COURSES
OFFERED through the Global Village Living Learning Center, Spring 2014
GLLC-G210 (29651) Amazon Rhetoric: Global Perspectives on Women and Power (3 cr.) GenEd A&H; CASE A&H, CASE GCC) (TR, 4:00–5:15 pm, FQ 012A)
Valerie Wieskamp
Since ancient times, legends of “Amazons,” or
warrior women, have captivated cultures around the world, indicating a global
fascination with women in positions of power. In this class, we study
rhetorical constructions of gender by examining representations of women
warriors and powerful women. Drawing from a multidisciplinary body of
literature, we compare representations of powerful women across cultures to
determine if they challenge or reaffirm gender roles, and if they glorify or
subvert war culture and violence. Students apply what they have learned for use
in a comparative textual analysis. This final project is designed to encourage
students to develop writing and argumentation skills, to conduct cross-cultural
analysis, and to understand how to ethically represent other cultures. This
course expands a popular summer course I taught exploring women warriors in
U.S. popular culture, modifying it significantly to address issues of
cross-cultural representation and to explore international examples.
GLLC-G220 (30870) Decline of the
West (3 cr.) (GenEd S&H; CASE S&H, CASE GCC) (MW, 4:00–5:15 pm, FQ
012A)
Matthew Slaboch
In his 2012 State of the Union address, Barack
Obama proclaimed that “anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that
our influence has waned doesn’t know what they’re talking about.” In spite of
the president’s proclamations that their country remains as vibrant as ever,
Americans are skeptical: Gallup’s “right track, wrong track” question revealed
that only 18% of the public were satisfied with the state of their union at the
time of the president’s address. Halfway across the globe, Europeans express
dissatisfaction with the state of their own union by protesting high
unemployment and economic uncertainty. Greece, the cradle of Western
civilization, has staggering levels of debt with which it cannot cope.
Meanwhile, there’s talk about the “rise of China.” Given what’s going on
worldwide, we might ask “Is the West in Decline?” This course investigates,
looking at economic, military, moral, artistic, and other types of decline.
GLLC-G320 (22538) Espionage in the
21st Century (3 cr.) (CASE S&H) (TR, 2:30–3:45 pm, FQ 012B)
Gene Coyle
While some aspects of espionage have not changed
in centuries, new technologies have changed the way that governments and
corporations go about spying. We will explore how all these developments are
creating enormous challenges for intelligence agencies in the 21st century. The
course is taught by a 30-year veteran of the CIA.
NOTE: This section is open to sophomores and
above; freshman who seek admission need to contact gacoyle@indiana.edu. Additional seats
are reserved for GV residents and alumni. Please contact the Global Village at village@indiana.edu if class is closed.
