The Arts Past and Present

Tutorial 7March. 2017 Westminster 7-9 pm

And 21 March. 2017. Westminster 7-9pm

Emma Rose Barber

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The beginning:

Once upon a time there were two tasks for the Open University students. They had to make a choice between them. The two tasks were:

1. Explain and evaluate the arguments in Cultural Exemptions and the text about the Amish, or

2.Through a close critical reading of Peter Carey’s story ‘American Dream’ from the anthology – The World of Difference show how the theme of cultural dependency relates to a sense of place.

The choice for the students was very hard, so they decided to talk to somebody sitting next to them to work out which task they were going to perform. They then agreed they would say which task they were going to do and how to do it.

The tutorial today will however focus on Cultural Exemptions (1) and the next tutorial on 21 March (2) will focus on the short story. Come to both alert, awake and aware!! This hand out relates to both tutorials together, so you know what we are covering when.

The middle:

  1. Summaries of Cultural Exemptions, with some case studies (bring sheets on cultural exemptions, difference blind liberalism and links to case studies. PLEASE PRINT ONE OUT TO DISCUSS using the questions below). Or, please bring an example of a current issue where people have been claiming that certain groups should be exempt from a particular law or policy. You might have read something recently in the newspaper, or you might bring a story based on your experience.

Say what exemption is being requested and on what grounds. Then consider the following questions:

  • What argument might rule and exemption liberalism use to support the request?
  • Do you agree with this argument? Why/why not?
  1. Discussion on what cultural exemptions are generally – with reference to the hand-outs as summaries of some of the terms and issues.

For tutorial on 21 March:

1 Reading the short prose extracts of cultural encounters I sent you. If you would like, please bring another literary or narrative or even poetic example of a ‘cultural encounter’.

2. General discussion on what skills are needed to engage closely with short stories. Please bring sheet on prose sent in link. Please also bring the short story anthology.

3. In groups look at some short story extracts from the anthology focussing on: narrative technique, language and structure.

4. Report back to the group.

5. If time, look at the other hand-out of short stories.

The end:

Will anything about either tutorial help you to reflect on your subject matter and your approaches to your work differently?

What are your thoughts on inter-disciplinary study?

And the end always goes back to the beginning. Which option are you going to do for the next assignment now? If you have changed your mind, why?

See you then! Emma Rose