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 Popular Narrative: Masterminds  posted by  duggu   on 12/10/2007  Add Courseware to favorites Add To Favorites  
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Abstract/Syllabus:

Hildebidle, John, 21L.430 Popular Narrative: Masterminds, Fall 2004. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare), http://ocw.mit.edu  (Accessed 09 Jul, 2010). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

Image of Mary A. Shanley, New York City detective.

Mary A. Shanley, New York City detective. (Image courtesy of World-Telegram photo, the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, NYWT&S Collection, [LC-USZ62-134710].)

Course Highlights

This course features student essays and an extensive reading list.

Course Description

Our purpose is to consider some of the most elaborate and thoughtful efforts to define and delineate "all-mastering," and to consider some of the delineations of "all-mastering the intellect" in various guises - from magicians to master spies to detectives to scientists (mad and otherwise). The major written work of the term will be an ongoing reading journal, which you will circulate to your classmates using an e-mail mailing list. The use of that list is fundamental - it is my intention to generate a sort of ongoing cyberconversation.

 

Syllabus

 
 
Description

Our purpose is to consider some of the most elaborate and thoughtful efforts to define and delineate "all-mastering," and to consider some of the delineations of "all-mastering the intellect" in various guises - from magicians to master spies to detectives to scientists (mad and otherwise). The major written work of the term will be an ongoing reading journal, which you will circulate to your classmates using an e-mail mailing list. The use of that list is fundamental - it is my intention to generate a sort of ongoing cyberconversation. The journals are meant to be a series of articulate analytic encounters with the topics and texts of the subject. I ask you to submit them on the class mailing list so that you can respond to each other as you are moved to do. On a few occasions, I will offer guidance about what issues to confront. But the open-endedness of the task is essential. If you are sorely in need of a series of questions to shape your entry, draw on these "Questions of Mastery":

  1. How is the "mastery" of the "mastermind" shown, in this instance?
  2. Is there any indication given as to how the mastery is attained?
  3. What are the limits of the mastery, or the sacrifices which attainment demands?
  4. How is the mastery employed?
  5. On balance, is the mastery to be commended or condemned?

Grading

For grading, I review and reflect upon the following factors:

  • attendance and involvement in the class
  • journal entries
  • final presentation

No one "low point" is determinative.

Having made my reflections, I assign grades:

A = excellence (one sign of which is how much I was taught by the student)
B = solid competence and consistency
C = minimal adequacy. Seemingly, the student is sliding by on low power
D = clearly unacceptable
F = major dereliction. Frequent absence, frequent failure to submit assigned work.

 

Calendar

 
 
SES # TOPICS
1 Introduction - Welcome Aboard
2 Film

Wiene, Robert. The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. 1920.
3 Marlowe, Christopher. Dr. Faustus.
4 First journal due
5 Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein.
6 Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "The Birthmark," and "Rappacini's Daughter."
7 Journal due
8 Video

Christie, Agatha. "The Mirror Cracked From Side to Side." Miss Marple. Vol. 2. A&E Home Video, 1992.
9 Doyle, Arthur Conan. A Study in Scarlet.
10 Journal due
11 An open discussion of modern "Sherlockery." Take the time to watch an episode of any of the current "detective shows" - especially the "scientific" shows like the assorted versions of "CSI" or "Crossing Jordan." More traditional "procedurals" like "NYPD Blue" or "Law and Order" will serve just fine, though. No matter which one.
12 Hillerman, Tony. Sacred Clowns.
13 Journal due
14 Film

Young, Terence. Dr. No. 1962. (The first James Bond film.)
15 LeCarre, John. The Tailor of Panama.
16 Brecht, Bertolt. Galileo.
17 Journal due
18 Banville, John. Kepler.
19 Gleick, James. Isaac Newton.

Film

Else, John. The Day After Trinity. 1980.
20 Journal due
21 Frayn, Michael. Copenhagen.
22 Film

Kubrick, Stanley. Dr. Strangelove. 1964.
23 Journal due
24 We'll do some organizing - your task this week will be to seek out and interview an MIT grad student about the "pursuit of mastery." If you're desperate to have something to read, there is a good book about the Whitehead: Natalie Angier, Natural Obsessions, a nd a more recent autobiography, Pepper White's The Idea Factory.
25 Journal Assignment: Summarize your findings about the life of MIT grad students.
26 Discussion of the results of your research on grad students.
27 Discussion of Teachers

Optional Readings

Kidder. Among School Children.

Edmundson. Teacher.

Come to class prepared to describe the best teacher you've ever encountered.
28 Optional Readings

Rich, Adrienne. "Planetarium."

Bloom, Harold. Genius.
29 We'll view the pilot episode of "House."

Optional Readings

Williams, William Carlos. "The Use of Force," "Old Doc Rivers," "Medicine," "Hell's Kitchen," and "First Years of Practice."

Thomas, Lewis. "Becoming a Doctor."
30 Final presentations due



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