2021 FYS Courses

A Global Approach to Wellness

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a multidimensional dynamic process of change and growth. This process varies from person to person as there are a variety of societal and cultural influences that can be of support or hindrance. This course will engage students through the deep exploration of personal wellness and how personal, interpersonal, and cultural expectations impact all areas of wellness. Additionally, the exploration and practical application of a variety of traditional and complementary alternative medicine approaches will be used to support reading material and challenge students to rethink what constitutes well rounded wellness practices. The use of current entertainment articles, daily news, research articles, books chapters, videos, television, and social media may affect personal health choices and overall wellness.

Course #: FYS 164-13
Professors: Farrell, Anne
Day/s & Time/s: MR 8-9:20 AM

Women Writing the Past: Fiction, History, and Autobiography

This course offers a study of fiction, film, and autobiography by women of color whose work demonstrates the “presence of the past” in late 20th-century life. We will read a sampling of works by US authors for the specific ways in which they construct and reconstruct the past through literature. As we read each text, we will interrogate the myths and legends that have come to be known as “history” and look at the methods, artifacts, and sources each author uses to acquaint readers with imaginative alternatives to “official records” of the past. We will also study the lesser known personal histories of the authors’ lives as well as the personal lives of the lesser-known historical figures “remembered” by the authors.

Course #: FYS 164-10
Professors: Ortiz-Vilarelle, Lisa
Day/s & Time/s: MR 11-12:20 PM

Teaching English in Local and Global Communities

The course exposes students to the world of teaching English as a Second Language, in both local and global communities. In includes a tutoring experience in which students work with children and youth in local schools, and gives students an opportunity to interact with ESL teachers working overseas. Issues related to teaching in both settings are discussed, along with practical teaching and presentation methods that can be used in different settings.

Course #: FYS 164-08
Professors: Carroll & Lopes-Murphy, Stuart & Solange
Day/s & Time/s: MR 3:30-4:50 PM

Global Political Novels

“Making up stories is an inherently political act,” the Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid has commented. Among the many forms of narrative, the novel is especially suited to conveying political values, ideas, and conflict. This seminar focuses on how writers around the world have used the novel to think about global and national politics. Students will read a wide variety of novels (graphic, detective, dystopian, autobiographical, magical realist) in exploring how writers have imagined power, government, and citizenship in such places as China, Iran, the Soviet Union, Africa, South Asia, and the Americas. Reading and writing assignments will prepare students for college-level work in all majors.

Course #: FYS 164-06
Professors: Black, David
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30-1:50 PM

Global Perspectives and Trends on Disability: “A Focus on Activism and Advocacy”

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin

James Baldwin may not have been speaking about the human rights of people with disabilities across the world, but his sentiments apply. Despite the awareness of international communities (e.g. United Nations, World Bank), the barriers to equal opportunity and social/community inclusion have yet to be eliminated for people with disabilities. In nearly every country in the world people with disabilities remain vulnerable to poverty, discrimination and abuse. Therefore, this course is designed to heighten the awareness of the political, social, and cultural factors that that influence the politics of disability rights, across the world. It focuses on the goal of assuring that people with disabilities regardless of where they live, will no longer be invisible.

Central to this study is the dissection and review of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). CRPD is a formal Treaty enacted by the United Nations in 2006, that attempts to closes a gap in worldwide human rights through targets efforts of participating countries. The treaty outlines the specific global human rights and offers a forum for achieving progress. To date, there are 175 countries that have signed and ratified the CRPD which commits to systematically address the specific challenges of their country in regards to human rights for people with disabilities. The United States is not among those countries.

Embedded in the course are the complexity of disability as an extremely heterogeneous population in which anyone can become a member; the stories / profiles of the famous global leaders / activist with disabilities and their allies that have led the fight for equality; and the overall history of individual cultures / countries reflecting patterns of benevolence and pity.

Course #: FYS 164-03
Professors: Schuler, Amy
Day/s & Time/s: R 5:30-8:20 PM

Art of Happiness: A Buddhist Perspective

This seminar seeks to explore the nature and meanings of happiness from a Buddhist perspective. Students will read the basic teachings about happiness from both the Buddhist canons and the contemporary Buddhist thinkers (such as The Dalai Lama, Chögyam Trungpa and Thích Nhất Hạnh). Emphasis will be placed on the key concepts of happiness such as compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, affection, kindness, gratitude, right ethical conducts and mental/emotional cultivation. Students are encouraged to think about what it would mean to live a good and happy life by applying the teachings to their contemporary life and society.

Course #: FYS 164-01
Professors: Mi, Jiayan
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2-3:20 PM

LGBTQ and Popular Culture/Media Studies

This course explores LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) identity, culture, and politics by way of their representations in popular and independent films/documentaries, as well as in other forms of mass media. Students will be introduced to a broad range of scholarly and media materials for the study of LGBTQ media and popular culture. Topics covered include: the history of LGBTQ representations in the media; the complexity of LGBTQ visibility in films and documentaries; the complex relationship between comedy, media, and LGBTQ identity; representations of LGBTQ intimacy and erotic life; the notion of resistance in LGBTQ-produced media; the coming out metaphor in popular culture; the role of social media in fostering LGBTQ activism and community; and media portrayals of transgender/genderqueer identities and forms of embodiment. By way of these and other topics, this course provides an opportunity to consider the significant role that media have played in advancing a global transformation on the topic of LGBTQ.

Course #: FYS 163-04
Professors: Rodriguez, Nelson
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2-3:20 PM

Racism, Crime & Prisons in US History

In this course, students explore the ways in which historical racism shapes perceptions of crime, particularly racist stereotypes about Black crime and the myth (or assumption) of white innocence, racist fictions that drive the mass imprisonment of people of color in the U.S. today. We begin with an examination of racist beliefs about crime and racist punishment practices in the slavery era then the post-slavery (post-Civil War era), the Jim Crow period, and end with the 1970s to present (the New Jim Crow era or "War on Drugs" era). Throughout the course, students confront the reality that white supremacy, white privilege, and the racist terrorizing of communities of color (through state agencies like the police) are not phenomena of the past, but institutionalized in the present. In so doing, students are empowered to think critically and creatively about ways to eradicate the social injustices that maintain the racist systemic legal oppression of people of color in the U.S.

Course #: FYS 162-08
Professors: Francis, Leigh-Anne
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30-1:50 PM

Incarceration Nation: Literature of the Prison

This course will explore literature by and about prisoners from 600 AD to the present. Interdisciplinary in nature, this seminar weaves together the studies of gender, criminology, psychology, sociology, history and culture. We will read provocative, groundbreaking texts written by one of the most neglected, silenced, but all-too-critical sectors of our population, the incarcerated.

Course #: FYS 162-06
Professors: Tarter, Michele
Day/s & Time/s: TF 11-12:20 PM

The Evolution of African American Gospel Music

This course traces Black Gospel Music from its origins to its present day varied arrangements. Lectures will include information presented on Black Gospel Music Icons; the various instruments and styles of musical arrangements and more to present the richness and value of this cultural expression. Students come prepared to sing a little (as a group only) and attend at least two worship experiences (i.e., Sunday morning worship and/or a Gospel concert).

Course #: FYS 162-04
Professors: McCrary, Todd
Day/s & Time/s: TF 8-9:20 AM

Social Justice: Theory Problems & Practice

The purpose of this course is to examine the concept of social justice. Students will develop an understanding of the theoretical, social, and historical underpinnings of various equity and social justice issues. Throughout the course, we will analyze strategies for bringing about positive social change. By examining the groups that have access- the have and have nots- we gain insight into the inequalities which exist for disenfranchised populations. The course will highlight societal issues such as poverty, race, oppression, gender, immigration and environmental issues in the US. The goals for this class include increasing personal awareness, expanding knowledge, and encouraging action. As social justice can be a complex concept to digest, we will maintain a classroom community that enables all members to feel supported and empowered when exploring daily social justice dilemmas.

The design of this course will additionally facilitate your exploration and assessment of your own personal identity, worldview, and experiences. Through exploring how race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion and ability are social constructions we will see how such constructions affect each of our identities, our relationships, and our overall perceptions of the world and our place in it. Attention will be given to the influence of mainstream media and pop culture on personal and collective identities. Various strategies to address social justice will be illustrated and students will begin to examine their own approach to advocacy. As a part of Bonner Community Scholars, students will be required to integrate their community engaged learning and leadership experiences into the course.

Course #: FYS 162-02
Professors: Muse, Althia
Day/s & Time/s: W 5:30-8:20 PM

Corrupting the Youth

The Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates was arrested, charged with corrupting the youth, and found guilty by a jury in Athens, where he lived. He was then executed by being made to drink hemlock, which isn’t the greatest way to go (slow paralysis of all systems). What did Socrates actually do, though? What was this "corruption" of the youth that threatened the State so much that they had to kill him off? Socrates was notorious for asking people questions that seemed as if they had simple answers. Then he would ask more questions about the answers he got. This method revealed all the logical confusions on the part of the person answering, and the young persons in Athens liked to watch and learn it for themselves. Teaching young persons to think logically and to think for themselves (i.e. do philosophy)? No, said the State. It looks like being a philosopher and doing philosophy is powerful and threatening to the status quo—powerful and threatening enough that philosophers risk execution for doing what we do.
So while I am waiting to be arrested for how threatening I am to the status quo, I will teach my students how to do that thing that freaks out the powers that be. The basic skill in philosophy is logic, which fuels logical argument. You will learn the basics of logical argument, and then apply that to some foundational problems and issues in philosophy. The problems of philosophy are not weird esoteric ones, they are the basic everyday ones, relevant to everyday life, like: How you do you know anything for sure? How do you know whether you can trust your senses? How can you be sure anything is real or true? How can we define things like “real” or “true”? How do you know you are not surrounded by mindless zombies? What is a mindless zombie? What is artificial intelligence? What makes something right and/or wrong? The purpose of a course like this one is to give you some familiarity with the fundamental concepts of philosophy, which is just the way humans think when they’re doing it logically, but it is also designed to be practical. The skill of critical analysis and logical argument that can be developed, perfected, and applied completely generally across anything that involves thinking (which is... everything).

Course #: FYS 161-16
Professors: Preti, Consuelo
Day/s & Time/s: MR 12:30-1:50 PM

Scholarly Study of Star Wars: Films & Adaptations

In this section of First Seminar, "Scholarly Study of Star Wars: Films & Adaptations," we will examine the original movie trilogy (Episodes IV, V, VI) as well as the prequels (I, II, III), and selected Star Wars films released since Disney purchased Lucasfilm. We will also read one Star Wars adaptation in fiction (novel or short stories), watch selected episodes of Star Wars TV series, and read about and discuss other ancillary creations (e.g., collectibles, Jediism) that make up the Star Wars cultural phenomenon. Our approach is interdisciplinary: film studies, literature, myth, philosophy, religious studies, history, sociology, economics/marketing, other. The primary sources we will discuss are the fictional works created by George Lucas and others; secondary sources include books and articles in a variety of disciplines on reserve at the library. Students will write analytical essays, give a researched presentation, write short online posts on the weekly films and textbook readings. The final project is a research paper on a topic related to Star Wars. We are not watching the films in class. Thus, consider signing up for Disney+ so that you can watch or re-watch the films as we study them week-by-week throughout the semester. You will need to have watched the films you write essays about recently in order to support your points with specific references to the films (e.g., quoting dialogue, describing shots). The desired outcome of this course is that you will have grown in your reading, thinking, researching, writing, and speaking skills studying Star Wars as the means to that end.

Course #: FYS 161-14
Professors: Konkle, Lincoln
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2-3:20 PM

The Artistry and Innovation of Pixar

Writer Arthur C. Clarke postulated that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." For over two decades, Pixar Animation Studios has produced works of cinematic magic — breakthrough artistry made possible by incredible leaps in technological advancement. To date, Pixar has released 20 feature-length films and dozens of short films that have delighted audiences, won top accolades, earned billions of dollars, and pushed the creative and technical boundaries of CGI filmmaking (a genre that was literally invented by Pixar with its 1995 Toy Story). In this course, we will use Pixar as a case study example of the symbiotic interplay of technological innovation and artistic expression. Through a series of readings, we will the examine the evolution of this groundbreaking and unconventional company, and draw parallels with the explosive proliferation of computing technology in the latter part of the 20th century. We'll trace Pixar from its humble origins in the 1970s as the Computer Graphics Laboratory, to its development in the 1980s as a division of Lucasfilm and emergence as an independent company, to its later partnership with and ultimate acquisition by Disney. We will critically examine a number of Pixar's works to discuss their technological underpinnings, as well as their cultural and artistic significance. We will also use materials from the online "Pixar in a Box" series to learn about the process of filmmaking and CGI animation, and will explore how to model with computer software tools and engineering rapid prototyping equipment.

Course #: FYS 161-11
Professors: Cathell, Matthew
Day/s & Time/s: MR 2 - 3:20 PM

Mirror Ball of Stress

Stressors comes from many sources. In this course students will examine stress from different interdisciplinary facets. Identifying stressors and recognizing stress responses can be viewed from multiple levels and contexts, which present a personal, local, and global challenge. Students will identify what stress is and is not, examine what stressors are and how they affect well-being of individuals, local and global communities. They will engage in discussions about .how environments and changes in environments, through climate change, are sources of stress. Students will research, and debate how different types of stressors affect individuals and populations representing a range of ethnic, linguistic, age or geographic-specific communities. Students will be introduced to a variety of investigative methods and effective approaches for communicating impacts of stress and climate change.

Course #: FYS 161-09
Professors: Gordon, Karen
Day/s & Time/s: TF 3:30-4:50 PM

Pyramid Schemes, Ponzi schemes, and other Business Fraud

This course examines the history and current illegal practices of pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes and other business frauds. To understand these schemes we will explore how they differ from the legal business activities that they present themselves to be. We will cover actual court cases, the activities of regulators and prosecutors, and the harm done to victims. In addition to pyramid and Ponzi schemes the course will explore other trust-based business schemes. Academic work in economics and marketing will provide evidence as to why these schemes grow and how they fail.

Course #: FYS 161-06
Professors: Keep, William
Day/s & Time/s: W 5:30-8:20 PM

Consumerism in American Society

In the United States, it is a generally accepted view - that we live in a “consumer society” in which material possessions is of significant importance. In this course we will take interdisciplinary approach to studying consumerism, drawing upon academic research, expert and layperson views, videos and book excerpts to study this topic. We will examine how the widespread presence of consumerism influences individual behaviors, social welfare, culture, environmental quality, economic performance, and public policy. We will study both the positive and negative impacts of consumerism on individuals and societies, with a focus on the United States. We will also explore our personal choices as members of a consumer society, and how we can become better consumers.

Course #: FYS 161-04
Professors: Inyang, Aniefre (Eddie)
Day/s & Time/s: TF 2-3:20 PM

Journalism and the Pursuit of Truth

Studies show young people are turned off by the news, and those who try to keep up with current events have a hard time figuring out what to believe. This course is an opportunity to learn what reputable journalism is and how ethical journalists operate. Students will learn fact-checking skills, have conversations with professional journalists, and conduct their own fact-checking projects. This class will give students an opportunity to develop and/or strengthen skills in written and oral communication, research, leadership and collaboration.

Course #: FYS 161-02
Professors: Pearson, Kim
Day/s & Time/s: TF 9:30-10:50 PM