3
Koç University
Fall 2013
HUMS 108
Identity, Power, Culture
Güldeniz Kıbrıs
SOS 311
Office hours:
Course description:
This course explores the paths of specific historical changes which led to the formation and construction of European identity as opposed and in relation to its non-European ‘others’ or counterparts. Particularly from the 15th century onwards, Europe represented itself as a distinct, unique and triumphant civilization and at the same time marked its difference from other cultures, peoples and civilizations. This course’s task is to investigate under which circumstances this formation has been taking place. Questions like: “What is European identity? Who defines it? Who and what does it include and not include? On what grounds?” will be answered through the analysis of various primary sources produced during the period between the 15th century and present times.
The assumption in this course is that the meanings of ‘European self’ and its ‘others’ are never simply given, but they imply relations of power, domination, and exclusion. In fact, at the turn of the 21st century, the definition of ‘European identity’ has become the focal point for political and cultural contestation, on the level of the European Union and its individual member states, over issues ranging from global capitalism, national identity, immigration, citizenship, racism, to the place of Islam within Europe. This course at the end hopes to address a number of critical issues of modern times by revealing the interconnections between politics, identity formation, culture, power and history in Europe while at the same time presenting a double exploration of both ‘ideal’ and ‘real’ Europe.
Organization of classes:
The class will meet two times a week.
**** The most important requirement is for you to come to class having done the readings****
Course Requirements:
The final evaluation will be determined by the following components:
Midterm 30%
Final 40%
2 Quizzes 20% (each is 10%) Quiz 1: 9 Oct. Quiz 2: 2 Dec.
There will be 2 identifications (keywords) and 1 essay question in each quiz. The dates are already set and will not be changed.
You are requested to provide valid medical excuses if you are not able to attend midterm, final and quizzes.
Participation 10%: Attendance is not mandatory in this class. But, ten percent of the overall grade relies on student’s interest. This interest may be revealed through listening carefully, asking questions, responding to instructor’s questions and/or engaging in class discussions.
Course Schedule and Readings:
Week 1 (16-18 Sept.) Theoretical Framework
Robert Bocock, “Defining Culture,” in Hall and Gieben, Formations of Modernity, p. 1-4,
Stuart Hall, “Introduction,” in Hall and Gieben, p. 5-9,
Andrea, Overfield, “Primary Sources and How to Read Them,” The Human Record, p. 10-15.
Documentary: Whose is This Song?
Week 2 (23-25 Sept.) European Reconnaissance: Geographic Explorations
Norton et al., “Early European Explorations,” in A People and A Nation, p. 16-28,
Jared Diamond, “Collision at Cajamarca,” in Guns, Germs and Steel, p. 29-36.
Documentary: Guns, Germs and Steel, part 1
Week 3 (30 Sept.-2 Oct.) Renaissance, Reformation
Machiavelli, “the Prince,” p. 37-38,
Alberti, “Book of the Family,” p. 39-42
Week 4 (7-9 Oct.) Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment
Galilei, “Letter to the Grand Duchess,” p. 43-45,
QUIZ 1: 9 OCT.
14-18 OCT. NO CLASS (KURBAN BAYRAMI)
Week 5 (21-23 Oct.) Enlightenment, French Revolution
Rousseau, “The Social Contract,” p. 46-47.
Oct. 28 NO CLASS
Week 6 (30 Oct.) French Revolution
“Declaration of the Rights of Man,” p. 48-50,
“Declaration of the Rights of Woman,” p. 50-52,
“Petition of the Jews of Paris,” p. 53-54.
Week 7 (4-6 Nov.) Industrial Revolution and Its Critics
Malthus, “On the Principle of Population,” p. 55-56,
“Report on Child Labor,” p. 56-57,
Engels, “The Conditions of the Working Class,” p. 57-58,
Henry Mayhew, “Prostitution in Victorian England,” p. 59-61.
Week 8 (11-13 Nov.) Imperialism, Colonization, Racism, Orientalism and Critics
Edward Said, “Orientalism,” in Hall p. 62-68, Hall p. 64-79,
Chamberlain, “Colonial Commerce and the White Man’s Burden,” p. 80-81,
Edmund Morel, “The Black Man’s Burden,” p. 82-83,
Edouard Drumont, “Jewish France,” p. 84-85.
Documentary: Guns, Germs and Steel, part 3
MIDTERM
Week 9 (18-20 Nov.) WWI
Heinrich von Treitschke, “The Greatness of War,” p. 1-2
Selected poems, p. 3-5
Ernst Renan, “What is A Nation?”, p. 6-14
Ayşe Gül Altınay, “The Turkish Historical Thesis and the Racialization of Culture,” The Myth of Military Nation, p. 17-19
Week 10 (25-27 Nov.) Dictatorships and WWII
David E. Ingersoll, Richard K. Matthews and Andrew Davison, “Fascism,” The Philosophical Roots of Modern Ideology: Liberalism, Communism, Fascism, Islamism, p. 20-30
Max Cohen, “I was one of the unemployed,” p. 31-33
“The Indoctrination of the German Soldier,” p. 34-36
Hannah Arendt, “Sanık,” Kötülüğün Sıradanlığı (Banality of Evil), p. 37-44
Week 11 (2-4 Dec.) Cold War
Simone de Beauvoir, “The Second Sex,” p. 45-47
Bob Dylan Songs, p. 47-49
“How to Spot A Communist,” p. 50-51
Animated Soviet and US Propaganda
QUIZ 2: 2 DEC.
Week 12 (9-11 Dec.) Post-Cold War Trends and Countertrends
Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?”, p. 52-67
Samuel P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?”, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in World Politics, p. 68-74
Week 13 (16-18 Dec.)
“The President’s State of the Union Address,” p. 80-84
Osama bin Laden, “Declaration of Jihad Against Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Mosques,” p. 84-87
Ayhan Kaya, “The Beur Uprising,” Eurozine, p. 88-98
Ayhan Kaya, “Aesthetics of Diaspora: Contemporary Minstrels in Turkish Berlin,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 99-107
Week 14 (23-25 Dec.)
Umut Özkırımlı, “Europe beyond Utoya: Addressing A Crisis,” Open Democracy, p. 108-110
Bo Strath, “A European Identity: To the Historical Limits of a Concept,” European Journal of Social Theory, p. 113-127