REL 407/507 Winter 2014 CRN 27241/3
Instructor: Mark T. Unno, Office: SCH 334, Tel. 346-4973, Email: munno
(at) uoregon (dot) edu
TU 2:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m., SCH 358; Office Hours: Tues & Thurs
12:00-12:50 p.m. SCH 334
Overview
Through selected readings in religious and philosophical thought East
and West, as well as through films, this course examines the manner in
which narratives of selfhood are constructed and presented. Questions
explored include: What is the role and character of narrative in
defining selfhood? How do fractures and fissures in this narrative
occur? Can a self exist without any significant narrative? What is the
relation between memory, time, and space in the narrative self? In
delving into these questions, we will examine 1) different versions of
the narrative self, 2) models of selfhood that call into question
various narratives (narrative and counter-narrative), and 3) models
and theories of self that call into question the very nature of a
narratively defined self. Readings include selected narratives from a
Pure Land Buddhist, Taoist, and a Jewish diarist as well as secondary
theoretical and methodological works. Format is lecture-discussion
combination including student presentations. Assignments include three
shorter papers and one longer final paper. Additional readings and a
longer final paper will be required for students enrolled in REL 507.
Requirements
1. Attendance: Required. Students can have one unexcused
absence without penalty. Each class missed thereafter without prior
permission will result in 1-2 grade penalty for the course grade.
2. Short exams: There will be two short, in-class exams, based
on materials from the readings, lectures, and course web site.
3. Medium papers: There will be two medium-length papers (2-4 pages)
based on topics that will be provided by the instructor.
4. Presentation: Students will make a presentation on the readings for
one of the section meetings. The presenter should not
summarize the reading but should use the presentation to discuss why
the selected ideas-passages in question are important for
understanding the reading and proceed to explain as well as raise
questions about these ideas-passages.
The primary purpose of these presentations is to launch the
discussion, not to demonstrate breadth of knowledge or to lead the
discussion. Each presenter will prepare a handout with 2 questions and
brief, corresponding quotations from the readings. More detailed
instructions will be provided on the course web site.
5. Final paper: Each student will hand in a final paper of 7-9
pages double-spaced (A longer final paper of 11-13 pages will be
required for those who have registered for REL507. Suggested
topics will be provided. Students may choose to create their own
topics with the consent of the instructor. In the case of the latter,
a one-paragraph description of the topic must be submitted by email
to the instructor four days prior to the due date for the peer review
draft.
6. Late policy on written assignments: Three grace days total will be
allotted excluding the final paper for which no extensions will be
given. For the short papers, a cumulative total of three late days
will be allowed without penalty. Thereafter, each late day will result
in a two-point deduction from the course grade. Weekends are not
counted against the grace days.
Student
Assessment In
this course students will:
A. Develop their paper writing skills through regular feedback on
papers and an exam containing questions regarding the process and
elements of writing university essays. B. Develop a sophisticated
understanding of how diverse religions and philosophies define the
dark or problematic dimensions of human existence.
C. Acquire tools for the study of comparative religion through the
examination of narrative construction of the self concept as
characterized by diverse strands of religious and philosophical
thinking, through the use of primary sources and secondary scholarly
literature.
D. Learn to identify and analyze thematic presentations of the
narrative self concerning diverse factors of human culture such as
gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity , and class.
E. have the above areas assessed through exams, papers, and class
discussion.
Short exam I 5%
Short exam II 5% Final paper 35%
Short paper I 15% Presentation 10%
Short paper II 20% Discussion 10%
Texts
Shinmon Aoki, Coffinman (Anaheim, CA: Buddhist Education
Center, 2004).
Joan Frances Casey, The Flock (NY: Ballantine Books, 1992).
Etty Hillesum, An Interrupted Life + Letters from Westerbork (NY:
Owl Books, 1996).
Bruce Rubin, Jacob's Ladder (NY: Applause Books, 2000)
(optional text).
Burton Watson, Zhuangzi: Basic Writings (NY: Columbia
University Press, 2003).
Course Reader REL 407-507 Narrative Selves East and West, 539 E
13th St, Eugene, OR 97401 TEL 541 485 6253.