SJC 100-Freshmen Seminar: Section Topics for Fall 2019: Long Island Campus

The Freshman Seminar will introduce you to college learning and to St. Joseph’s College through the lens of a special topic. Please read the descriptions below and choose several which interest you. Not all topics may be available at time of registration. World Pandemics James Blakeley This course will explore world pandemics from an historical perspective. It will focus on the social, political, economic, religious, and human consequences of such pandemics as the Black Death, the Spanish Flu, the Bird Flu, and AIDS. This course is specifically designed for those who are interested in the consequences of illness, fear, and mass death. It questions how modern-day Americans would react if such an event were to occur. M-W 9:35-11:00

“You’re Not in Kansas Anymore” S. Karen Donohue “Musical Drama is a tiny mirror by which we catch our reflection and become relieved of our own isolation for a brief moment.” --“Torch Song Trilogy” by Harvey Fierstein This course is meant to provide students with social, psychological and cultural experiences through the use of musical drama. It is meant to enhance critical thinking skills, encourage the application

of lessons learned from musicals and readings that will provide a connection to life experiences in the 21st century. Students are expected to work together in the creation and production of an original project. The course is meant to allow students to take risks and think out of the box, use their talents and work together through group expression and interpretation. T-TH 1:40-3:05 We Are History: Hanging Out with Our Nation’s Heroes Steven Fuchs Do you like talking to people about their lives? Are you interested in hearing a good story? Do you want to support our troops? Perhaps make a difference in someone’s life, maybe even your own? We Are History is designed to introduce students to oral history and service learning by providing mutually beneficial educational opportunities for students and veterans residing at the Long Island State Veterans Home. During the semester, students will visit the Long Island State Veterans Home to interview veterans and to participate in residential activities. The veterans will visit St. Joseph’s College to participate in class activities. In the process, students will learn how to use oral history as a research tool, will become familiar with the lifestyle of older adults in a residential facility, will appreciate that learning should not be confined to campus, and will become familiar with the issues affecting veterans today. Please note: Students will be expected to visit the Long Island State Veterans Home several times during the semester. Every effort will be made to schedule such visits during class time. Friday 9:35-12:35

Illustrating History: Graphic Novel as Cultural Biography Jennifer Gagliardi Graphic novels sit at the intersection of art and literature. When we think of graphic novels often times fantastical elements come to mind such as superheroes and science fiction. Illustration is a space in which anything can be created, so how do authors and illustrators use that freedom to write about real events? Mice and cats as metaphors for those involved in the holocaust, or watercolor drawings done by an illustrator working with journalists, are just some examples of how words and image are combined to convey meaning. We will explore graphic novels that were created to account historical events through the eyes of the writer. Each graphic novel reading will include some discussion of the historical event, the particular illustration style of the novel, and background on the author. Discussion will revolve around how the creators use creative elements in illustration to tell true stories. In some cases we will even be able to compare the graphic novel to its film counterpart. Novels to be considered include Persepolis, Maus, and Rolling Blackouts. T-TH 3:10-4:35

From Self Portraits to Selfies Alexandra Giordano For centuries the wealthy and powerful elite have had portraits painted for others to view. Often the artists who were employed by these wealthy patrons have had the primal urge to record themselves as

well. These self-portraits reveal not only identity, social class, emotional state or political views, but also mirror the world the artist lives in. History’s self-portraits have an uncanny relationship the multitude of selfies that have made their way into the mainstream of popular culture. Why do we turn the mirror to ourselves repeatedly and in different settings to create images of the self? Future art historians will no doubt examine these digital self-portraits as a fingerprint to our society as we do with the faces of the masters of the past. In this course we will examine the power of the image in society and man’s desire to be forever immortalized. We will read a variety of texts on this topic and debate where these digital images will be placed in history. Could you be carrying a museum of popular culture in your pocket? Friday 9:35-12:35 Reflections in a Black Mirror Gabriella Greco This class will be concerned with not only the “Black Mirror” of our many tech devices that reflect back on us, but the various implications this technology could have, both positive and negative. The course will be centered on episodes of the Netflix series Black Mirror, which predicts and portrays the potential successes and pitfalls of our relationship with the ever-advancing technologies we use daily. Through our readings and viewings we will ask and answer questions about the nature of our relationship to and with technology: Where are we taking technology and where is it

taking us? Is Black Mirror’s technophobia an accurate portrayal? What steps (if any) can we take to improve/avoid the Black Mirror predictions? M-W 8:00-9:25

Ahoy, Mates! Lois Gross Join us as we explore the maritime culture as we take a look at some of our robust commercial and recreational activities from the past to the present. We will discuss current aspects which are unique to the coastal lifestyle and intrinsic in the geographic location such as fishing, boating, aquaculture, scuba diving, sailing, surfing, and paddling—

among many others. Come aboard and gain a historical perspective from searching for shipwrecks and antiquities (virtually, of course!) to learning about the life of the baymen along with the traditional art of shipbuilding. Find out how to catch a whale from a dugout canoe…..and what to do with it once you have it! Understand the value of this natural resource and the importance of stewardship efforts for its’ continued sustainability. T-TH 11:10-12:35 Picturing the world: from cave paintings to refrigerator art Kelly Heider-Walsh At approximately 18 months of age, a toddler will pick up a crayon and begin to purposefully scribble. It’s a developmental milestone, but there is also wonder and joy in the primitive marks they make. We, as humans, have sought to express ourselves through pictures from the time our prehistoric ancestors drew on cave walls 40,000 years ago to street artists of today spray-painting images that are a reflection of self and society on subway cars. What are the motives that inspire our species to create? Why do we choose the contexts that we do? These are some of the questions we will seek to answer as we look at both the intention and the meaning expressed through childhood experimentation to the fully developed personal and formal visual languages of humans from prehistory to the present. T-TH 8:00-9:25

Sustainability: Going Green to Save the World Kirk Lawrence "Sustainability" is invoked as a value and a goal by political, economic, and religious leaders and in public surveys throughout the world. With so many valuing and seeking sustainability, it would seem that we are on a path to achieving it. Are we? Do we

even know what sustainability means? In this course, the meaning(s) of ecological sustainability and degree of its achievement, locally and globally, will be examined through a combination of historical and contemporary written and visual sources. We will also visit a local ecologically-interesting site(s) and hear guest speakers that illustrate sustainability issues. The primary focus will be on human-environment interactions; in particular, social relationships with animals, the landscape, and material resources. But we will not solely discuss what is now; we will also consider possibilities for a sustainable future M-W 11:10-12:35

Global Citizenship- “Do you have an ID?” Linda Lubranski You’ve decided to go to college locally so why do we care about what happens globally? We’ll examine how global issues impact our personal lives, US economy, and even our own college campus. This course will delve into international current events such as human trafficking, environmental pollution, immigration, and internationalization of college campuses. We will also look at different theories on our role in this world, including the reasoning behind isolationism. Finally, we’ll explore how you can contribute to, and benefit from an interconnected world as a student and young professional. Overall we’ll seek to answer the following questions: Do we have any responsibilities to this world? Do global politics influence your life? Does a global ethics exist? Are there benefits to going abroad? Does cross-cultural interaction impact peace? What international opportunities exist for you as students, and future professionals? T-TH 4:35-6:10

The Wonderful (and not so wonderful) World of Disney Paul Mager For almost a century, Disney has been entertaining families through animation, film, theme parks, and products. However, what about the man behind the mouse? Despite the incredible success of the Disney Corporation, the history of the organization is filled with false starts, internal disagreements, and legal trouble. And what about the stories we find in all this media? Can we argue that Belle should have chosen Gaston or that Jafar may have been the good guy in Aladdin? Have things like feminism or

bigotry influenced the creators of various films throughout the decades? This course will study the history of Disney, looking at its humble origins and exploring it's important and sometimes controversial business choices that helped shape culture. This course will also examine the choices of characters and the content makers to encourage critical thinking and foster thoughtful discussion and debate about various social issues. T-TH 11:10-12:35 Documentary to Fiction: Exploring Life through Film Cristian Murphy Through this course we will look at various documentary films and the narrative or fictional films that connect to them. In a world of endless Netflix and Hulu content we are seeing great growth in the desire to watch real stories in both documentary and narrative style. This class will explore how real life stories become documentary films and then can be transformed into narrative films. For instance, the Netflix documentary "Team Foxcatcher" captured a riveting story about wrestlers which was also made into a fiction/narrative film feature starring Channing Tatum and Steve Carrell. Join us as we explore different genres and stories in search of answering, "How do these films impact us and why are we so drawn to stories of truth on film?" T-TH 3:10-4:35

The Real Witch Hunt: Faith, Fanatics, and Familiars Cristina O’Keefe The turn of the century, the Great Plague, and the Inquisitions against heresy were some of the momentous events of the 2nd millennium (1000-2000) that were met with great uncertainty, fear, and dread in a world rapidly developing. Common folk responded in differing ways to try to make sense of their world and its direction. Most all turned to God who alone was understood to control the destiny of human persons. And to turn to God, they went through the Church, the mediator of God. However, some turned to practitioners of the soft arts of healing, empathy, and second sight – sometimes known as witchcraft. Turning to witches and superstition was an attempt for the people to control fate, or at least stack the odds in their favor. Witchcraft and the like were met with swift rejection and punishment, yet the people continued to avail of the services of those who didn't fit the accepted image of sanctioned healers. While this course examines the history of witchcraft in this period, in truth, the course is about persecution of “the other.” Together, we will examine the phenomenon of the scapegoat, and investigate why witches were scapegoated. We will also address the enduring reality of scapegoating, and examine our own time, and our perception and reception of the other. M-W 3:10-4:35

The Human Experience: A Contemporary Adventure across the Landscape of American Culture Fr. Francis Pizzarelli This course will use the lens of sociology and social work to look at the impact of social networking, social media, contemporary music, film, and addiction on human development and behavior. Using social science literature, it will be a critical analysis and ongoing discussion on how these

social entities impact contemporary human behavior and developments with an in-depth conversation on how to make positive life choices that empower the person to reach his or her full human potential. M-W 8:00-9:25 M-W 9:35-11:00 Jane Austen & Film: bringing characters into contemporary life Stephanie Reese Jane Austen is an author whose work has endured and captivated readers for hundreds of years, but most people only know her stories thanks to the film adaptations. In this course, we will be discussing and analyzing several different film adaptations of Austen's novels, such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma." While we watch, we will ask essential questions like: How and why does Austen continue to captivate people today? How can her stories take place in the 1800s, contemporary times, or with zombies and still work? We will see how her iconic novels have been portrayed and compare them to the original text. We will also

discuss the social commentary of the Regency era and compare women and men's roles in that society. Students final project will be an adaptation of their own Austen work. T-TH 8:00-9:25 Math & Computer Science in Contemporary Movies and Television [Restricted by Math department] Elana Reiser In A Beautiful Mind John Nash is a mathematical genius with psychological problems. In The Social Network Mark Zuckerberg creates Facebook. There are also scores of other movies and media that include math and computer science in a less traditional way. You have probably seen this yourself in TV shows such as The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory, The X-files, or Grey’s Anatomy and movies such as Moneyball or The Fault in Our Stars--perhaps without even realizing it. In this course, we explore a curated selection of these popular culture moments with a three-step focus on learning background information, viewing pertinent media clips, and engaging in interactive activities. M-W 11:10-12:35 Harry Potter and the Magical Freshman Seminar Danielle Scheriff “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” – Albus Dumbledore, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” A global phenomenon, the magical world of Harry Potter is one that needs very little introduction. Join us in this ever-expanding world, which includes the novels themselves, commentary, films, adventure parks, and more. Special focus will be placed on the intersections between literature, film, and design. We will also explore these fabulous stories using a diversity of perspectives: visual analysis, philosophy, history, and social politics. Polish your glasses, bring out your house colors, and be on the lookout for the owls with your acceptance letters! M-W 1:40-3:05

The game’s the thing?—sports and psychology Gerard Seifert This seminar will examine a number of psychological topics through the lens of sports and exercise. Some questions we might consider: How does a basketball or tennis player see the whole court? Why was it so difficult for athletes to walk away from playing their sport? Why do some players seem to buckle under

pressure? Is youth sport participation always healthy? How important is winning in sports? When does healthy physical exercise become a cult? Our exploration of these and other questions will serve to introduce a number of models from psychology: personality psychology, group dynamics, social psychology, positive psychology, among others. We will be able to move from the theme of sports to the larger arena of life, college, and careers. M-W 11:10-12:35

Justice Through Ages: Meeting Victims Needs Auzeen Shariati

This course will examine the historical development of the role of victim in criminal justice system. It will also discuss the problems associated with victimization, the relationship between the victim and the offender, the victim and the criminal justice system, and the

victim and society. Throughout the semester, students will discuss practical applications and policies resulted from society’s increasing concern about victims. T-TH 4:40-6:05

The Walking Dead Chris Vivas AMC’s television series, The Walking Dead is a pop culture phenomenon. But it can also be viewed as offering deeper philosophical and psychological insights into the human condition. This seminar will explore this television show

through the lens of mythology, literature, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and pop culture. What deep fears does it reflect? How does it suggest the strengths and weaknesses of being human? M-W 1:40-3:05 The Dog Whisperer Debra Zaech Dogs and humans have lived and worked together for millennia. A dog is “man’s (and woman’s) best friend.” But what does that relationship reveal about ourselves and how do dogs come to represent for us values as loyalty, responsibility, hope, and family? However, we might wonder whether we are projecting ourselves onto our dogs. What do we really know about “dog psychology?” This topical section will explore the work of many psychologists who study animal and human behavior. In some profound ways dogs validate our self-concept as we sometimes invest our love and care for them but other times treat them shamefully. We will focus on the relationship we have with dogs and how it reveals and affects our self-esteem, our core values and our relationships with others. You do not need to have a dog to join us but if you do, get ready to reflect on your BFF! T-TH 8:00-9:35

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Students in the Freshmen Honors Program-two possible sections

Folk Tales: Secrets and Sorcery [Honors Program only] Wendy Turgeon Folk/Fairy tales are timeless and invite us to explore the hidden corners of the human condition. We associate these stories with childhood but originally they were told in the circle of the whole family or as stories for the adults at court. Only in the 19th century

did they become children’s fare. These tales still enthrall and terrify us as we find them updated in movies and transplanted to contemporary settings. Why is that so? What themes and archetypes run through the tales from Europe and across the globe? In this topical section we will explore both the stories and the many theories developed to explain the myth and realism behind the folk/fairy tale. We will also encounter recent re-imaginings in literature, movies, music, and more and how our retellings reflect contemporary viewpoints, desires, and concerns. T-TH 9:35-11:00 The Dreams That Stuff is Made Of – Science Fiction and the Great Questions of Life [Honors Program only] Thomas Petriano Science fiction, while it invites us to think about new ways of imagining our universe, is not so much about science as it is about the great questions of life. How did the universe come about? Where is it heading? Are we alone in the universe? Is there a God? Is there a future for humanity? Through reading some of the great science fiction novels and short stories and viewing classic science fiction films, this course will explore how science fiction addresses these questions. T-TH 9:35-11:00

______________________________________________________________________________ The mission of St. Joseph's College is to provide a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, rooted in a l iberal arts tradit ion that supports provision for career preparation and enhancement. The College prepares each student for a l ife characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiri tual values, social responsibil i ty and service - a l ife that is worthy of the College’s motto, Esse non videri : “To be, not to seem.”

To accomplish this, St. Joseph’s College has established the following goals:

• To offer curricula that foster the knowledge and intellectual skills associated with the liberally educated person

• To encourage students to develop personal value systems and responsible self-direction

• To foster committed participation in the local and global communities • To help students develop as whole persons by providing individual attention,

interactive teaching and opportunities for active participation in academic and extracurricular programs

• To prepare students for their careers by offering the necessary professional and pre-professional education

• To provide for the needs of a diversified student population with varied educational and professional experiences

• To foster an environment of openness to the exploration and understanding of diverse ideas, traditions and cultures

To support educational programs and services that will contribute to the vital i ty of the communities served by the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses Images are from a variety of internet sources. This document is intended for educational purposes only.