In the essay “The Man on the Moon” George J. Annas writes that “The new ideal human, the genetically engineered ‘superior’ human, will almost certainly come to represent ‘the other.’ If history is a guide, either the normal humans will view the ‘better’ humans as the other and seek to control or destroy them, or vice versa” (236). Write your response about this hypothesis, taking into consideration the movie Gattaca, the views Annas offers in his essay, our class discussion on the idea of "the other" and examples from human history as well as the present. More than one position is possible. This should be a substantial response, more than just a paragraph.
Thursday 28 April 2011
"The Man on The Moon" by George J. Annas
1. Discuss Annas' claims about holy wars from the era of the crusades to Columbus and labelling the enemy as "other." Why do you think religion is used in this way?
2. Discuss what was different about WW II and the process Nazis used to think of Jews as "other."
3. How could, according to Norman Mailer, the voyage of Apollo to the moon be either grandeur or madness? Discuss both possibilities.
4.Annas claims that our children, through genetic engineering, would become products subject to quality control and improvements, including destruction if they were defective. Discuss whether this is possible or far-fetched, and why
2. Discuss what was different about WW II and the process Nazis used to think of Jews as "other."
3. How could, according to Norman Mailer, the voyage of Apollo to the moon be either grandeur or madness? Discuss both possibilities.
4.Annas claims that our children, through genetic engineering, would become products subject to quality control and improvements, including destruction if they were defective. Discuss whether this is possible or far-fetched, and why
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Blog 11: The Concept of the Other
In our discussion we focused on Lacan's, Hegel's, and Hamermas' ideas of the other, and how through this process of understanding the world based on difference we privilege the category that we place ourselves in and create a negative definition of "the other." One easy example of such a process is sex (male female) and sexual orientation (gay, straight, bi), also race, ethnicity, social class, but also behaviors, tastes in music and fashion, as well as categories such as ability/disability and more apparent features such as body image etc. For this blog, I want you to examine some particular category which you define as "the other" for you--a category you cannot imagine having anything in common with and which in fact helps define you through the process of NOT being it. Write your thoughts on the following: a) give a description of your "other." b) explain what it is about it that makes you feel such opposition to it c) discuss what has happened or would happen in situations where you have to interact with someone who belongs to "the other" as you define it. You should make sure that you do not write something offensive to members of that group, but at the same time if you keep good manners you should express your ideas openly.
Wednesday 5/4: Museum of the Moving Image Visit
On Wednesday 5/4 we will meet at the Museum of the Moving Image. We will gather at 10:20AM on the 35th avenue side (however we will probably enter through the 36th streer entrance, the group entrance). Please make sure you are on time. We have to go inside as a group.If you come late they may or may not let you come and join the group. If you are late for whatever reason and you cannot join the group, you will be counted absent for ALL THREE HOURS ON WEDNESDAY. For this visit you must bring $4 before the day of the visit.
The museum tour will finish before by 12:30 pm, giving you enough time to return to school if you have a class at 2 o'clock.
Address:
36-01 35 Avenue
Astoria, NY 11106
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS FROM MUSEUM WEBSITE:
By Subway
FROM MANHATTAN:
• Take the R or M to Steinway Street. Use the 34 Avenue exit near end of train. Walk south along Steinway Street, turn right on 35 Avenue. Proceed 3 blocks to Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
• E to Queens Plaza. Change to R or M and proceed to Steinway Street. Follow the directions from the 34 Avenue exit as detailed above.
• N or Q to 36 Avenue (Astoria). Walk 1 block north to 35 Avenue. Turn right and walk to 36 Street.
FROM BROOKLYN:
• Take the G train to LIC-Court Square/45 Road. Transfer via underground tunnel to a M train at Court Square/23 Street-Ely Avenue to Steinway Street.
• N or Q to 36 Avenue (Astoria) or R to Steinway Street. Follow the directions from the 34 Avenue exit as detailed above.
FROM EASTERN QUEENS:
• 7 to 74 Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Walk downstairs to the E and R lines. Take the Manhattan or Brooklyn-bound R to Steinway Street.
Use the 34 Avenue exit near front of train. Walk south along Steinway Street, turn right on 35 Avenue, proceed 2 blocks to Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
By Bus
FROM MANHATTAN:
Queens Surface Transit Q101 (departs from 58th Street and Second Avenue round-the-clock every 15 to 30 minutes) to 35 Avenue in Astoria. Walk west on 35 Avenue to 36 Street.
FROM FLUSHING:
Queens Surface Transit Q66 "21st Street" to Steinway Street and 35 Avenue. Walk west on 35 Avenue and proceed to the Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
The museum tour will finish before by 12:30 pm, giving you enough time to return to school if you have a class at 2 o'clock.
Address:
36-01 35 Avenue
Astoria, NY 11106
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS FROM MUSEUM WEBSITE:
By Subway
FROM MANHATTAN:
• Take the R or M to Steinway Street. Use the 34 Avenue exit near end of train. Walk south along Steinway Street, turn right on 35 Avenue. Proceed 3 blocks to Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
• E to Queens Plaza. Change to R or M and proceed to Steinway Street. Follow the directions from the 34 Avenue exit as detailed above.
• N or Q to 36 Avenue (Astoria). Walk 1 block north to 35 Avenue. Turn right and walk to 36 Street.
FROM BROOKLYN:
• Take the G train to LIC-Court Square/45 Road. Transfer via underground tunnel to a M train at Court Square/23 Street-Ely Avenue to Steinway Street.
• N or Q to 36 Avenue (Astoria) or R to Steinway Street. Follow the directions from the 34 Avenue exit as detailed above.
FROM EASTERN QUEENS:
• 7 to 74 Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Walk downstairs to the E and R lines. Take the Manhattan or Brooklyn-bound R to Steinway Street.
Use the 34 Avenue exit near front of train. Walk south along Steinway Street, turn right on 35 Avenue, proceed 2 blocks to Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
By Bus
FROM MANHATTAN:
Queens Surface Transit Q101 (departs from 58th Street and Second Avenue round-the-clock every 15 to 30 minutes) to 35 Avenue in Astoria. Walk west on 35 Avenue to 36 Street.
FROM FLUSHING:
Queens Surface Transit Q66 "21st Street" to Steinway Street and 35 Avenue. Walk west on 35 Avenue and proceed to the Museum entrance on 36 Street, near 35 Avenue.
Thursday 14 April 2011
Blog 10: Reflection
For Blog 10 you will compose an entry of 300-500 words where you will 1) reflect on the content of the course and what has been more interesting for you to explore as well as what it is you would like to know more about (to help you, I am including a list of concepts) and 2) discuss yourself as a writer as seen in your blog. What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses and how has using a blog for most of your writing instead of papers helped you or did not help you to do the work? You should also talk about your strongest and weakest piece of writing in the blog, so you should spend some time reviewing your entries.
Thematic concepts: illusion and reality; the allegory of the cave; historical examples of illusions; destiny and free will; mythology in the Matrix; Ignorance, Bliss, and Knowledge in Oedipus the King.
Writing concepts: Summarizing. Invention techniques. Thesis and topic sentences. Incorporating text from a source into your own essay. Documenting sources and MLA documentation style. Annotating sources. Using primary sources such as the LaGuardia archives.Introductions and conclusions.
Thematic concepts: illusion and reality; the allegory of the cave; historical examples of illusions; destiny and free will; mythology in the Matrix; Ignorance, Bliss, and Knowledge in Oedipus the King.
Writing concepts: Summarizing. Invention techniques. Thesis and topic sentences. Incorporating text from a source into your own essay. Documenting sources and MLA documentation style. Annotating sources. Using primary sources such as the LaGuardia archives.Introductions and conclusions.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Blog 9: Draft of Media Paper
For Blog 9 post a draft, as complete as you can, of your media midterm paper by Thursday at 9:00 am. We will conduct peer review in class (your peers will give you feedback) as well as look at general guidelines and possible pitfalls of the paper. Remember that your paper will be due the Monday after midterm so there will be no other day after Thursday when we will meet to discuss it.
Blog 8: Ignorance, Bliss, and Knowledge in Oedipus the King and The Matrix.
Discuss what ideas there are in the two texts (The Matrix and Oedipus the King) about the concepts of ignorance, bliss/happiness, and knowledge. Discuss both common elements you see and differences.
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Blog 7: Annotated Bibliography of Media Midterm Paper
Due Thursday April 7 by midnight
Post an outline and an annotated bibliography of your media midterm paper. An annotated bibliography is a list of the sources you plan to use, in MLA format and with a short paragraph after each source, where you spend a few lines explaining what useful material for your papers the source has. An outline will have the following:
1. Thesis
2. List of reasons to support the thesis (each reason will be fully developed and supported with evidence when you turn the outline into a paper)
(note: you should the class time tomorrow to research your bibliography; we will meet and peer review this assignment on Tuesday, but I will have commented on your thesis before that, so you must meet the midnight deadline or I may not have time to comment on your thesis.
PS:
A book that is not in our library but you can read its first chapters and some important studies mentioned here
Post an outline and an annotated bibliography of your media midterm paper. An annotated bibliography is a list of the sources you plan to use, in MLA format and with a short paragraph after each source, where you spend a few lines explaining what useful material for your papers the source has. An outline will have the following:
1. Thesis
2. List of reasons to support the thesis (each reason will be fully developed and supported with evidence when you turn the outline into a paper)
(note: you should the class time tomorrow to research your bibliography; we will meet and peer review this assignment on Tuesday, but I will have commented on your thesis before that, so you must meet the midnight deadline or I may not have time to comment on your thesis.
PS:
A book that is not in our library but you can read its first chapters and some important studies mentioned here
Monday 4 April 2011
This week, April 5-April 7
Tuesday 4 April: Library orientation the first hour in E-101 B; second hour: discuss blog 6. peer review of essay
peer review groups:
1) Chris-Anna-Chasidy
2) Melvin-Elena-David R
3) Eddy-Samantha-Lismilda
4) Shannon-Marlita-Josh
5) David S-Jayleen-Jared
6) Luisa-Okorie-Magaly
7) Carlos-Jhani-Victor
Wednesday 5 April: MLA documentation style.
http://faculty.laguardia.edu/lvasileiou/ENG101/MLA-style%20documentation.ppt
Annotating sources. (LIB 110) Discuss Oedipus assignment
Thursday 6 April: Blog 7 due at end of day: Work on outline and compile annotated bibliography for media midterm paper. Peer review of essays must also be complete by end of day.
peer review groups:
1) Chris-Anna-Chasidy
2) Melvin-Elena-David R
3) Eddy-Samantha-Lismilda
4) Shannon-Marlita-Josh
5) David S-Jayleen-Jared
6) Luisa-Okorie-Magaly
7) Carlos-Jhani-Victor
Wednesday 5 April: MLA documentation style.
http://faculty.laguardia.edu/lvasileiou/ENG101/MLA-style%20documentation.ppt
Annotating sources. (LIB 110) Discuss Oedipus assignment
Thursday 6 April: Blog 7 due at end of day: Work on outline and compile annotated bibliography for media midterm paper. Peer review of essays must also be complete by end of day.
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