Top Five College Courses

[Larry Flyntz]

Okay college kids, what classes have you actually enjoyed during your time away?

1. Constitutional Interpretation II: Rights and Liberties. We got to read a bunch of Supreme Court cases about civil rights and what not; it was a blast.
2. Constitutional Interpretation I: Powers and Restraints. Same as above, but the topic was less interesting: governmental powers and restraints.
3. Seminar in American Politics: the New Politics of the Supreme Court Appointment Process. We read a series of books dealing with whether or not the appointment process is in a crisis, what with the media frenzy that a vacancy creates and all. My opinion: no crisis; the system is fine.
4. Studies in Satire. While I was upset that Pride and Prejudice was included in this course(it belongs in an English Lit class, not a Satire class), the rest of the readings were extremely entertaining, and talking about satire for a whole semester was great. Not quite as good as Mr. Brinton's marking period dealing with satire, but good nonetheless.
5. History of Jazz. It was nice to get my mind off of Politics and learn about a type of music that I knew next to nothing about. It even turned me on to some new tunes!

[الله أكبر]

1) Culture in World Politics - No doubt, the most rigorous course I have taken in my life. It paid off though, because now I am familiar with a lot of modern theorists in world politics. Even moreso, it helped me get my current job researching with a grad student.

2) American Music - An "advanced" American Studies course on the history of American music. We started off with Revolutionary war hymns and broadside ballads, and went all the way up through Tin Pan Alley and Dixieland to blues and even a bit of heavy metal. The best part was that Dan, myself and some others got to perform in class for a grade.

3) Nationalism in Europe from the French Revolution through World War I - One of the more thought-provoking classes I've ever had. Before taking this class, I never really questioned what defines a nation, and I've found that even scholars of the subject can't agree on a definition. Now whenever I hear politicians use the term "nation," I begin to scrutinize their statements. Furthermore, the teacher was a lady from Belgium who was an historical encyclopedia in and of herself. She was also not averse to refuting students' arguments in class, which made for a damn good laugh but also really forced me to think. Plus, she gave us Belgian cookies and chocolate at the end of the semester.

4) International Relations/Comparative Politics - These were two separate classes, but they followed the exact same format and some of the books overlapped too. Despite being some of the easier A's I've obtained in my life, they were interesting, entertaining classes taught by one of the coolest professors in the world: Dr. Stephen Cimbala.

5) World Music - I think this class is part of the reason why I'm on an ethnic music kick right now. It opened my eyes to all sorts of different music cultures as well as the study of ethnomusicology. It was a total mindfuck for me to hear a song in 4/4 time, but be told that it isn't considered 4/4 time because time signatures aren't part of that particular music culture. In any case, I was one of the few musicians in the class, so when the teacher asked music-specific questions I was usually the one to answer. I answered a question about the raga system in Indian music and the entire class turned around and looked at me. That was cool.

[Larry Flyntz]

also flyntz i disagree with you about pride and prejudice but i love that book so it's probable that i would defend it under any circumstances.

My final paper for that class argued that Pride and Prejudice is an ineffective satire. Most of the book seems to point toward being a satire of gender relations (i.e. what's her name doesn't need a man to be content), but then what's her name ends up with what's his name anyway! It seemed to suggest that perhaps the status quo isn't so bad after all. And that isn't what satire is about. But, I'm open to other interpretations, since I didn't give it a very careful read.

[oatmeal fetish....]

While I was upset that Pride and Prejudice was included in this course(it belongs in an English Lit class, not a Satire class)

Why? It's a satire.

edit: wow, either I can't scroll down, or you people respond fast.

edit 2: Flyntz, from what I understand, it is a satire abuot the time period as a whole - the ridiculousness of all the formality and class stuff, rather than just gender shit.

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

also flyntz i disagree with you about pride and prejudice but i love that book so it's probable that i would defend it under any circumstances.

My final paper for that class argued that Pride and Prejudice is an ineffective satire. Most of the book seems to point toward being a satire of gender relations (i.e. what's her name doesn't need a man to be content), but then what's her name ends up with what's his name anyway! It seemed to suggest that perhaps the status quo isn't so bad after all. And that isn't what satire is about. But, I'm open to other interpretations, since I didn't give it a very careful read.

edit 2: Flyntz, from what I understand, it is a satire abuot the time period as a whole - the ridiculousness of all the formality and class stuff, rather than just gender shit.

Ethan is exactly right.  The satire isn't focused on gender relations, its focused entirely on the society of the time. Take the Bennet family for example, specifically the mother - she was an exagerration of the typical femal mindset of the time, obsessed with finding wealthy husbands for her daughters to greater the status of her own family. She was also classless and obnoxious, which plays into the relationship between Bingley/Jane and Darcy/Elizabeth.  The fact that the political and social satire is hidden inside the context of a romantic Victorian novel is part of what makes it so great. Also that and its incredible wit.  Maybe your proffessor didn't properly address the content of the book so as to not make that clear. Austen is definitely poking fun at her own society's obsession with status, and their inability to look beyond certain predescribed notions about such things.

[Larry Flyntz]

I think the fact that the novel was romantic took away from the satire. I mean, some of the characters were obvious exaggerations, and I saw the satire at work there. But, it seems like Elizabeth and Darcy fall into the trap of the society, so to speak. Of course, there are plenty of satires that end without anyone learning a lesson and basically saying "Everyone is fucked," but the way P&P was set up, it seemed like that wasn't the point. But maybe that is the point? I thought Elizabeth was supposed to be an outsider, avoiding the status quo, so if even she gave in, that would speak to the strength of society.

I don't know if that's at all what Austen was going for, but that's the only way I can seem to make the story satirical. After all, a satire requires more than just satirical characters, it requires a satirical story. And my reading of P&P suggested that it had the former, but not the latter.

[Rhino......................]

Yes, but but the bottom line is you all read Pride and Prejudice.

(What I'm saying is you are gay.)

[oatmeal fetish....]

Yes, but but the bottom line is you all read Pride and Prejudice.

(What I'm saying is you are gay.)

fukkk

[CadmiumYellow]

Yes, but but the bottom line is you all read Pride and Prejudice.

whatever whatever i do what i want

[Rhino......................]

Actually, I never read it because my dad kept trying to get me to watch the six hour movie with him, which usually means it and everything related to it is awful. Is it any good? (Please note: I currently have no intention of ever actually reading it.)

[CadmiumYellow]

i thought it was great but then again i totally own that six hour movie and the book and have spent many hours of my life with each, so. yeah.
and that's ok dave i can love pride and prejudice enough for you and me and anybody else on this board, i've got it covered

[FAGGOT WATCHIN TRON]

and that's ok dave i can love pride and prejudice enough for you and me and anybody else on this board, i've got it covered

We can combine our powers and together we will love Pride and Prejudice enough for the ENTIRE WORLD!!!!

And it's a very good book, David.  It's very funny.  I don't know if it would exactly be your cup of tea, but its kind of one of those classics that everyone should at least try to read once, and not just because all your teachers and stuff say you should and make you, but because its actually a very good book.

[Larry Flyntz]

Maybe it was just because I thought it was out of context in a satire class, but I really didn't enjoy it at all. I thought it was like a chick flick in book form.

[Rhino......................]

words

Weren't you the one who told me Big O was good?

[CadmiumYellow]

We can combine our powers and together we will love Pride and Prejudice enough for the ENTIRE WORLD!!!!

oh my gosh YES carly consider our pride and prejudice powers combined!

[Rhino......................]

Heart was the shittiest power.

[Shire Le Buff]

The yellow lion was my fav.

[الله أكبر]

Bump 'cause I gotsa new favorite.

Ancient Warfare: We started with evidence for prehistoric warfare (cave paintings, arrowheads, microliths) then followed warfare through historical civilizations. We started with Sumerian civilizations and the Akkadian Empire, then went on to the Egyptians and Assyrians, and Homeric Greek warfare (mostly the Trojan War). We just wrapped up a section on the mechanics of hoplite phalanx warfare, and are about to start on the Macedonian Empire. We'll finish up with the Roman Legions. Fucking sweet.

[Famous Hogbert]

Bump 'cause I gotsa new favorite.

Ancient Warfare: We started with evidence for prehistoric warfare (cave paintings, arrowheads, microliths) then followed warfare through historical civilizations. We started with Sumerian civilizations and the Akkadian Empire, then went on to the Egyptians and Assyrians, and Homeric Greek warfare (mostly the Trojan War). We just wrapped up a section on the mechanics of hoplite phalanx warfare, and are about to start on the Macedonian Empire. We'll finish up with the Roman Legions. Fucking sweet.

That's one regret I have about going to art school. Everything involving history typically stays within the realm of art. I'm taking a Roman Art class right now and I would love to learn about their legions too. Bummer.