For Monday...

Hello all,

My office mate, George Meese, is conducting interviews today in the office, so I will not be in from 10:30 to 1:30. However, I will be in the office on Weds from 1- 5 pm and Friday from 1-5 pm. You can still turn in your hard copies with Laura, and she will place them in my box.

You may also turn in your texts via email.

I will email comments to you, if submitted electronically, or I will keep the hard copies and return them to you via campus mail.

Please keep in contact if you are concerned about completing the portfolio.

Take care, and keep in touch,

Kat

For the Last Day of Class...

Hello all,

Today was our last official day of class, as I have had to cancel tomorrow due to a meeting. Today, I spent time with everyone reviewing your drafts and providing feedback and commentary on your work. For the most part, everyone is heading in the right direction. Excellent work.

As we conclude the course, I do wish to reflect on the amazing observations, salient viewpoints, and critical investigations that you all undertook in the class. I was and continue to be blown away by the power of your thoughts. I think that you all have contributed greatly to making the winter term experience truly enlightening for me and for yourselves. You have through your reflections, blog postings, and research really created a sense of understanding, and for that accomplishment, you should be proud. I am hoping that you keep in touch with me as you progress on your academic journeys as I know that you all bring refreshment and hope to the academic community. Who would have thought that a course on trauma actually would showcase the hope that we all have?

As we finish the course, here are the timelines:

I will be in my office tomorrow (Friday) from 10 am to 11:30 am and then from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. You can stop by to drop off your final version of your paper or to show another draft of your paper for more feedback. The drafts, in their final polished state, are due on Monday by 1 pm. I will be in my office on Monday from 10 am to 1:30, so that you may drop a hard copy with me. You can also submit additional drafts or final versions via email.

As for the last blog posting (To be emailed to me), which is due by Monday at 1:00 pm, I would like you to think back on the course readings, discussions, field trips, research, and writings. Reflect on what points stood out to you, what areas you wished we would have covered, and how you contributed to developing your scholarly knowledge. Also speak to me about the your performance in the course i.e. what grade do you expect for your contributions.

I will be reviewing the moodle work today, tomorrow, and over the weekend, so if you are augmenting any of those submissions, please let me know.

Overall, I appreciate the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts with you all. Remember, "one repays a teacher badly, if one remains nothing but a pupil," so go out and share your knowledge.

Take care, keep in touch, and good luck,

Kat

For Thursday...

Hello all,

Today we discussed writing and the writing portfolio. We really focused on aspects of academic discourse that is important when crafting successful academic texts. Please refer to the handout as you begin to craft your first drafts of the texts. Please make sure that you refer to MLA requirements (Please use the Online Writing Lab at Purdue for online help, refer to the Hacker section on MLA, or I have handouts which can help).

Remember the important aspect of writing is to guide your reader to understand your perspective and your inquiry. Clear and specific guidance and focus is important for allowing your audience insight into your perspective.

We also had a lively, engaging, and salient discussion and debate about American Identity as it is constructed in reference to moments and events of trauma. I think that the discussion and investigation that we had truly captured the purpose of this course (just to remember from the course description--The course focuses on exploring how the American culture constructs subjectivity and identity in relation to various traumas. As such, the course investigates collective and personal traumas and how the interactions with the traumas create a unique opportunity for creating texts that address the traumas from a variety of perspectives. The spectatorship of destruction is part of making meaning of the modern world. In journals, magazines, television, YouTube, or on the Internet, traumatic events are rhetorically packaged and sold to the hungry audience, an audience who repeatedly "looks back" in order to construct themselves. The course focuses on exploring how trauma affects identity in personal narratives and social structures. Students explore trauma in relation to rhetoric, examine various cultural traumas and their effects on the construction of self, and position themselves as subjects in the creation of rhetoric on trauma.

Have we accomplished this? What have we accomplished? What have you accomplished?

For Thursday-

Read-No readings

Write-Complete your draft of your research

Do-Bring your draft to the writing workshop tomorrow starting at 10 am.

Take care,

Kat

For Weds...

Hello all,

Today we discussed the hope and the excitement offered by the new President.

We watched the Inauguration, and then we discussed the "historicity" of the event.



For Weds...

Read-Schivelbusch and Butler

Write-Reflection and blog posting

Do-Work on draft for Thursday.

Take care,

Kat

Cool Link about Class Discussion

For Tuesday... Holiday on Monday

Hello all,

Today we began our discussion in regards to our visit to the Holocaust Museum. We focused on the prompts that I issued prior to going to the collection. Mike and Julien's observations about the "backward" tour which we took really captured the sense of the first question. Our construction of subjectivity is really intertwined with history. The discussion about our trip also captured some of the sense of the readings and of our class discussions. I think that the focus on the collective vs. the individual also relates well to our constructions of subjectivity and objectivity.

We also spent a good bit of time discussing writing and academic discourse, since you are all writing a research-based inquiry text for the course. I am attaching the handouts to the email, and I will also post them on moodle. Remember, essay means "to try" and that is what you are doing in your exploration, trying to examine a topic for your reader and yourself. You need to complete an outline or observation prior to creating a fleshed-out draft. The handout is attached to the email. Please submit this as early as possible; however, it is formally due by Tuesday at 10 am.

Remember, to tell your reader what you think i.e. make an observation and then show your reader why they should believe you i.e. use evidence and reason in your outline or observation.

We also spoke about research, and if you need help, please let me know, and I can usually locate information for you or point you in the right direction.

For Class on Tuesday:

Read-Caruth, Mccarthy, Yeager

Write-Reflection posting

Do-Create an outline or an observation using the handout.

Take care,

Kat

For Friday....

Hello all,

Today we went to the Florida Holocaust Museum. Hopefully, this experience captured some of the ideas and observations we have been making in class. I had a few questions that we will discuss tomorrow. Here are the questions:

1. How do the museum exhibits and displays construct subjectivity and objectivity? Are the lines blurred during the presentations? Why do you believe these lines are blurred or played with?

2. What aspects of this museum are different then the military museum? How does that work for the viewer and the viewed?

3. What elements from our readings do you see evident in the explorations and presentations? Does the museum contradict or support ideas that we have explored?

I look forward to discussing this experience with you all.

For Friday...

Read-Harries and the Interview with Caruth (on moodle) NO DELILLO Reading.

Write-Reflection on Harries and Caruth

Do-Complete your I-Search research component and post on Moodle.

Take care, and see you tomorrow.

Kat

For Thursday...

Hello all,

You need to make sure that you have completed your research portion of your i-search. You need to locate five articles and one book. You then need to complete the i-search research on three of the five article sources and the books. This is due on Friday.

Today we discussed the subject/object binary, and the way that we construct an understanding of that binary in reference to our class project. Many great observations were made about the notion of subjectivity and objectivity and these categories affect our understanding and exploration of trauma and trauma narratives. Here is an interesting discussion about objectivity and subjectivity. http://www.iep.utm.edu/o/objectiv.htm

We then broke into pairs to create and to lead discussions about the Caruth, O'Brien, and Winter readings.

Erick and C.J. presented a question that dealt with fate and destiny and the notion of looking back and pondering one's experiences. Erick connected the narrator of the O'Brien story as an example of the question.

Danny and Chris explored the return of the traumatic and the inability of understanding something that was never fully grasped at the experience. Their discussion lead them to explore the potential of a person being "held" at the site of trauma until understanding was achieved.

Tommy and David explored notions of monuments and guilt consumption of trauma. Notions of nationalistic pride and respect or paying homage to others' sacrifices were explored. Notions of "how to do remembering" were explored in the class. The discussion focused on the shift from collective to individualized monuments.

Amber and Matt focus on the lack or absence of recognition which is apparent in the O'Brien story with the narrator constantly repeating ideas related to "almost winning the silver star." The following discussion explored the possibility of recognition and forgetfulness.

Marc and T.J. examined the various differences in how war veterans cope with returning to life. They questioned if the various jobs or duties completed in war affected how the veteran handling the return or the recollection of traumatic events.

Whitney and Stephen created a connection to the narrator's structure of the O'Brien story and how these elements relate to our other readings and thoughts discussed in the class. Stephen focused on the "jumps' in the story represented psychic breaks.

Alicia, Lexi, and Cindy explored aspects of knowing in relation to creating an understanding of ones' self in the after effects of trauma. The connudrum of self and collective knowledge was examined through our readings.

Julien and Mike discussed notions of war and valor, with Joel and Meredith ending the discussion with a focus on the controlling aspects of the experiences on one's mind and body.

For Thursday--

Read-Nothing

Write-Reflection posting on blog

Do-I-search research for Friday.

Remember, we are going to the Holocaust museum tomorrow. We will meet on campus at the normal class time.

Here is the website for the museum.

The cost is 9.00 for students.

Take care, and get me posted. Thanks for your patience with me today.

Kat

For Tuesday....

Hello all,

Thanks for today's conversations. Today we began discussing the research component of the course project. The research component is due on Friday Jan. 16. The handout that is connected to the research is located on moodle under I-Search Research.

First, you need to generate some questions which will help you as you read and research for the project.

Remember, you need to locate five articles and 1 book (can be a textbook). Following the location of these resources, you will need to complete the reading exercises for three of the five items.

Have fun with the research and keep me posted if you need any help. I will be available tomorrow via email and phone.

In class discussion today, we explored the effects of ideas related to us and them philosophies. Professor David led the first portion of our class. David focused on Lessing's "You are Damned, We are Saved." Meredith contributed the viewpoint that Lessing explores religion as indicator of group thought. Alicia examined the social psychology of groups as Lessing viewed them. Maren created a link between Communism and Christianity. Alexis presented the idea that groups behave a certain way, and that sometimes if you are shunned from a group you are more hated then if you were never a member of the group. David suggested the groups are functions of ideas not structures of beliefs. Stephen presented the link between socialism and religious groups, and he suggested the belief that if you don't believe what we believe you are damned. Marc concluded the discussion be suggesting the importance of looking at the function of the structure.

Professor Chirs P gave an overview of Hemingway's "Now I Lay Me." Chris explained the story, and Amber illustrated the dichotomy of marriage vs. non-marriage for the narrator of the story. Amber furthered this link by suggesting that the story presents the theme of not questioning. Matt alluded to the story's quality of showcasing the feelings that someone experiences when he or she avoids looking at the situation. Meredith, Cindy, and Maren all focused on the nightmares, shell shock, and traumatic effects evident in the story. T.J. focused on the importance of the title's allusion to the nursery rhyme. Julien and Elaine concluded the discussion by focusing on the various coping strategies employed in the story.

Professor Maren explored the Harries reading. Maren explored the different elements of Harries ideas, and she questioned what it meant to look back without exploiting the experience or the people. We discussed the evidence of war monuments and historical events in relation to destructive and constructive specatatorship. We explored how various films reconstruct the war experience and experience of historical traumas. We discussed the importance of emotional identity.

Remember, no "class" tomorrow, as you will have time to research. Please keep in touch with me.

For Tuesday---

Read-Caruth, O'Brien and WInter (for weds)

Write-Post reflection for Caruth, O'Brien and Winter. Write blog posting for Tuesday.

Do-Work on I-Search Research component (due complete on Friday).

Take care, and keep in touch,

Kat

For Monday...

Hello all,

Today, we discussed the trip to the war museum, the Caruth reading, and the Vonnegut reading. We had some issues with the technology, so we will be watching a bit of _Hiroshima Mon Amour_ on Monday.

Some fantastic observations were made about the museum experience. In fact, the discussion which centered around the trip really was fruitful. I liked that you all examined the experience from a variety of perspectives and positions. The connections between "making history" and making war could be explored further, especially as we continue the course readings and explorations.

The Caruth reading was lead by Professor Alexis. Some observations which were made were: the shifts between seeing and knowing, the lack of awareness of death and self, the missing connections between the event and the remembrance. We also discussed a bit about the actual Hiroshima bombing to contextualize the discussion.

Following the audio interview with Vonnegut, Professor C.J. led our discussion about the reading from _Slaughter-House Five_. Using Vonnegut's words and observations from the interview, the discussion focused on the experience and the re-collection of memories.

As I mentioned in class today, you will need to bring a hard copy of your reflection posting for Monday. I would like to see more structure in the presentations, and of course, more class involvement. As such, on Monday the two presenters will be responsible for generating conversation, without my involvement, for at least ten minutes. The most important element of this course is your construction and engagement with generating an understanding of the material. Be prepared.

For Monday:

Read: Harries (76-102)
Hemingway and Lessing on Moodle

Write: Reflection posting on moodle for readings

Do: Print out copy of reflection and bring to class.

Take care, and have a good break.

Kat

For Friday....

Hello all,

Today we went to the American Military Museum. I gave a few prompts for thought and discussion. Hopefully, you are digesting your experience.

Some thoughts from my perspective:

1. Excellent exhibits and tons of memorabilia. The museum seems focused on capturing a sense of the military during the conflicts. I like that there was a variety of objects ranging from weapons to uniforms.

2. Odd mannequins-I was struck, in regards to our discussion about history and his-story, about the various mannequins used. They all shared the same expression and body frame. What does this say about the presentation of identity in relation to trauma?

3. The sounds-As I was getting ready to leave, I noticed that the sounds went off. Meredith and some other students commented on the absence of noise (since we had heard the gun fire, etc noise since we arrived). How does that audio component effect our understanding of identity and trauma? What about the senses needed to realize or achieve an awareness in the moments represented?



4. Mike pointed out the odd disclaimers that were around the various German memorabilia. How do these disclaimers work and function to create an understanding or to take a stance on our ideas about the war, the events, the enemy, the winner, etc.?

I will try to post some photos later, and I encourage you all to post photos of your trip.

For Friday-

Read-Caruth, Vonnegut, and Craig and Egan

Write-Reflection post on readings for moodle
2nd Blog posting (use all the readings, the museum, the movie, etc in concert with your personal observations and ideas)

Do-Complete i-search on moodle.

Take care,


Kat

For Thursday....

Hello all,

We began the class be conducting a short overview of homework and assisgnments. We also discussed our plans for attending a museum tomorrow. Here is the link to the musuem. http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com/

We will meet in the classroom at 11:00 to 11:15, and then we will drive to the museum. The museum is 3.50 a student. Please email me if you want to drive, need a ride, or need help with the fee. Plan to be at the museum for at least an hour to look at the exhibit. Remember, as we go through the exhibits you will want to take notes and make observations about what you see and how it is packaged.
*if you can't make it to the museum, you can attend later, and then present the stub or sticker to me for credit.

Today we discussed the connections between Caruth, Lubin, and Nemivorsky. The discussion differed a bit from the prior conversation, as we had a lot of communication and generation of ideas. OUr discussions explored issues of authority in history and the creation of history, the manipulative quality of media, the "they" of the power strucutre, and identity issues.

Professor Julien began the discussion and introduced concepts related to Caruth's understanding of Freud's _Moses and Monothesim_. Julien presented the idea of history and trauma; in particular, Julien focused on latency in the recollection of trauma and historical creation. The discussion shifted to an exploration of repression and the lack of consciousness at the time of the event. Lexi and Mike contributed their views that it is not that the person is "sleeping" but that the person lacks awareness, or true recognition at the time of the event. The link between history and trauma was explored in class, and then this link was furthered examined through the connections of Freud's reading and reconstruction of Jewish History in his work. Lexi viewed the work from the perspective that it is an autobiography of Freud's experiences, and it is a scholarly reconstruction of the history. This reconstruction is informed by the recapturing or recollection of the experiences; however, this conversation opened the door to the debate between historical facts and historical perspective.

Professor Lexi then presented her observations about _Suite Francaise_. Lexi observed that the story captures the theories and ideas that we have been exploring in the Caruth and Lubin readings. In addition, the various reactions that the characters display in the selection also reflect elements of our reading. The characters, explored by Chris, Danny, and Mike, all represent elements of the various methods used to explore trauma: the mother is caring, the grandfather is oblivious, the servants become equal, etc. Lexi mentioned that the cat, in the story, serves as a metaphor for the Nazi invasion of Paris. Very clever. Cindy lead us to a discussion about media via the radio in the story.

Professor Tommy explored issues related to Orly Lubin's piece. Tommy explored the issues of looking back, and forgetting but not forgetting, and how the experiences detailed in the piece correspond yet clarify certain aspects of Freud's piece (Moses...). The exploration of Lubin also opened the door to a discussion about subjectivity and objectivity in regards to the recollection of trauma. We explored the question of whether it is better to have a collective identity or a individual identity as a provider of testimony and trauma.

As we concluded the class, our exploration shifted to media and the power of the media, which in fact is another element of our readings for today...and that element is the element of testimony. As I mentioned, we must always ask ourselves who is doing the creation or the telling and who do these tellers want to speak to? In fact, the largest factor in the testimony and trauma. In addition, this factor also encompasses all aspects of communication, whether it is historical, personal, religious, or personal, testimony, both in the act of telling, listening, or witnessing, is the key to creating understanding and inquiry.

We had a short discussion about media and the military. We will continue the themes in this discussion in the future. Keep the ideas in your head.

We then started watching _Life is Beautiful_. If you didn't get a chance to watch it during class, please pick up a copy at my office (Brown Hall) or at the library. The film is also available for download. I will send you a link asap.

For Thursday

Read-None

Write-None

Do-Prepare for your visit for the Military Museum

*The next posting is due on Friday (on Caruth-textbook, Vonnegut-on moodle, Craig and Egan-on moodle) and the blog posting will be due at the end of Friday.

Take care,


Kat

For Weds...

Hello all,

Today, we had a very lively discussion, which is exactly what we should be trying to accomplish as scholars. Kudos to you all.

First, we did a short in class reading about the Kursk tragedy, "I am Writing Blindly." This reading brought fourth some interesting observations as we thought about why and how we create texts and stories to understand ourselves and the world. This creation and exploration is exactly what we "do" when we learn; we create knowledge. We also discussed Jean-Dominique Bauby _The Diving Bell and the Butterfly_ and his intense need to communicate.



We then shifted to discussing the Caruth and Harries Readings. Professor Meredith and Professor Matt provided the foundations and observations for our generation and exploration.

Professor Meredith discussed Caruth's connection of the Freud's use of the Tancard and Clorinda story to illustrate the why trauma functions in a person and a narrative. Professor Meredith gave an overview of Caruth's "Introduction" and she focused on exploring Caruth's idea of the "gap in the mind" that occurs as trauma happens and then re-happens in the memory. Professor Meredith also connected the act of listening and witnessing to the attempt at accessing or understanding trauma. Cindy contributed the idea that this understanding is informed also by the idea that humans have a fight or flight response, and that in moments of trauma the experience is not accessed until after the fight or flight response is reviewed. Erick mentioned that different types of events have different types of effects on different individuals; therefore, Erick proposed that this results in the variety of responses to trauma. Alicia mentioned Freud's understanding of repression and how it relates to trauma and dealing with trauma, which contributed to Lexi's observations that various cures appear i.e. "looking back" to try to address issues of repression related to trauma.

Professor Matt discussed Harries notions of Lot's wife's punishment. Professor Matt presented the foundation of the story. Professor Matt asked why Lot's wife was punished? Tommy observed that the punishment actually was an afterthought, of sorts, in regards to our discussion. Tommy focused on exploring the Bible story of Lot as a metaphor for the experience, a metaphor that is informed by the lens you look through to understand it i.e. masculine perspective. Amber contributed to the converstation by focusing on the act of incest as being part of the masculine creed issued from God i.e. Go forth and prosper." Alicia and David debated the taboo from both the masculine and feminine perspectives which generated a fantastic bit of discourse. David focused on the facts of the story, as presented, and Alicia focused on the story as representing the culture at the time. Both observations are valid. Kat contributed an observation about Dante's literary theory, and the importance of looking at texts or artifacts from Dante's four-pronged method: literal, allegorical, anagogic, and metaphoric. Lexi and Danny discussed the focus and function of the witness and how this focus relates to the human temptation to "look" at the destruction, like Lot's Wife. Tommy mentioned the importance of distance between the traumatic event and understanding the event and its effects on the individual. Lexi, Amber, and Meredith concluded the discussion by focusing on the temptation to remember, the temptation to look, and the need or desire to em-body the spectator's body.

Fantastic work class!

We then shifted to discussing the I-search component which is the first stage of the research project. The link is on moodle. Remember, you need to post the complete exploration of the three areas by Friday on Moodle. You need to let your mind focus on the areas that you are interested in investigating. Think about your reflections and observations thus far in the course. What is standing out to you? What interests or angers you? What makes you "feel"? This is your exploration, so enjoy it.

For Weds.

Read-Caruth (textbook), Nemirovsky (on moodle) and Lubin (on moodle)

Write-Blog posting ( combination visual, textual, and oral component which requires text, with three to four visual representations, and an oral component of a substantive amount). Post on blog.

Reflection posting on readings. Post on Moodle at least an hour before class.

Do-Start exploring areas that you find interesting for the i-search. The three-question i-search is due on Friday.

Take care,

Kat

For Tuesday....

Hello all,

Welcome to the course!. We did not cover as much as I wanted to today; however, we have accomplished getting the course started.

The class moodle is located at academic.eckerd.edu/moodle/. This is where all the homework and other information is located.

In class today, we reviewed the syllabus. Upon review, we have selected to limit the daily blog postings to one every other day; so instead of 14 total, we will have seven. The first posting, for Monday/Tuesday is due on Jan 7. You will post this on your blog.

We also discussed the schedule for the course.

For class on Tuesday:

Read: Reading 1 (Felman and Laub) on moodle
Caruth - 1-9 (textbook)
Harries- (1-4, 5-21) (textbook)

Write: Reflection (summary, reaction, reflection, and questions) on readings--post on moodle
Post before class)

Do: Start generating material for your first daily posting (due on Jan 7) on your blog.

General information:
Office hours: M-F 1:30-3:30 (with other times available)
Office location (Brown 147) (Corner by book store)

***Portfolio people--If you would like me to help you with portfolio materials and preparation, please stop by my office and we can arrange a schedule of revision and editing to get you prepared for the portfolio submission.

Take care, and see you tomorrow.

Prof Kat