EN 1202 9.0:  SATIRE


 

TERM:                                               Fall-Winter 2015-2016


WEBSITE:                                         www.allanweiss.com


COURSE INSTRUCTORS:                      

 

COURSE DIRECTOR:                   

 

COURSE DIRECTOR:

            NAME:                                  

            OFFICE:                               

            PHONE:                                

            EMAIL:                                  

            OFFICE HOURS:                 

           



TEACHING ASSISTANTS:              

                                                           




Allan Weiss
307 SC
416-736-5166 x77318
aweiss@yorku.ca

W 3:30-5:30

F 3:30-4:30

And by appointment


Asha Jeffers

Ben Taylor




                                                                       


TIMES AND LOCATIONS:                       

 

Lecture
T 12:30-2:30
ACW 006

Tut 01
T 2:30-3:30
VH 1005
A. Weiss

Tut 02

T 3:30-4:30
VH 1005
B. Taylor

Tut 03

T 4:30-5:30
MC 211
B. Taylor

Tut 04

T 3:30-4:30
ACW 104
A. Jeffers
Tut 05
T 2:30-3:30
ACW 104
A. Jeffers

                                                                            

  


EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

This course offers a broad examination of satire in poetry, prose, drama, and the media. Students will explore the very beginnings and historical refinements of satire from the classical—Aristophanes, Horace, Juvenal, and Lucian—to the contemporary. Disruptive, uncomfortable, and often funny, satire is both entertaining and provocative. The course begins by introducing students to the ancient forms of satire and their principles: Menippean, Juvenalian, and Horatian. We then examine satirical poetry, novels, short stories, prose, newspapers, drama, films, and television comedy. The course demonstrates the demands of different genres and literary techniques as well as with the social, political, and aesthetic considerations that shape literary works, giving special emphasis to the importance of historical and literary context in coming to grips with satire. It also emphasizes close reading, and the appreciation of the formal techniques of satirical texts — understatement, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, and tone. Students will be aided in developing a critical vocabulary and encouraged to refine their essay-writing techniques. The course will familiarize students with the stages of the academic writing process in a variety of modes both creative and critical. Fundamental skills training will be provided in research methods, effective note-taking, brainstorming, outlining, drafting, editing and proofreading (including guidance in grammar, syntax, diction, paragraph structure, and punctuation), and academic honesty (proper use of sources and citation style).

 

 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COURSE:

The course combines weekly two-hour lectures with two-hour small group tutorials.  Lectures introduce students to the key formal and thematic features of the text at hand, along with its literary, historical, scientific, sociological and/or political context, as interpretation of the texts will of necessity be grounded in the cultural, social and political context that produced them. Students will therefore be introduced to material and methods of study from a range of disciplines, including history, social and political thought, the fine arts, classics, philosophy, pop culture, and creative writing. Lectures also feature training in critical skills; as this is a Foundations course, its function is to assist students in developing their abilities in essay writing, critical reading, research, and so on. Tutorials offer opportunities to discuss the texts in small groups, and to apply the skills learned in lecture. 

 

 

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:


1. Brief Statement of Purpose

The course introduces students to satirical material in various media, offering breadth of coverage of the various forms that satire has taken over the centuries. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the texts studied, bringing literary, historical, sociological, cultural studies, and film studies perspectives, among others, to the analysis. Since this is a General Education course, there will also be instruction in the particular ways such analysis may be expressed, both verbally (oral presentations) and in writing, as well as in the fundamentals of good writing in general.  Tutorials offer opportunities to discuss the texts in small groups, and to apply the skills learned in lecture.  The topic of the course necessitates a broad reach across genres, periods and nationalities.  Satire transcends the familiar literary forms of poetry, prose and drama to appear in film, graphic fiction, popular culture, visual and graphic arts, print and electronic journalism, and many more. Students will be introduced to a wide range of texts, learning to interpret film, cartoons, satire in broadcasting and print media, and so on.

 

2. Specific Learning Objectives:

- A sharpening of students’ critical thinking skills, and exposure to a wide range of ways of developing argument and critique.

- Acquaintance with a broad range of genres and styles from poetry to journalism.

- Development of critical, analytical, and communication skills appropriate for further study of literature and the humanities.

- Development of skill in decoding popular cultural forms.

- Familiarity with major historical periods and their unique concerns and modes of expression.

- Keener ability to appreciate perspective, point of view, and voice in literary texts, and to note shifts in technique and emphasis from one genre to another: from novel into film, for example, or journalism into short story. 

- Improved ability to recognize and specify forms, themes and contexts.

- Familiarity with the idea of a moral standard, for example, as well as informed consideration of the trans-historical or contingent nature of such standards.

 

Students will be expected to develop a proficiency in close reading and analysis that can be applied to all disciplines in the humanities and most disciplines in the social sciences. They will be introduced to a wide range of theoretical modes of approaching texts and contexts, and will learn to select the most appropriate approach for their task and to apply it effectively.  Students will also be taught to develop a well defined sense of a number of discrete literary and historical periods, from the classical through the British Enlightenment, the nineteenth century, British and American Modernism, the second world war, and the Contemporary.

 

 

COURSE TEXTS:

 

Aristophanes, Lysistrata (Dover Thrift)
Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (Oxford)

Voltaire, Candide (Modern Library)

Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Dover Thrift)

Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays (Dover Thrift)

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (Vintage)

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five (Dell)

Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale (Seal)

James Morrow, This Is the Way the World Ends (Harcourt)

 

Short texts are on-line or in the course kit available at the Bookstore

 


EVALUATION:

Short essay (700 words), due Oct. 13 10%
Term Paper (1200 words), due Dec. 1 15%
Group Report 10%
Creative Assignment (1000 words), due Jan. 5 10%
Research Essay (1500 words), due Mar. 22 20%
Class participation 15%
Final exam 20%

 

Essays should conform to proper MLA style.  Written assignments MUST be handed in on time.  No papers will be accepted after the final exam.  ANY USE OF ANOTHER PERSON’S WORK, WHETHER IT IS IN PRINT OR ELECTRONIC FORM, WITHOUT PROPER CITATION CONSTITUTES PLAGIARISM AND WILL LEAD TO CHARGES OF A BREACH OF ACADEMIC HONESTY.  Please see the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty at:

            http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/acadhone.htm

Each tutorial leader will determine how class participation is assessed in his or her class(es).  In general, assessment of class participation will take into account the student's contributions to discussions and in-class exercises, preparation of reading assignments, and performance on any additional reading or writing exercises assigned by the tutorial leader.


Grading, Assignment Submission, Lateness Penalties, and Missed Tests

Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in

undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.). Assignments and tests will bear a letter grade designation and a corresponding number grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.).

(For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar - http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf)

Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis. For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the Faculty of Arts section of the Undergraduate Calendar.

Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment. Assignments are to be handed in to the instructor at the tutorial.

Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized one-half letter grade per week or portion thereof that it is late. Exceptions to the lateness penalty

for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).

Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness,

compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter), may request accommodation from the instructor.  Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.  Be sure to consult the Faculty of Arts guidelines on Deferred Standing Agreements, petitions, etc.

 

 

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS:

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents): http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm

- York’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website

- Ethics Review Process for research involving human participants

- Course requirement accommodation for students with disabilities, including physical, medical, systemic, learning and psychiatric disabilities

- Student Conduct Standards

- Religious Observance Accommodation

 

 

Note:  

The last date to add the course without permission of the course director is Sept. 24, 2015

The last date to add the course with permission of course director is Oct. 22, 2015

The last date to drop the course without academic penalty is Feb. 5, 2016


Resources:
Grammar Man: www.grammarman.ca
Proofreading Checklist

 

 

LECTURE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:

 

 

1. Sept. 15  Introduction: Definitions and Elements

 

2. Sept. 22  Ancient Satire I

            Aristophanes, Lysistrata (411 BC)
            Some notes on the play

 

3. Sept. 29  Ancient Satire II

            Horace, Satires: Book I Satires 8 and 9; Book II Satires 1 and 7 (1st Century BC)

           Juvenal, Satire I and Satire X (1st-2nd Century AD)

 

4. Oct. 6 Renaissance and Enlightenment Satirical Poetry and Prose

  Rabelais, from The Histories of Gargantua and Pantagruel (ca. 1532-64)

  Cervantes, from Don Quixote (1605-15)

  Jonathan Swift, “A Modest Proposal” (1729)

 

5. Oct. 13  The Eighteenth-Century Satirical Novel I

            Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (1726): Part I, II, and IV

            First essay due


6. Oct. 20  The Political Cartoon

            Look at the following cartoons in the course kit: "Gargantua," "Wholesale and Retail," "The Lightning
                Speed of Honesty," and "Every Dog" (No Distinction of Color) "Has His Day"  


7. Oct. 27  Eighteenth-Century Satirical Novel II

            Voltaire, Candide (1759)

 

8. Nov. 3  Nineteenth-Century Satire I

            Edgar Allan Poe, “King Pest” (1835)

            Lewis Carroll, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the

                        Looking-Glass (1871)

            Ambrose Bierce, from The Devil’s Dictionary (1911):
            (Just poke around in here; you're not expected to read everything! Look up a few
            words--that's all)

 

9. Nov. 10:  Nineteenth-Century Satire II

            Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)

 

10. Nov. 17  Satirical Drama

            Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)

 

11. Nov. 24  Satirical Essays and Stories

            Mark Twain, “The War Prayer”

            Stephen Leacock, A Little Dinner with Mr. Lucullus Fyshe” (1914)

                         

12. Dec. 1  Political Satire of the 1930s

      Marx Brothers, Duck Soup (1933)

            Second essay due


13. Dec. 8: Study Day: No Classes 

   

           

***********************************************************************************************************

 

1. Jan. 5  Satire and Science Fiction

            Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (1932)
            Creative assignment due

 

2. Jan. 12  Mid-Twentieth-Century Satire

Langston Hughes, “Slave on the Block” (1934)

W H Auden, “The Unknown Citizen” (1939)

Dorothy Parker, Selections

e. e. cummings, “I Sing of Olaf” (1931)

    

3. Jan. 19  Satirical Art

Political Cartoons

Harvey Kurtzman (writer) and Bill Elder (artist), “Starchie” (1954)

Paintings: Ken Monkman, Cindy Sherman, Candice Breitz

  

4. Jan. 26  The 1960s: War and Society

            Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

 

5. Feb. 2  Satirical Music

            Harry McClintock, Tom Lehrer, Weird Al Yankovic, Peter Schickele/P.D.Q. Bach, 

            Lonely Island, Garfunkel and Oates, Dave Chappelle, Flight of the Conchords


6. Feb. 9 The 1960s: The Bomb

            Stanley Kubrick, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love

                        the Bomb (1964)

 

7. Feb. 13-19  Reading Week: No Classes


8. Feb. 23  The 1960s and 1970s: Stand-Up, Radio, and TV Satire

             Henry Morgan, Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, George Carlin;
             The Smothers Brothers, All in the Family, Laugh-In, Saturday Night Live.
             Deadline for  approval of secondary source


9. Mar. 1 The 1970s and 1980s

            Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale (1985)

 

10. Mar. 8  Contemporary TV Satire

            South Park, The Simpsons, The Daily Show, Late-Night Talk Shows, Etc.   


11. Mar. 15
 The 1980s: The Bomb Again

            James Morrow, This Is the Way the World Ends (1986)

 

12. Mar. 22  On-Line Satire

            The Onion and more...

            Research essay due

 

13. Mar. 29  Conclusion

            Leo Simpson, “The Ivy-Covered Manner”



MLA Style: Sample Essay and Works Cited Page
Suggestions for further reading