TIDL 1040 – Our Religious Experience(s)

Religion, Politics, and the Media

FALL 2012,

Wednesday, 4:30-5:45, HE 201

Instructor: Brian Horowitz, Jewish Studies/ Germanic and Slavic Studies

312 Jones Hall, 862-3075, horowitz@tulane.edu

Office Hours: Tuesday 12:30-1:30; Monday 2-3, and by appointment.

In this course we will examine how the religions of the world are treated in American media. We will discuss such issues as multiculturalism, political correctness, and religious tolerance and intolerance.

  The course assignments are connected to the following learning objectives:  

• students gain knowledge of religion and its relation to politics, morality, aesthetics, and social custom. We will gain knowledge about tolerance and the history of religion in the American media.

• students gain an understanding of issues related to civic engagement in New Orleans as demonstrated by their critical reflection (2 short papers)

• students learn how faith-based organization support affiliated and non-affiliated citizens of New Orleans

Required Texts

• Readings will largely be determined by the interests of the group, but include newspapers, magazines, and the internet. THESE WILL BE POSTED ON BLACKBOARD

Joseph Cambell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

William James, Varieties of Religious Experiences

Søren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling

Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Fyodor Dostoevsky, “The Grand Inquisitor”

Films will be determined by the interests of the group:

Assignments

This class is taking a more dynamic approach to study. Every other week you will be responsible for finding an article, movie, TV show, news excerpt, or some other documentation of the intersection of religion and politics, religion and the media, or religion and politics and the media.

You will be required to write 2 three-page reflection papers.

Internet Resources

• The syllabus, announcements, discussion group, and some surveys will be held online at the class web page. You may access it via your BlackBoard account: http://blackboard.tulane.edu/ The use of this site will be explained in class or by special arrangement with the instructor.

• Don’t forget the class discussions on blackboard

Attendance Policy & Grading

“Your enrollment in this course subjects you to the Honor Code of the Liberal Arts & Sciences. Failure to abide by the Code will result in charges of academic dishonesty.”

Put simply: Don’t cheat.

1. Class attendance is mandatory. If you must be absent for any reason notify me by email in advance.

2. Class presentations.

3. Written assignments.

• 2 reflection papers (2-page in length). Also participation in discussions on Blackboard is MANDATORY.

Class attendance 20%

Class presentations 30%

Reflection Papers 50%

Disability Policy: Students registered with disabilities at the Office of Disability Services can receive accommodations with the presentation of the proper forms. Disabled students should meet with me during office hours to arrange these accommodations.

Schedule

Week One (August 29)

Religion and its Functions.

Week Two (Sept 5)

Discussion of the Summer Reading

Reading: Joseph Cambell, The Hero

Week Three (September 12)

Religion and Morality/Immorality

Reading: Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling

Week Four (September 19)

Passion

Reading: Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Week Five (September 26)

Negativism: Religion in Historical Consciousness: What have we lost in a secular society?

Readings: Dostoevsky, “The Grand Inquisitor”

Week Six (October 3) SL reflection assignment DUE

Religion and Sports

Readings: Students supply

REFLECTION PAPER DUE

Week Seven (October 10)

Religion and Humor

Readings: Students supply

Week Eight (October 17)

Religion and Food

Readings: Students supply

Week Nine (October 24)

Religion and Music

Readings: Students supply

Week Ten (October 31)

Religion and Gender

Week Eleven (November 7)

REFLECTION PAPER DUE