In this service-learning course, students will use video to launch discussions of election 2020 issues in class and throughout the Middletown community. Our jumping-off point is Plato's "Republic." More than 2,000 years ago, Plato addressed the pressing issues of the day: the rise of the oligarchy, dwindling of public deliberation, increasing political factionalism, and erosion of credible information. Some argue that the lessons of his Socratic exchanges, captured in "Republic," are valuable to this day. In this course, students will immerse themselves in 403 B.C.E., a crucial moment in Athenian democracy. Following a close reading of "Republic," we will recreate the Athenian state online. Each member of the class will assume a particular place in Athenian society and in the factions of the day using highly-developed roles from the Reacting to the Past curriculum. As members of a gathered assembly, students will debate divisive issues such as citizenship, elections, re-militarization, and the political process. Then, students will develop, rehearse, and record videos about the "Republic" for the Russell Library in Middletown. Students will be assessed in six ways: 1. Content quizzes on "The Republic," 2. Written preparation for debates/assemblies, 3. Oral presentations in debates/assemblies, 4. Contribution to the class videos, 5. A short paper analyzing "The Republic"'s relevance for the United States, particularly the 2020 election, and 6. Short reflections on our partnership with the Russell Library. No previous experience in videography or theater are necessary. Students will be encouraged to use their own skills in music, art, and drama as they devise ways to use the arts as catalysts for individual and social transformation. This course will be taught remotely/online in a mostly asynchronous format. |