The Spring class schedule is up, though of course none of the departments have updated their course description pages with the Spring offerings, so some of them are still a mystery. Anyway, what I need to fulfill my requirements are the second half of my senior thesis, an upper-level Philosophy class, and two free electives. I was hoping to get into an advanced photography class on medium and large format cameras, or one on studio lighting, but all the photo classes are for majors only and I have plenty of other choices so I’m not going to go bug profs to try to get in.
So the plan right now is to take the Existentialism class to finish my Philosophy Minor, get started on 1st-yr Latin for one of my electives since I’ll need it for my Graduate degree, and… what? There are some interesting options open to me for a second elective, some of which I’ve mentioned here before but never managed to take for one reason or another. Now, keep in mind that what I’m looking for is something that will be relatively low-impact (I have plenty other work to keep my busy with the other three courses, thankyouverymuch), while still being of interest. No basket weaving for me. Besides, it’s probably for Art majors only. Anyway, the top three contenders in my mind right now are:
1. Islamic Spain and North Africa to 1492.
This has the advantage–aside from being fascinating–of being taught by one of the professors my thesis adviser is considering for a second reader. One potential fly in the ointment is that she has been consistently getting course satisfaction ratings in the 3.2-3.9 range (out of 5.0), and the workload is consistently rated between average and high. I realize those surveys are flaky, but let’s just stipulate it as a point of comparison between the offerings.
2. Sufism and Islamic Mysticism.
Like the first one, this is right up my alley. And the prof’s ratings are all between 4.5-4.9. But it would also be a fair bit of work, including studying mainstream Islam’s condemnations of Sufism.
3. From Genji to Godzilla.
Speaking of right up my alley, even though it’s nothing to do with Early Modern Europe. And it might be my last chance for something Just For Fun. Readings in literature and manga, film and anime, from Murasaki’s Tale of Genji and Chikamatsu’s “Love Suicides at Anjima,” to “Godzilla, King of the Monsters” and “Grave of the Fireflies.” Not to mention I already own or have read/seen most of the material they’re going to be using. Can you tell this is the one I’m leaning towards? (Ratings: 4.4-4.9)
Other fun stuff — Some of these aren’t for me, either because they have prereqs, or are “substantial writing component” classes and I don’t need another of those. Still, some of them are just too cool for words:
Buddhism in America
History of Ancient Egypt
The Arabian Nights
Courtesans in Cross-cultural Perspective
Saints Francis and Clare
The Spanish Inquisition
Detective and Crime Stories in Germany, England and America
Why Chinese Has No Alphabet
Music of India
Devotion in S. India
Nature and Environment in Premodern Japanese Culture
The World of the Confucians
Fundamentals of Ethical Leadership
Pagans and Christians in the Late Roman World
How to Do Just About Anything in the Ancient World
Saami: The Midnight Sun People
Films of Ingmar Bergman
The Work of Derek Jarman and Ian Hamilton Finlay
Anyway, the way it usually works is that I get a schedule all figured out in a spreadsheet with no time conflicts, and by the time registration opens one class has been canceled and another is mysteriously full already, and I have to scramble to figure out alternatives. So it goes…
