Time, Masks, Mirrors: Aging in America
SOC 313
Spring 2018
| Section:
01
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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 socio-cultural meanings of aging in the US 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. In addition, we will explore the idea of age in relation to sustainability and disposability as it is applied to dwellings, objects, the natural environment, and even persons. Enrolled students will be introduced to qualitative methods and analysis of qualitative data through conducting a series of interviews with an elder living in the local community that focus on the relationship between place and well-being over the life course, culminating in a record that can be shared with others. |
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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) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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:
Permission of instructor will be granted during pre-registration. Students must submit either a ranked or unranked drop/add request for this course. |
| Instructor(s): Carey Best,Peggy Times: ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: CAMS 3; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 2 |
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