UNST 121-122:  Forbidden Knowledge

Reading Groups

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Introduction

The purpose of having a number of reading groups is to allow students to focus on an area of interest or to diversify their interests by participating in more than one group.  Each group corresponds with a main class module as well as a research paper topic area.  Although you do not have to have a research topic that coincides with your reading group, doing so may increase efficiency.

Basic options for reading groups are the following:
  1. Read all or most of the books in one group, while reading articles and other recommended sources from the Online Readings.  Doing the latter will allow you to participate in group discussions even if you are not a member of the reading group.
  2. Read one book from most or all of the groups, while reading articles and other recommended sources from the Online Readings.  Again, this will allow you to participate in general discussion.
  3. Read one or two books from just one or two groups, supplementing with a greater number of articles and other recommended sources.  This option is the least recommended, but for those who find reading to be very challenging or have difficulty obtaining the books, this might be the better option.
What Will We Do?  How Will This Work?

The readings are listed on the syllabus in a certain order, with the easier-to-read works coming earlier on in the term and the more dense works coming later on in the term.  This schedule should allow those who have chosen more substantive texts to begin reading right away and be ready by the dates listed on the syllabus.  Your readings will correspond with the topical module we are discussing.  If you are not reading any of the books for the reading group that coincides with the module, you will need to read the articles listed in the Online Readings.  Discussion about the readings will take place as part of RAIDs as well as in class.
The Groups (in the order in which we will be moving through them; see the syllabus for specifics):

 I.  What is Real? and  The Fortunate Fall

Other novels (fiction, sf, or graphic novels okay) not listed here (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, by Philip K. Dick; Sandman, etc., are fine substitutes).
Accompanying movies:  The Thirteenth Floor, The Matrix, Wind Named Amnesia, The Truman Show, What the Bleep Do We Know?

 II.    Frightening Knowledge: The Mad, the Sad, and the Evil: The Tortured Human Soul

Other novels dealing with personal suffering, "evil," and the weaknesses of the human condition -- about which many of us would prefer to remain ignorant -- are acceptable additions.

Accompanying movies:  Girlhood, Born into Brothels

III.  Denied Knowledge (knowledge "owned" by those in power and prohibited to oppressed groups; this term:  Women and Islam)

Accompanying movies  Maryam, Born into Brothels

IV.      Dangerous Knowledge: The Secrets of Science and Medicine

Accompanying movie:  The Manchurian Candidate, And the Band Played On
V.   Perilous Knowledge:  The Secrets of War, Power, and Imperialism

Accompanying movie:  Life and Debt, Fahrenheit 9/11, The Weather Underground
© 2006-2008, Martha J. Bianco, Ph.D.