World History: A Psychohistory of the Modern World
HIST 251
Fall 2008
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
PSYC 298 |
| Certificates: International Relations |
We will examine the often neglected psychological dimension of modern history. First, we will explore major works on the relationship of psyche, society, and culture and how they change in modern times. Then, using a variety of materials, including memoirs, fiction, and film, we will examine how peoples in widely differing cultures and with very different levels of wealth and power adapted to modernization. Several variants of psychoanalysis will be critically examined and applied to a range of topics, among them, the impact of global economic change; the adoption of new cultural forms and accompanying changes of psychology and identity; racism and anti-Semitism; the impact of European imperialism and cultural exportation; the effects of world wars, civil wars, and revolutions; Nazism, Stalinism, and Maoism; Gandhi and Satyagraha; postcolonialism; the United States as a psychological laboratory; the women's movement, gender revolution, and the emergence of postmodern, protean psyches. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Speaking, Writing
Several short papers and a longer final paper will be discussed and critiqued in order to help students develop techniques of argumentation, to learn the elements of style, and to be able to present complex ideas in brief compass. The longer paper will allow students to pursue a topic of special interest in greater depth.
Students will be expected to present their ideas articulately and to defend them to the seminar under questioning. In addition, they will be expected to serve as discussants of other papers and learn to be helpful and tactful critics.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (PSYC) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYI |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
E. Erikson, CHILDHOOD AND SOCIETY
F. Fanon, BLACK SKIN, WHITE MASKS
S. Freud, CIVILIZATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS
Eric Hobsbawm, THE AGE OF EXTREMES
C. Lasch, THE CULTURE OF NARCISSISM
Eric Wolf, EUROPE AND THE PEOPLES WITHOUT HISTORY
Carol Gilligan, IN A DIFFERENT VOICE
There will also be shorter readings on a variety of topics and four films.
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Examinations and Assignments:
There will be several two-page papers and a ten-page final project. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Students will be expected to attend all seminar sessions and be prepared to be active participants in discussion |
| Instructor(s): Pomper,Philip Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM; Location: PAC104; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: X | JR major: X | | |
| Seats Available: 2 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: 19 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 4 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 4 |
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