Cultural Representations: Nature and the Environment. Animal Rights and Environmental Justice

Transcription

1 Cultural Representations: Nature and the Environment Animal Rights and Environmental Justice Each time I dip a living creature into the bath of burning pain, I say, This time I will burn out all the animal; this time I will make a rational creature of my own! - H.G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau They think we're all gonna drown down here. But we ain't going nowhere. - Beasts of the Southern Wild English and Environmental Studies 122NE Summer B 2014 Instructor: Thomas Doran thomasdoran@umail.ucsb.edu Lecture: MTWR 11:00-12:05 NH 1109 Office Hours: TW 12:30-1:30 SH T

2 Course Description This course will focus on authors and artists who have inspired or reimagined the stakes of two core environmental movements: animal rights (AR) and environmental justice (EJ). Along the way, we will explore the affinities and divisions between these two movements in novels, films, comics, nature writing, photography, and journalism. Some texts will offer explicit critiques or positions on AR and EJ while others will be more abstract or broadly situated in relation to environmental themes. Our central question will be what environmental advocacy looks like in the humanities what it can be and what it can do. Essentially, how do environmental humanists frame their ideas about nature, science, politics, ethics, race, class, and gender? More broadly, we will ask how art functions as a medium for representing humans as an environment- altering species during our current historical period of rapid environmental change. What is environmental justice? Environmental justice concerns the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. What are animal rights? Animal rights concerns the recognition of inherent rights for nonhuman animals.

3 Course Objectives To identify and critique AR and EJ discourse in cultural representations of the environment and science To trouble the distinction between nature and culture and expand our definition of what counts as the environment To explore the connections between AR, EJ, and climate change To examine the value and range of humanities research in our age of rapid environmental change To develop diverse approaches to writing and speaking about AR, EJ, and climate change Course Texts Books (required): Octavia Butler, Dawn (Aspect) Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Del Ray) Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon, Pride of Baghdad (Vertigo) H.G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau (Penguin) Excerpted Books (optional) Ken Saro- Wiwa, Genocide in Nigeria (Saros) Henry David Thoreau, Walden (Oxford) Films (screened in class): Blackfish (2013) Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) Cane Toads (1988) Manufactured Landscapes (2006) * Additional readings, videos, and other supplemental materials are available on Gauchospace.

4 WEEK 1: Nonhuman Personhood and Vivisection M 8/4 Course introduction Quiz 1: Environmental Awareness Diagnostic and Service Animal Bill of Rights Film: Blackfish (2013) T 8/5 Film: Blackfish (2013) W 8/6 Read: The Island of Dr. Moreau (Introduction and chs. 1-9) R 8/7 Read: The Island of Dr. Moreau (chs ) Film: Selections from Island of Lost Souls (1932) WEEK 2: Captivity, Adaptation, and Anthropomorphism M 8/11 Read: The Island of Dr. Moreau (chs ) Film: Selections from The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977 and 1996) T 8/12 Read: Pride of Baghdad Quiz 2 W 8/13 Read: Pride of Baghdad R 8/14 Paper 1 Due

5 WEEK 3: Afrofuturism and Invasive Species M 8/18 Read Dawn Part I: Womb (3-42) T 8/19 Read Dawn Part II: Family (45-111) W 8/20 Film: Cane Toads (1988) R 8/21 Read Dawn Part III: Nursery ( ) Quiz 3 WEEK 4: The Environmentalism of the Poor M 8/25 Read Dawn Part IV: The Training Floor ( ) T 8/26 Film: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) W 8/27 Film: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) R 8/28 Paper 2 Due

6 WEEK 5: Environmental Justice and Brute Neighbors M 9/1 NO CLASS T 9/2 Read: Selections from Genocide in Nigeria W 9/3 Read: Selections from Walden (Baker Farm, Higher Laws, Brute Neighbors, Spring) Quiz 4 R 9/4 In Class: Project Workshop Annotated Bibliography Due WEEK 6: Manufactured Landscapes, Manufactured Lives M 9/8 Read: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (chs. 1-8) Film: Manufactured Landscapes (2006) T 9/9 Read: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (chs. 9-15) Film: Manufactured Landscapes (2006) W 9/10 Read: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (chs ) Quiz 5 R 9/11 Project Proposal Due by 8pm

7 Course Evaluation Requirements Two polished response papers (500 words each): 20% Annotated bibliography (500 words): 15% Project proposal (600 words): 20% Quizzes: 20% Presentation: 15% Participation: 10% Electronic submission of all written assignments (response papers and annotated bibliography) is required (format:.doc or.docx; send to: All grading and commentary will be done electronically. I do not want or need paper copies of your work. Options for response papers and instructions for annotated bibliography & project proposal will be provide separately. Short quizzes will test your working knowledge and understanding of the most current readings, films, lectures, and discussions. Format: Short written responses, objective context. No makeups. Lowest grade will be dropped. Group presentations will be 5 minutes and must include a digital component to be submitted for evaluation. Further instruction for presentations will be provided separately. Participation includes regular attendance, sustained and thoughtful attention, speaking during class discussions, frequent in- class projects, and respect for others. A Note on Writing My most basic expectation for your writing is that it is interesting to read and interesting to you. While I strongly encourage creativity, innovation, and intellectual risk in your writing, I also expect a reasonable level of clarity, coherence, and correctness. Please do not be hesitate to visit me during office hours when you are drafting, but please come with specific questions about parts of your writing or writing process.

8 Regarding matters technical, written assignments should be typed (in a standard 12- point font) and double- spaced. Please adhere to MLA style for basic format and citation rules. Substantial proofreading, revision, and rewriting should be evident. All deadline extension requests must be made at least 48 hours prior to the due date. Technology issues (including crashing computers, stolen computers, missing computers, accidental deletion or loss of crucial files, accidental submission of your work in a corrupt or unreadable file format, accidental failure to attach any file whatsoever to your submission , etc.) are not legitimate excuses for late or incomplete assignments. Please back up your work at all times. This can be done fairly seamlessly with Dropbox, Google Drive, or other cloud computing options. You may also find my basic grading scale helpful: A+: A stunning degree of intellectual initiative A: Engaging ideas and fantastic prose A- : Interesting, consistent, and nuanced work B+: Good work that shows potential for improvement B: Average effort (often employing strong analysis without a compelling claim or vice versa) B- : Low- average effort C: A noticeable lack of effort or quality D: Negligent or incomplete effort F: Intentionally poor or verifiably plagiarized Attendance Policy Students will be allowed two absences without penalty. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a 3- point reduction of the final grade. You do not need to me if you were absent or plan to be absent. If you have a medical excuse, simply bring valid documentation to class. If you want to know what you missed in class, ask another student first. If you have questions about how your absences will affect your final grade, check the syllabus. Academic Dishonesty Policy The University has strict policies regarding cheating and plagiarism: Any act of academic dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, will subject a person to University disciplinary action. Using or attempting to use materials, information, study aids, or commercial research services not authorized by the instructor of the course constitutes cheating. Representing the words, ideas, or concepts of another person without appropriate attribution is plagiarism. Whenever another person s written work is utilized, whether it be a single phrase or longer, quotation marks must be used and sources cited. (UCSB Campus Regulations) If you are ever uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism, I am available to candidly and openly discuss proper research methods, citation techniques, or any other issues regarding academic integrity. Students with Disabilities If you have a diagnosed disability and need special accommodations for this course, contact the Disabled Students Program. *This handout and all related materials may change to reflect the needs or progress of the class.