London Consortium
London Consortium
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Jane Austen’s England (UWYO: Professor Eric Nye)
Who could be more English than Jane Austen? In this course we will study all six of her published novels, her early teenage writings, her letters, and several of her unpublished works. In an age of revolution, experimentation, and dissolution of received literary forms, Jane Austen rescued the novel and demonstrated its suitability for the most comprehensive and humane literary purposes. With exquisite craftsmanship she raised the stakes for her nineteenth-century successors in the novel, and her audiences have been faithful ever since. We will examine her antecedents in the eighteenth-century, the complex cultural milieu in which she emerged, and the range of critical opinion she has evoked over the past two centuries. Why are people admitting, today more than ever, that they love Jane Austen?
The English Bible as Literature (UWYO: Professor Eric Nye)
More properly titled The Bible as Bible, this course deals with the unique status of that work and its profound influence on the forms of our culture. In the first part of the course we learn techniques of literary close reading through a detailed study of the Pentateuch. We explore the history of text and translation, the relation of doctrine and story, narrative style and literary form, the culture and politics of the ancient Mideast, the emergence of the Hebrews as a distinct people consolidated by a book, a law--and how these all affect modes of interpretation. In the second part, we extend our study into the sacred texts of the later Hebrew and early Christian traditions, and we review briefly the history of biblical hermeneutics, concentrating our attention on the typological and mythological schools of criticism. Several quizzes, take home exercises, three or four essays, a midterm and a final exam and/or paper are required.
Communicating Earth Science (UWYO: Professor Carol Frost)
This course, which fulfills the UWYO Communication 2 requirement (C2), is designed to develop proficiency in communicating science to the public. Science is integral to a range of decisions people make, yet too many feel that science is beyond them. In this course we will address the skills necessary to present Earth science in a way that is interesting and comprehensible to people without a background in the field. Our theme is Geoheritage: Development of Geologic Concepts in Britain. Students will choose one British geoscientist who advanced geologic thinking to study, drawing on the resources available in London and environs. Each student will make three presentations: written, digital and oral. Written presentations might be pamphlets, press releases, and newspaper and magazine articles. Digital presentations could be podcasts, websites, slide shows, radio reports, and videos. Oral presentations could include simulated press conferences, museum talks, company spokesperson announcements, public forums, and hearings.
Physical Geology (UWYO: Professor Carol Frost)
We depend on planet Earth for mineral and energy resources, clean water, and soil to support food production. As residents of a dynamic planet, we also experience its hazards—earthquakes and volcanoes, and changes in global ecosystems, climate and sea level. This course, which fulfills the UWYO Physical and Natural World requirement (PN), provides an understanding of geologic processes using case studies and resources in the London area. The course draws on several modules developed by the Science Education Resource Center:
The goal of the course is to increase students’ ability to work with scientists, social scientists, business people and policy makers to develop viable solutions to current and future environmental and resource challenges.
Art History – The Shock of the New (AIFS: Linda Bolton)
The past 100 years have been a century of change. The relationship of major artists to the world from which they sprung and which they sought to change has been complex and stormy. This course will look at some of the ideas about the new, about the modern and about the future that have become influential during the 20thc and beyond. The course aims to introduce students to a variety of art forms and media, and to look at the development of art from paint on canvas to video art and installations, offering firsthand visual experience of works of art, and encouraging and developing students’ interest in the subject.
British Life and Cultures (AIFS: Adjunct Nicole D'Adamo)
British Life and Cultures course is taken by all students and aims to provide the opportunity for students to develop an understanding and appreciation of key aspects of contemporary British cultures and society, within an historical context. Students are encouraged to make informed, critical comparisons between what they observe and learn about British society and their home culture and society. As part of the course students are introduced to key cultural and historical sites in London and encouraged to visit additional sites independently and to view such in an informed and critical way.
International Relations (AIFS: Valerio Lintner)
This course draws on a variety of perspectives in International Political Economy (IPE) to explain contemporary processes and developments in the global economy. The course examines the role and power of a variety of market and non-market actors, such as multinational corporations and national governments. Students will examine the workings of organizations such as the European Union, the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and become familiar with policy debates surrounding these key institutions of economic governance. Given current events and geographical location, the course emphasizes developments in contemporary Europe. The course addresses inequalities between nations and amongst people and calls into question the sustainability of contemporary patterns of economic development. There will be appropriate field trips to facilitate experiential learning.