Ideal Worlds and Nightmare Visions:
Utopian and Dystopian Literature from the Bible to “The Hunger Games”
Fall Semester 2016 MWF
Instructor: Darby Lewes, Professor of English(Office D324)
Office: (570) 321-4114 Home: (570) 546-7521 Email:
Course Description
Utopia and dystopia are slippery terms; their definition varies from writer to writer, and from reader to reader.One person’s heaven might be another’s hell—and vice versa. When we allow ourselves to dream of the ideal life and the ideal society, we reveal the values, assumptions, aspirations, deepest fears, and limitations that, consciously or unconsciously, help shape the choices we make for ourselves and our society in the real world. This course will examine the utopian and dystopian aspects of the human yearning for radically improved, imaginary elsewheres (a motif which extends from ancient tales of the Golden Age to twentieth century predictions of future wonderlands). By doing so, we shall gain insights that seem increasingly provocative (and frequently poignant) as today’s readers face a world which seems at war with itself: the spectre of global warning; the tragedy of multiple wars and their atrocities; the frightening (and increasing) gap between obscene wealth and abject poverty. The student's reading of the assigned utopian texts, and viewing of selected films, will be the subjects of discussion, brief lectures, tests, quizzes, a two-part “Do It Yourself Utopia,” and essays. Students will also research, read, and report on a literary/theoretical utopia or intentional community.
Requirements and Grading
In order to do well in this class, students must
Attend class regularly.
Class participation will make up a considerable portion of the final grade: more than three absences will each lower the final grade one-half a letter grade, and students with more than six absences will automatically fail the class.
Turn in all assigned work on time.
There are no late papers in this class: only timely papers and "F" papers. Extensions may be arranged, IN ADVANCE, if the situation warrants.
Expect surprise quizzes on a regular basis.
Grades for these quizzes will be averaged into the class participation grade.
Score an overall average of at least "D-"
on the examinations
Grade distribution is weighted as follows
- Class participation:40 points
- Journals: 40 points
- Presentation: 20 points
- Four 3-5 page papers:40 points each
- Two Examinations: 40 points each
- Final exam: 60 points
- “Do It Yourself Utopia” essay: 10 points
- “Do It Yourself Utopia” presentation: 20 points
Textbooks
Note:The text for this class will not be available at the bookstore: you must order either a hard copy (recommended) or an ebook at
Imperfect Ideal: Utopian and Dystopian Visions (Great Books Foundation)
Course Outline and Assignments
Monday / 29 August / PREVIEW / Course Introduction
Wednesday / 31 August / LAB / DIY Utopia
Friday / 2September / READING / LeGuin/More
Week #2What Else Belongs?
Monday / 5 September / NO CLASS / Professor out of town
Wednesday / 7September / READING / Szmborska
Friday / 9 September / READING / Homer/Auden
Week #3The Yearning Remains
Monday / 12 September / READING / Yokomitsu
Wednesday / 14 September / READING / De Montaigne
Friday / 16September / READING / Dostoevsky
Week #4The Best Life Possible
Monday / 19 September / READING / Mencius
Wednesday / 21 September / READING / Aristotle
Friday / 23 September / READING / Nozick`
Week #5 EXAM/PAPER
Monday / 26September / STUDENT MEETINGS / Essay conference
Wednesday / 28 September / EXAM PREP / Study Group
Friday / 30 September / EXAM #1 / Bible thru Nozick
Week #6Of Which He Is a Citizen
Monday / 3 October / READINGPAPER#1 DUE / St. Augustine
Wednesday / 5 October / READING / Herzl/ Solnit
Friday / 7 October / NO CLASS / Portland
Week #7 Our Incomplete State
Monday / 10 October / NO CLASS / Portland
Wednesday / 12 October / READING / Owen /Wilde
Friday / 14 October / READING / Long Weekend
Week #8 Unrest in the Soul
Monday / 17 October / READING / Lenin
Wednesday / 19 October / READING / Forster
Friday / 21 October / READING / Egan
Week #9EXAM/ PAPER PREP
Monday / 24 October / MEETINGS / Saunders
Wednesday / 26 October / EXAM PREP / Essay conference
Friday / 28 October / NO CLASS / Study Group
Week #10EXAM/ PRESENTATIONS
Monday / 31 October / EXAM 2 / Augustine through Saunders
Wednesday / 2November / PRESENTATIONS / 1-5
Friday / 4November / PRESENTATIONS / 6-10
Week #11PRESENTATIONS/READINGS
Monday / 7 November / PRESENTATIONS PAPER#2 DUE / 11-15
Wednesday / 9 November / READING / Zamyatin
Friday / 11November / READING / Atwood/Carson
Week #12 MEETINGS/FILM
Monday / 14 November / MEETINGS / Student meetings
Wednesday / 16 November / FILM / Hunger Games
Friday / 18 November / FILM / Hunger Games
Week #13 THANKSGIVING
Monday / 21 November / MEETINGS / Student Meetings
Wednesday / 23 November / NO CLASS / Thanksgiving
Friday / 25 November / NO CLASS / Thanksgiving
Week #14 DYI Utopia Presentations
Monday / 28 November / PRESENTATION / DYI 1-5
Wednesday / 30 November / PRESENTATION / DYI 6-10
Friday / 2 November / PRESENTATION / DYI 12-15
Week #15 PAPER/EXAM REVIEW
Monday / 5 December / EVALUATION
MEETINGS / Student Meetings
Wednesday / 7 December / MEETINGS / Student Meetings
Friday / 9 December / PAPER #3 DUEEXAM PREP / Exam Review
Week #16 FINAL EXAM
Date TBA / FINAL EXAM / Cumulative exam
Extra stuff
Class cancellations
I try to avoid cancelling classes, but sometimes things happen. Students registered on Turnitin will receive email notification. I try to give you at least a twelve-hour advance notice.
Study Partners
List the name, phone number, and e-mail address for a “study partner” here:
Name ______phone number ______email address ______.
Just in case you and your partner are absent on the same day, you should get a third partner as a backup. Name ______phone number ______email address ______.
Academic Conduct
You are expected to altogether avoid any sort of academic misconduct. You must never seek to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation; you must never use unauthorized materials or fabricated data; you must never intentionally impede or damage the academic work of others; (or assist other students in doing so); you must never cheat on an examination; submit a paper or assignment as your own work when a part or all of the paper or assignment is the work of another; or submit a paper or assignment that contains ideas or research of others without appropriately identifying the sources of those ideas. You must never submit a paper which was written for another class unless you clear it with me first.Plagiarism will result in an automatic failure of the class.
Classroom Environment
You should be prepared to speak often in class, to participate in class activities beyond simple note-taking. Classes will be conducted seminar-style, with much small group discussion and active participation in large group discussion being expected of each student. I do not merely want bodies in attendance; I expect to see prepared and thinking students. This means that you will bring the required materials and complete any assignments due for that particular day. You should read the assignments listed on the syllabus before class. In addition to doing well on the exams and the paper, the best way to illustrate that you are an active, engaged, and interested student is by contributing regularly to class discussions. I do not want to lecture; I want you to participate actively in creating a learning environment in the class by constantly challenging each other and supporting each other's learning.
Reading
You should expect to do plenty of reading—generally roughly 20-30 pages per class. Since you signed up for this course, I expect you to fulfill the very least of your responsibilities: complete the readings listed on the syllabus before you come to class--not just by skimming the material but by actively and carefully reading each assignment. Take notes in the margin and look up unfamiliar words.
Yeah, it sounds pretty grim. But we’ll have some fun—I promise.
SYLLABUS ACCEPTANCE DOCUMENT
I have read the syllabus for FYS 159: “Ideal Worlds and Nightmare Visions: Utopian and Dystopian Literature from the Bible to The Hunger Games.” I understand and accept it.
Name:
Date: