Time, Masks, Mirrors: Aging in America
SOC 313
Spring 2017 not offered
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| Course Cluster: Health Studies |
Longevity is almost universally wished for, but its actual accomplishment may also invite fear, even dread, depending on the context in which it occurs. We will study the sociocultural meanings of aging in the U.S. as they are informed by history (collective and personal), cultural background, social scripts, caregiving relationships, institutional support/constraint, and current conceptualizations of the life course and the "aging" mind and body that often rely heavily on categorization and vocabulary associated with biomedicine. Enrolled students will have the opportunity to develop and complete an individual or group research project investigating a specific question related to the meanings of aging using interview/story as a primary source, with an introduction to qualitative methods of analysis and interpretation. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS SOC |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (SOC) |
Major Readings:
Texts will be drawn primarily from anthropological and sociological studies, work by Sharon Kaufman, Stanley Hall, Erik Erikson, Simone de Beauvoir, Ann Burack-Weiss, Claudia Chaufan, Jay Gubrium, and portions of:
Barbara Myerhoff, NUMBER OUR DAYS
Margaret Lock, THE ALZHEIMER CONUNDRUM
Timothy Diamond MAKING GRAY GOLD
Margaret Gullette, SAFE AT LAST
Holmes, OTHER CULTURES, ELDER YEARS
as well as short fiction, poetry, and works of art.
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Examinations and Assignments:
One-page reflections on assigned texts; 2-3 short papers on readings; active, informed contribution to discussion; and completion (paper and presentation) of an individual or group project related to the course topic that uses interview or story as primary sources. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This section is part of the Spring Intensive pilot program. Students who enroll in the program will take courses during spring 2016 one at a time, each during a three-week time period. This class will meet March 21-April 8, from 9 am - 11:50 am, Monday through Friday.
There are no pre-requisites for this course. Interested students should e-mail the instructor during pre-registration stating what they hope to learn from taking the course.
Students interested in the program should contact Lisa Dierker, ldierker@wesleyan.edu. Selected students will be notified directly and will not need to participate in the pre-registration system. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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