Fanon, Foucault, and Friends

Instructor: Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre

Course Synopsis: This course explores the impact of postcolonial and postmodern thought upon Christian Ethics by focusing the discussion upon theorists Frantz Fanon and Michael Foucault.

Required Materials:

Fanon. Black Skin White Mask or The Wretched of the Earth

-Choose one, but ideally both – doctoral students should eventually read both books

Foucault. Madness and Civilization or Discipline & Punish

-Choose one, but ideally both – doctoral students should eventually read both books

Barthes, Mythologies

Read :

World of Westling; The Romans in Films; Soap-powders and Detergents; The Poor and the Proletariat; The Face of Garbo; Wine and Milk; Steak and Chips; Striptease; Photography and Electoral Appeal and the entire second section of the book Myth Today

doctoral students should eventually read the entire book

Bourdieu, Distinctions

Chapters 1-3 & 8

doctoral students should eventually read the entire book

Clifford and Marcus. Writing Culture

De La Torre, Embracing Hopelessness

McClintock, Imperial Leather

Chapters 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, Postscript

doctoral students should eventually read the entire book

Smith, Decolonizing Methodologies

Unamuno, Tragic Sense of Life

Objectives: The aim of this course is to enable students to accomplish the following goals: First, to read and reflect upon tensions created between critical thought and ethical analysis. Second, investigate consciously constructive ethical paradigms that have been normalized and legitimized by the overall Euroamerican culture. And third, to examine the challenges critical theory presents in addressing religious traditions rooted in the Eurocentric world.

A pass/fail grade option is available. Please inform the teaching assistant in writing no later than the end of week 6 of the course if you choose this option. No reasons need to be given.

For those who choose a letter grade, the following scale is used:

Final take home examination = 70%
Class Participation = 20%
Academic Decorum = 10%

Master student papers: 10-12 pages

Doctoral student papers: 18-20 pages

Written Grades (70%)

A - The student demonstrates exceptional quality in written work. Little room for improvement exists. Several primary sources (outside of class readings) are used in the writing assignment. Both effort and execution are first-rate. It is obvious that the reading assignment was critically analyzed.
B - The student’s work is above average. At least one primary source (outside of class reading) is used in the writing assignment. It is obvious that the reading assignment was completed.
C - The student has fulfilled the minimal requirements for this course. Effort and the execution of assignment are of average quality. It is obvious that the reading assignment was not thoughtfully read. There is room for improvement.
D - The student work is below average. It is obvious that the reading assignment was not done. The student is not living up to the expectations of graduate-level work.
F -The student failed to accomplish the class assignments.

A late paper/exam will lose one letter grade for each class day that it is turned in late. If extra ordinary circumstances exist which prevent the student from completing her/his assignment on time, then the student needs to make an appointment with the teaching assistant to discuss an alternative schedule prior to when the assignment is due. Students who do not hand in ALL completed assignments must make prior signed arrangements for an Incomplete. Students not making these prior arrangements will automatically receive an "F" for the course.

Academic Decorum (10%)

Being consistently present in discussions is a baseline expectation. Academic decorum is based on the following:

A - The student is respectful of others. While disagreeing or challenging, the student never dishonors or disrespects. The student does not monopolize the conversation and is conscious of the need of all students having an opportunity to speak.
B - Every so often the student is insensitive to other student’s social location; rather than challenging or disagreeing with whatever point of view is being offered. The student seems to speak more than others, insensitive that others have not had an opportunity to speak.
C - The student is disrespectful and is not willing to entertain different views. The student confuses their particular experience with the norm. Rather than paying close attention to the lecture and/or discussion, the student is texting, checking facebook, or engaging in some other form of social media unrelated to the class.
D - The student disrupts the learning experience of others by the way they conduct themselves in class.
F - The student creates a hostile classroom experience.

Participation (20%)

Students will be prepared to discuss the following questions for each reading:

Who is the author?
What is the author’s thesis?
The thesis question should be answered in one sentence: this is a valuable skill to practice that will enable you to process information efficiently and effectively.
What is the author’s methodology and theory?
Method is the way the author conducts research; theory is how the author explains the research findings
How did this reading further your self-understanding of ethical issues and what do you take away from the book?
In light of the reading and class lecture, suggest a specific act of justice you feel motivated to do.

Submission of Assignments: In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, we ask that no assignment be submitted in paper form. Please submit all assignments through Canvas. File name should be your first name initial followed by your last name. For example, the file name for my final would be mdelatorre.

Incomplete Policy: See Policies & Services in Course Navigation at the left.

Students will come prepared to discuss the following questions of each reading:

1) What is the author’s thesis?

The thesis question should be answered in one sentence: this is a valuable skill to practice which will enable you to process information efficiently and effectively.

2) What is the author’s method?

Method is the way the author conducts research

3) What is the author’s theory?

Theory is how the author explains the research findings

4) What evidence does the author use to prove his or her points?

5) How did this reading further your self-understanding of ethical issues?

6) What do you take away from the book?

7) What critique(s) do you have of the book?

8) In light of the reading and class lecture, suggest a specific act of justice you feel motivated to do.

Week 1

Watch the movie: Battle for Algiers on your own before first day of class

Amazon Prime

Youtube

Week 2

Discuss Black Skin White Mask and/or The Wretched of the Earth

Week 3

Discuss Madness and Civilization and/or Discipline & Punish

Weel 4

Discuss Imperial Leather

Chapters 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, Postscript

Week 5

Discuss Writing Culture

Week 6

Discuss Mythologies

Paper topics are to be determined

Week 7

Discuss Distinctions

Chapters 1-3, & 8

Week 8

Discuss Tragic Sense of Life

Week 9

Discuss Embracing Hopelessness

Week 10

Discuss Decolonizing Methodologies

Zooms:

9/14 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

9/16 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

9/21 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

9/23 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

9/28 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

9/30 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

10/5 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

10/7 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

10/12 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

10/14 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

10/19 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

10/21 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

10/26 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

10/28 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

11/2 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

11/4 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

11/9 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

11/11 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

11/16 – https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/93941439209?pwd=bHhSKzl2Q2JkTlY3ZnFheklGWEVyQT09

11/18 - https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/96092131466?pwd=WGgzWXpodlZxbm9LbDJKa29KR1dVUT09

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