Paul McKinney)

F
9

Popul Vuh [Readings Book I]

M
12

"The Hymn to Purusha" from the Rig Veda; Jain Readings from the Book of Sermons, the Book of Good Conduct, and the Great Legend [Readings Book J]

W
14

Genesis 1-3 [Readings Book K]

F
16

Darwin, Presentation to the Linnean Society and selections from the Descent of Man, and Origin of the Species [Readings Book L]

 

Mid-semester Break 18-21 October

 

PART III: Reading in Cultural Context: Classical Greece

Day
Date
Reading
W
Oct 21

LECTURE: Greek Art and Drama (Andrew Scholtz)

F
23

Greek Art and Poetry: Hesiod and Lyric Poetry [Readings Book M], and Greek Art (slides)

M
26

Aeschylus, Agamemnon

M
26

Film: Agamemnon:, at 4:00 and 7:00 P.M. in Korb

T
27

Film: Agamemnon:, at 4:00 and 7:00 P.M. in Korb

W
28

Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers

F
30

Aeschylus, The Eumenides

M
Nov 2

LECTURE: Greek History and Philosophy (William Placher)

W
4

Thucydides I, The History of the Peloponnesian War, in Woodruff, pp. xvi-xvii (background), 1 (preface), 12-13 (method), 15-16 (explanation), 39-58, 66-76 (the Mytilenean debate)

F
6

Thucydides II, The History of the Peloponnesian War, in Woodruff, pp. 62-66 (the siege of Plataea), 76-87 (the Plataean debate), 89-95, 102-109 (the Melian dialogue), 145-154 (the Athenian retreat, and Nicias' exhortation)

M
9

Plato I, The Republic, Books I and II [Readings Book N]

W
11

Plato II, The Republic, Books IV, V, and VII [Readings Book N]

 

PART IV: Reading in Cultural Context: Classical China

Day
Date
Reading
F
Nov 13

LECTURE: From Confucius to Empire (David Blix)

M
16

Chinese Poetry [Readings Book O]

16

Film: China: The Mandate of Heaven (1991), 57 minutes at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. in Korb

Tu 
17

Film: China: The Mandate of Heaven (1991), 57 minutes at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. in Korb

W
18

Confucius, The Analects [Readings Book P]

F
20

Mencius, [Readings Book Q]

M
23

Han Fei Tzu, Basic Writings, pp. 1-3, 16-48, 80-83, 90-129

 

Thanksgiving Recess 25-29 November

 

Day
Date
Reading
M
Nov 30

LECTURE: Taoism and Chinese Developments (Hall Peebles)

W
Dec 2

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching [Readings Book R]

F
4

Chuang Tzu, [Readings Book S]

M
7

Chinese Ghost Stories, and "A Woman Taoist Priest" [Readings Book T]

W
9

Sun Tzu, The Art of War [Readings Book U]

F
11

Chinese Painting (Slides)

 

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