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MALS,
PO 6103
Wake
Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC 27109 |
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Fall 2007 Courses
MLS 756 U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
The foreign policies of our nation are at the forefront of the daily news, and the crises in the Middle East are complex and seemingly endless. In this course we will utilize the case-study method to approach United States foreign policy toward the Middle East since the Second World War. Topics include: the Truman presidency; the Suez crisis; the 1967 war and its aftermath; Henry Kissinger’s diplomacy; Camp David; Iran and the hostage issue; Lebanon and Reagan; the Gulf War; the Oslo Process; Camp David II; the second Iraq war; Afghanistan; etc. Evaluation will be based on intensive in-class discussion and a paper written on a relevant topic. No prior knowledge or expertise in political science or foreign policy is required for this class.
MLS 821 Novels from Ancient Times: Romance, Satire & Religion
Readers of modern fiction are often surprised to learn that the novelistic form flourished for a brief period in antiquity also. A small but fascinating body of ancient Greek and Roman novels survives, including romances and satirical fiction. Ancient Jewish and Christian writers also drew on novelistic conventions to produce narratives that proved popular and inspirational within their communities. Ancient novelistic literature is often marked by motifs of travel, adventure, intrigue, mistaken or transformed identity, lovers separated and/or united, and the guidance or influence of divine beings. We will study pagan novels such as The Golden Ass, Daphnis and Chloe, and An Ethiopian Story; Jewish novellas such as Greek Esther, Joseph and Aseneth, and Susanna; and early Christian “apostle romances” such as the Acts of Paul and Thecla, Acts of John, and Acts of Andrew. Throughout, we will explore how these stories confirm or disrupt social conventions (including roles for men and women), and how they variously depict deities and religious practice.
MLS 822 The American Diet: Environment’s Impact on How We Eat
The food we eat has undergone radical changes in the past century. This is apparent on the regional, national, and global scale. Altogether, the farming, processing, marketing, distributing, and purchasing of food has been altered by industrialization and mass production. All these actions from our social and built environment dictate what and how much we eat. This course will examine the impact of our nation and the world becoming a “Fast Food Nation” on our eating environment. In addition, political issues such as subsidizing farmers by raising excess corn and soybeans, has influenced the availability and types of food available to purchase. Questions such as: Is consumption of organic foods more healthy than conventional foods? Is buying local produce more healthy? Is buying from self-sustaining farms more environmentally friendly than from large corporate giants? Defining and understanding terms like natural, organic, and cost-effective will be covered in the course. This discussion-oriented course will spur emotions as political, social, and health issues are addressed. Finally, challenges will be made to students to develop probable solutions to issues that are raised. Readings will come from 2 best-selling books on the topic: Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
MLS 823 Fact & Fiction: A Novel Study of U.S. History
This class explores the construction of American identity through the discipline of history. How did Americans see themselves and what did they see as the pressing issues of the day? In order to recover a sense of how and why Americans saw themselves in particular ways, participants will read a variety of popular literature from various periods of American history. In addition to a consideration of political and social issues of the periods, students will be asked to weigh aesthetic and cultural appeals of citizens within various periods in an attempt to broaden our appreciation of national identity and the past. The course will begin by examining the literature of among European settlers and Americans through the first centennial celebration of the United States. Works such as Anne Bradstreet’s The Tenth Muse and Mark Twain’s The Gilded Age will serve as historical barometers for recovering a sense of the past. During this course students will be asked to investigate critical theories about the function and purpose of literature, including aesthetic, cultural, and religious considerations while developing a greater appreciation for American social life prior to the twentieth century.
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