FYS 2009
Politics the Old fashioned Way:
Alexander the Great
Description
A brilliant master of
public image, Alexander the Great of Macedonia was a spectacularly successful
and powerful political figure. His carefully crafted images were enhanced and
transmitted through the media of the day: literary and historical works,
inscribed dedications, sculpture, coins, and architecture. In addition, this
ruler fostered state cults that approached personality cults. An appreciation
of this ancient spin master is especially relevant as we look at recent,
contemporary, and future political events, such as Indecision 2000,
Decision 2004, California Mediacracy, Decision 2008, and Presidential heroizing
/ demonizing in a time of short- and long-term international crises,
Presidential and Presidential candidate image-crafting in time of war.
Alexander inspired
nearly visceral reactions that were at one extreme or another, strong loyalty
bordering upon fanaticism on the one hand, utter hatred on the other. It was
impossible to remain neutral. This bipolarity has extended even to modern
scholarship, with some scholars seeing such rulers as enlightened despots,
others as cruel tyrants.
The purpose of the course is to examine how this superstar ruler acquired such
images and learn how to look behind the images at the ruler himself. During the
first part of the course, we will consider how ancient written sources,
monuments, coins, and sculpture drove images of power. We will read selected
passages in translation from, e.g., Arrian, and epigraphical evidence. We will
also examine ancient buildings, sculpture, and coins that served to enhance the
imperial image. Furthermore, contemporary and recent works on Alexander will be
read critically to enable the student to see how Classical scholarship itself, shaped
by its own social and political contexts, has helped to reshape the very
historical figures that they portray.
The second part of the course will be devoted to the Classical Greek
background, against which Alexander developed a new paradigm of leadership.
Athens traditionally was seen as the center of gravity for Hellenic culture.
Alexander and his successors tried to mediate between the increasing political
and military centrality of Macedonia and the traditional Hellenic culture
embodied by Athens. We will examine 5th century Athenian political and cultural
institutions, and finish up the course by reading Aristophanes' Lysistrata.
FYS seminars focus on developing the student's abilities in the following
areas: reading, writing, critical thinking, research, informed discussion, and
creativity. Through this particular section the student will learn to assess
critically and interpret an array of sources, both ancient and modern, and to
synthesize seemingly disparate classes of evidence. In addition to common
readings, students will work individually and in groups on specific topics,
e.g. W. Tarn on Alexander the Great (Tarn is strongly in the pro-Alexander
camp), and will learn how to evaluate and interpret such sources. You will,
therefore, be engaged in research, critical reading, and critical writing.
While a small part of class time will be devoted to providing the basic
background for Classical-Hellenistic Greece, most class time will be used for
class discussion and for research project presentations.
In terms of the semester schedule, the course is loaded pretty heavily at the
front end. We meet for many hours during Orientation Week. Your first graded
work (apart from class participation) is due on tba. This means that you will
have feedback - a good thing! - on college level work very early in the
semester.
Students in the course are expected to adhere to the provisions of the SU Honor
Code, and to add and sign the pledge: ""I have acted with honesty and
integrity in producing this work and am unaware of anyone who has not."
While you may study together, ultimately all work (except for group projects)
must be your worl alone.
Southwestern University will make reasonable accommodations for students with
documented disabilities. To arrange accommodations students should
contact the Assistant Director of Access and Academic Resources within the Center
for Academic Success (Cullen Building, 3rd floor; phone 863-1286; e-mail
carterk@southwestern.edu). Students seeking accommodations should notify
the Assistant Director of Access and Academic Resources at least two weeks
before services are needed. It is the student's responsibility to discuss
any necessary accommodations with the appropriate faculty member.
Feel free to make postings to the discussion page (tab above), to bring up
whatever (relevant!) issues you wish.
Requirements
Examinations. There will be two during the
semester, including the final. The first exam covers material relating to
Alexander the Great and includes objective questions (for example, fill in the
blank) and essays. The final contains objective questions relating to material
after the first exam, and essay questions relating to material from the entire
course, including Presentations #2 (see below). Please note that make-up exams
are the rare exception, not the rule, and are allowed at the
discretion of the instructor; such matters must be arranged in advance of
the regularly scheduled exam time.
Papers/Projects (Paper
#1; Paper #2). There will be two
short papers/projects. Paper #1 is to be about 5 pages in length. Paper/Project
#2 may be a traditional paper or a multi-media presentation. A list of
suggested topics will be provided by the instructor, although students may
propose their own topics; student-proposed topics must be approved by the
instructor in advance.
Presentations (Presentation
#1; Presentation #2). Each student will prepare
and present to the class two oral presentations. Students will work in groups
or three or four. The first presentation will focus on Alexander, the second on
a study of how a fall 2008 political race compares to image promotion of
Alexander. Students should make these presentations with computer support (e.g.
web browser or Microsoft Powerpoint) or slides (the instructor will provide
help with technological issues). Included in the documentation submitted
separately to the instructor is to be an outline of each student's contribution
to the project. Attendance is mandatory for all students at
these classes and all material presented becomes course content for all
students.
Diversity on Campus: An FYS
Conversation.
A requirement for all FYS sections, this folds nicely into the academic content
for the course (Alexander's notion of cosmopolitanism).
Class participation/Attendance. Students are expected to attend
class. Lectures/ discussions are not re-runs of assignments. The grade for
preparation/class participation will be based upon attendance and upon
participation in class discussion; class discussion means "quality"
and not necessarily "quantity." Class discussion also reveals to a
certain extent preparation. Participation in Presentations will also affect
this grade.
In class, students should feel free
to express their own opinions on various matters related to the course and to
ask questions. Students' interpretations need not necessarily be the same as
those of the instructor. As long as interpretations are based upon reasoned
assessments of the evidence (literary, historical, archaeological), they are as
valid as the instructor's.
This concept has been reinforced
through cooperative work of SU students and faculty, which resulted in a
provision of the SU Academic Rights for Students. It bears repeating here:
Faculty
members should encourage free thought and expression both in the classroom and
out. Students are entitled to disagree with interpretation of data or views of
a faculty member and reserve judgment in matters of opinion, but this
disagreement does not excuse them from learning the content of any course for
which they are enrolled or from demonstrating skills and competencies required
by a faculty member. Students should be evaluated solely on academic
performance.
Note: Make-up exams,
presentations, and late papers are the exception, and not the rule, and
permission will not be granted automatically. Make-ups must be arranged with
the instructor in advance of the regularly scheduled time, and
will be given (or not) at the discretion of the instructor.
Grading
Graded
work:
|
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Exam #1 Final Exam |
20% 20% |
|
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Paper #1 Paper #2 |
10% 10% |
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Presentation #1 Presentation #2 |
10% 10% |
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20% |
Final Grades
The plus and minus grading system,
in effect at Southwestern, will be used for final grades. Semester % averages
will translate to the following letter grades:
|
GRADE |
INCLUSIVE |
GPA POINTS |
|
A+ |
96.7-100.0 |
4.00 |
|
A |
93.4-96.6 |
4.00 |
|
A- |
90.0-93.3 |
3.67 |
|
B+ |
86.7-89.9 |
3.33 |
|
B |
83.4-86.6 |
3.00 |
|
B- |
80.0-83.3 |
2.67 |
|
C+ |
76.7-79.9 |
2.33 |
|
C |
73.4-76.6 |
2.00 |
|
C- |
70.0-73.3 |
1.67 |
|
D+ |
66.7-69.9 |
1.33 |
|
D |
63.4-66.6 |
1.00 |
|
D- |
60.0-63.3 |
0.67 |
|
F |
0.0-59.9 |
0.00 |
Assignments
/ Class
|
Date |
Topic |
Assignment (to be completed by
class time that day) |
|
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August 17 |
P. Green, Alexander of Macedon
(summer reading) |
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August 18 |
Ancient Interpretations of
Alexander: Literature I |
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August 20 |
Ancient Interpretations of
Alexander: Literature II |
Borza,
Intro. to Wilken, Source
Problem; |
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August 21 |
Reading
ancient texts |
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|
(no later
than Aug. 25) |
|
rough
draft (optional) (submit to haskell@southwestern.edu) |
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August 25 |
Ancient Interpretations of
Alexander: Literature III |
|
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Interpretations of Alexander:
Unity of Humankind |
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Ancient
Interpretations of Alexander : Ancient Iconography I |
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Andronikos,
218-224 |
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September 10 |
Student
presentations (Alexander) |
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Exam #1 |
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CLA |
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Hellenistic;
background |
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Diversity, Dr. Maura Cullen, Alma
Thomas |
"Old Oligarch" |
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September
28 |
Athenian
democracy II |
Paper #2 rough draft (required),
hard copy (due no later than Monday office
hour (5-6 pm) |
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Student
presentations |
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Student
presentations: |
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October 6 |
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Aristophanes, Frogs Paper / Project #2 |
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October 8 |
Final |
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Exam |
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