MODULE OUTLINE
Modern Liberal Arts
University of Winchester
Semester 1 2016-17
LA 2007 Utopia and Tragedy
Tuesday 11:30 MB3
Derek Bunyard
Module Learning Outcomes
By the conclusion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to :
a) demonstrate engagement with a wide variety of primary sources
b) demonstrate knowledge of theoretical perspectives and/or works
c) demonstrate an understanding of abstract concepts and ideas within theoretical perspectives
d) demonstrate an ability to work with theorists and their concepts in various forms of assessment as appropriate, both within and beyond their own particular contexts
1) demonstrate evidence of engagement with texts and ideas concerned with utopias and ‘tragic’ social formations
Introduction
This module is the second in the Modern Liberal Arts programme to take tragedy as its central theme. In the first year, the approach to classical tragedy emphasised its ethical import; in this second module attention shifts to the inventive use of metaphor and figuration to establish alternative conceptions of civil society. The basic idea here is that each metaphor operates as a potential ‘narrative’ about possible social relations, and authors deploy these in order to suggest their favoured modifications to an existing social formation. To a greater or lesser extent, these authors have been generally understood as employing this specialised form of rhetoric in order to encourage or warn others, i.e., these texts have been received as being more political than philosophical in intent.
Although each of the texts studied offers an account of the results of such acts of re-description, there is a common tragedy associated with this genre of representation which tends to undercut any manifest political message: attempts at realising positive conclusions typically result in failure; and equally, avoiding negative outcomes is equally futile since they will already exist in one form or other elsewhere – as the histories of Russia, China, France, America, Britain, Germany, France, etc. all testify – and as does the on-going ‘experiment’ that is ISIS. But if this is the most familiar ‘reading’ of utopianism – essentially a strategy of dismissal and re-coding of the texts as mere ‘entertainments’, there is also a second form of recognition: of there being a distinct form of tragedy which can be called ‘utopian’; the second half of the module develops this less familiar idea, but as a back-marker from the first module, consider Thucydides’ history of the Peloponnesian War.
What may be at stake is suggested by Francis Bacon’s phrase – ‘the ‘idols of the tribe’ (although this is not to exclude idols of the cave, market place, or theatre!). Bacon’s idols of the tribe are those common and over-simplified conceptions of the way the world works that most of us employ when trying to avoid thought. It is, largely, these pictures of the world which are ‘worked up’ into utopian (or dystopian) fictions by the simple procedure of de-coupling familiar narrative relations and inventing new ones. But although the resulting content is colourful, and the lack of familiar constraints can be exhilarating, our ultimate quest remains the same as it was for the first module on tragedy: what are the archai – the founding principles, the well-springs, the rules, or the grounds of these examples of re-imagining, and what do they tell us, ultimately, about human experience? In other words, is this really a study of a specific form of rhetoric as philosophy? (i.e., are these vastly extended versions of Aristotle’s enthymemes?)
(If you are still in Shakespearean mode after finishing Ancient ‘Canonic’ Tragedy, you may recall that the link text suggested for the first year module was Macbeth; now, the equivalent taking-off point is The Tempest. Apart from the play itself, you may find Peter Greenaway’s film, Prospero’s Books intriguing. There was also a version prepared for TV a year ago, called The Tempest, featuring Helen Mirren as Prospero’s widow – with much of the script being left largely unchanged. The director took the opportunity to use various digital effects that produce some striking renditions of, for instance, Ariel – available now on YouTube.)
Weekly sessions/Readings/Wider reading
Week 1: Lecture: Introduction
Theme – Utopia – when, where and why is it there, and what is it anyway?
Readings:-
Plato: Republic, Shakespeare: The Tempest
Additional readings:-
(N.B. This relatively extensive list is intended to suggest a number of background secondary texts which may help you in constructing an overview of the entire topic area.)
Bloch, E. (2000) Geist der Utopie (in English, The Spirit of Utopia) Stanford, CAL: Stanford University Press.
Bloch, E. (1970) A Philosophy of the Future New York: Herder & Herder.
Burwell, J. (1997) Notes on Nowhere: Feminism, Utopian Logic, and Social Transformation Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Christie, G. (2011) Philosopher Kings? The adjudication of conflicting human rights and social values Oxford: Oxford University Press
Claeys, G. & Sargent, L. eds. (1999) The Utopia Reader New York: New York University Press.
Claeys, G. (2010) The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Claeys, G. (2011) Searching for Utopia: the history of an idea London: Thames & Hudson
Ferns, C. (1999) Narrating Utopia: Ideology, Gender, Form in Utopian Literature Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
Goodwin, B. (1982) The Politics of Utopia: a Study in Theory and Practice London: Hutchinson.
Halpin, D. (2002) Hope and Education: the Role of the Utopian Imagination London: Routledge.
Horowitz, I. (1977) Ideology and Utopia in the United States, 1956-76 Oxford: Oxford University Press
James, S. (2012) Maps of Utopia: H. G. Wells, modernity, and the end of culture Oxford: Oxford University Press
Kumar, K. (1991) Utopianism Buckingham: Open University Press.
Lasky, M. (1977) Utopia and Revolution: on the Origin of a Metaphor, or some Illustrations London: Macmillan.
Levitas, R. (1990) The Concept of Utopia Syracuse, NY.: Syracuse University Press.
Midgley, M. (2000) Science and Poetry London: Routledge
Midgley, M. (2004) The Myths We Live By London: Routledge.
Moyn, S. (2010) The Last Utopia: human rights in history Cambridge, Mass., Belknap Press
Newman, J. (2013) Utopia and Terror in Contemporary American Fiction London: Routledge
Papastephanou, M. (2009) Educated Fear and Educated Hope: dystopia, utopia, and the plasticity of humanity Rotterdam: Sense Publishing
Spencer, N. (2006) After Utopia: the rise of critical space in Twentieth Century American fiction Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press
Wegner, P. (2002) Imaginary Communities: Utopia, the Nation, and the Spatial Histories of Modernity Berkeley, CAL: University of California Press.
Week 2: Lecture: More’s Utopia in its historical context
Theme - What experiences were the Philosopher Kings meant to be the solution for, and how might this be translated into Sixteenth Century European culture?
Readings:-
More: Utopia – various selections, but try to work through as much of his text as you can.
Additional readings:-
Adams, R. (1992) Utopia: a revised translation, background, criticism New York: Norton
Baker-Smith, D. (1991) More's Utopia London: Harper Collins.
Bauman, Z. (2009) Socialism: the Active Utopia London: Routledge
More, T./Adams, R. (1992) Utopia: a revised translation, background, critique London: Norton
Olin, C. (1989) Interpreting Thomas More's 'Utopia' New York: Fordham University Press.
Olin, C. (1994) Erasmus, Utopia, and the Jesuits: essays on the outreach of Humanism New York: Fordham University Press
Sylvester, R. (1977) Essential Articles for the Study of Thomas More Hamden, Conn., Archon Books
Walicki, A. (1995) Marxism and the Leap to the Kingdom of Freedom: the rise and fall of the Communist utopia Stanford: Stanford University Press
Week 3: Lecture: The rhetorical construction of More’s Utopia
Theme: the utopian text as a literary form facilitating the play of ideas
Readings:-
Marin: selected aspects of his analysis, matched by More: Utopia – selections from the description of Utopia
Marin, L. (1984) Utopics: the semiological play of textual spaces New York: Humanity Books
Additional readings:
Baker-Smith, D. (1987) Between Dream and Nature: essays on utopia and dystopia Amsterdam: Rodopi
Barthes, R. (1986) The Semiotic Challenge Oxford: Blackwell, Ch. 1.
Barthes, R. (1987) Michelet Oxford: Blackwell, the Introduction
Coleman, A. (1985) Utopia on Trial: vision and reality London: Shipman
Week 4: Lecture: Ensuring the security of the State: knowledge and power.
Theme: Human nature and the nature of the world.
Readings:-
Bacon: selections from his New Atlantis and Novum Organum
Hobbes: selections from his Leviathan
Additional sources:
Bacon, F. (2013) Physical and Metaphysical Works: including the Advancement of Learning and Novum Organum London: ULAN Press
Bird, A. Philosophy of Science London UCL Press
Claeys, G. (ed.) (1994) Utopias of the British Enlightenment Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Couvalis, G. (1997) The Philosophy of Science London: SAGE
Eliar-Feldon, M. (1982) Realistic Utopias: the Ideal Imaginary Societies of the Renaissance Oxford: Clarendon Press.
McNeilly, F. S. (1968) The Anatomy of Leviathan London: Macmillan
Murphy, P. (2003) Evidence, Proof, and Facts: a book of sources Oxford: Oxford University Press
Nozick, R. (1999) Anarchy, State, and Utopia Oxford: Blackwell
Price, B. (ed.) (2002) Francis Bacon's 'The New Atlantis': New Interdisciplinary Essays Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Schmitt, C. (2008) The Leviathan in the State Theory of Thomas Hobbes: meaning and failure of a political symbol Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Sorrell, T. & Foisneau, L. (2004) Leviathan after 350 Years Oxford: Clarendon
Springborg, P. (2007) The Cambridge Companion to Hobbes’ Leviathan Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press
Urbach, P. (1986) Francis Bacon’s Philosophy of Science: an account and a reappraisal La Salle: Open Court
Week 5: Lecture: on metaphor.
Theme: The analysis of the forms of metaphor and related rhetorical strategies. Most of our discussion will feature utopian texts, but since this topic has applications beyond the module, there is an extensive additional reading list which will be sent to you.
Readings:-
Selections from Max Black, Andrew Ortony, I. A. Richards, and Sarah Kofman – an extensive set of notes accompanies these – again to be sent nearer the time.
Additional sources:-
Bath, M. (1994) Speaking Pictures London: Longman
Black, M. (1972) Models and Metaphors, Ithaca, Cornell University Press
Cameron, L. & Low, G. eds. (1999) Researching and Applying Metaphor Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Daly, P. (1979) Literature in the Light of the Emblem Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Doughty, C. (2006) Prometheus London: Routledge
Draaisma, D. (2000) Metaphors of Memory Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; useful illustrations of the involvement of metaphors and figurative thinking in the development of our understanding of memory.
Empson, W. (1991) Seven Types of Ambiguity London: Hogarth Press
Fauconnier, G. & Turner, M. (2002) The Way We Think: conceptual blending and the mind's hidden complexities New York: Basic Books
Forceville, C. (1996) Pictorial Metaphor in Advertising London: Routledge.
Freeman, R. (1970) English Emblem Books London: Chatto & Windus.
Gibbs, R. (1994) The Poetics of Mind: Figurative Thought, Language and Understanding Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Goodman, N. (1978) Ways of Worldmaking Hassocks: Harvester Press.
Griffiths, E. (2006) Medea London: Routledge; imagery of witchcraft, child-murder, and a wronged 'everywoman'.
Heartfield, J. (1977), Photomontages of the Nazi Period by John Heartfield London: Gordon Fraser Gallery.
Jenks, C. (ed.) (1995) Visual Culture London: Routledge; just the introduction.
Kofman, S. (1993) Nietzsche and Metaphor London: Athlone Press, chs. 1, 2, and 3.
Lakoff, G. (1980) Metaphors We Live By Chicago: Chicago University Press; the first introductory work to Lakoff and Johnson's project.
Lackoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1999) Philosophy in the Flesh: the Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought New York: Basic Books.
Lavin, M. et al., (1992) Montage and Modern Life 1919 - 1942 Cam. Mass.: MIT Press, pp. 60 - 81.
Lyn, D. et al. (1997) Mathematical Reasoning, Analogies, Metaphors and Images New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc
Manning, J. (2003) The Emblem London: Reaktion.
Mitchell, W.J.T. (1986) Iconology: Image, Text, Ideology Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Mitchell, W.J.T. (1995) Picture Theory: Essays on Verbal and Visual Representation Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Nietzsche, F. (1993) The Birth of Tragedy London: Penguin.
Ortony, A. (ed.) (1986) Metaphor and Thought Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pinker, S. (2007) The Stuff of Thought London: Allen Lane.
Plato, The Phaedrus - although the line of argument is consistent with the Gorgias, this text is better known for its extended use of imagery.
Richards, I. A. (1965) The Philosophy of Rhetoric Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ricoeur, P. (1978) The Rule of Metaphor London: Routledge and Keegan Paul; a re-reading of Aristotle's Rhetoric.
Sperber, D. & Wilson, D. (1995) Relevance: Communication and Cognition Oxford: Blackwell, an alternative to semiotic analysis
Willett, J. (ed.) (1998) Bertolt Brecht: War Primer London: Libris
Week 6: Lecture: Satire as the first form of truly ‘utopian’ tragedy?
Theme: Reviewing Marin’s argument in the light of 18th. Century satirical texts – does his argument survive in these new contexts – and/or should it now be supplemented by other forms of analysis?
Readings:-
Selections from Voltaire – Candide contra Johnson’s History of Rasselas (ethics)
Swift – A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms (and also his A Modest Proposal)
And then …
Butler’s Erewhon – ‘The Musical Banks’
Additional sources:
Aldridge, A. O. (1975) Voltaire and the Century of Light Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press
Appelbaum, R. (2002) Literature and Utopian Politics in Seventeenth Century England Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fox, C. (2003) The Cambridge Companion to Jonathan Swift Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Jacobs, E. (1987) Voltaire on Tragedy Cambridge: Chadwyck-Healey
Keener, F. (1983) The Chain of Becoming: the philosophical tale, the novel, and a neglected realism of the Enlightenment: Swift, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Johnson, and Austen New York: Columbia University Press.
Thatcher, C. Ed. (1995) Voltaire: selected writings London: Everyman
Voltaire (1994) Letters to the English Nation Oxford: Oxford University Press
Zizek, S. (2009) First as Tragedy, Then as Farce London: Verso
Week 7. Lecture: Biology (or science) as fate – a second form of utopian tragedy?
Theme: the imperilled imagination – the threatened soul.
Readings:-
Shelley – Frankenstein, or a New Prometheus