The Culture of Dating: A Survey of Literature I Read To Understand Women
English 211
304 Oates Hall
T TR 10:00-10:54 AM
Prof. Douglas Troutfist
Office: Faquette Hall Rm. 576
Email: troutfist.d@updike.edu
Office Hours: Monday 6:00-6:15 AM
Course Description
In this course we will discuss the issues that surround dating in contemporary America. Using books I read in attempts to impress or understand the women in my life we will come to understand the masculine role in dating, what women want versus what they say they want, and whether one can use popular media to gain a foothold in someone’s life by making oneself seem more interesting vis a vis shared interests and conversation starters.
Learning Objectives
* Understand the futility of dating by analyzing the novels, comics, biographies, and other print media that has been mentioned or recommended to me as essential by women I wanted to date/sleep with.
* Understand the cultural contexts within which these books are mentioned or recommended.
* Consider the ethical questions of obsession, stalking, and pretense.
* Practice library and internet research skills, use of primary sources.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken during every class session. Failure to regularly attend class will be interpreted as a personal evaluation and rejection of the professor and will not be tolerated. Your final grade will be lowered by a letter for each class missed (ex. If your final grade is an 86%, or B, and you missed one class then your ultimate grade will be lowered to a C). Just try and negotiate this with me.
Plagiarism
You must write and submit your own original work per the requirements set forth in the student handbook. Anyone understood to have committed plagiarism will face a gauntlet of wiffle bats administered by senior members of the English faculty. A call will also be placed to your parents in which it will be requested that they “cut you off” financially.
Papers and Exams
There will be two short essays based on the readings. A final exam will be administered according to the university schedule during finals week. Instructor evaluation forms will also be handed out at that time, during which I will leave the room and try to figure out what you are all writing about me and whether or not I have enough time to sneak out for a smoke.
Participation
It is mandatory that you participate meaningfully in class discussions, or that you smile nicely at me during same. A tasteful amount of cleavage is also an acceptable alternative.
Grading
There are 100 total points that may be earned in this class. Each essay will be worth 10 points. The final exam will be exhaustive and will be worth 20 points. The remaining 60 points will be awarded based on the frequency and level of enthusiasm of your participation. Students who say vapid things just to earn participation points will be subject to severe disciplinary measures to be determined by a tribunal of tenured elders.
Readings
Week 1 (21 and 23) Katie L.
Skinny Legs and All (Tom Robbins)
Discussion: The disadvantages of saying “I’ve heard of him but I haven’t read anything by him.”
Week 2 and 3 (26 through 7) Molly M.
Franny and Zooey (J.D. Salinger), On the Road (Jack Kerouac)
Discussion: Pretending like you are a member of a long-dead literary subculture.
Week 4 (9-13) Susan K.
The Bhagavad Gita, The Dalai Lama's Book of Wisdom
Discussion: The disparity between a girl’s spiritual interests and the way she actually lives her life.
Week 5 (18-20) Brittney C.
Vegan Freak (Bob & Jenna Torres), Peta.org
First essay due on Thursday. Choose one of the following: (1) The ethics of exhaustive research into the interests of someone you may be obsessed with (2) Knowing Too Much. Explore the ways we lose interest in people based on what they read and believe.
Week 6 (23-27) Sarah P.
How to Be Good (Nick Hornby), Life of Pi (Yann Martel), The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)
Discussion: Book reviews—the fast-track to engaging conversations.
Week 7 (2-6) Carrie M.
The Diary of Anais Nin Vol. 1 (selections)
Discussion: Realizing that someone is trying to be someone else.
Week 8 (9-13) Anne T.
Ulysses (James Joyce)
Discussion: Attracting someone who is smarter than you; how far in did you get?
Week 9 (16-20) Mary S.
Cunt (Inga Muscio)
Discussion: What was I thinking? Compromising masculinity in the search for sex.
Week 10. (23-27) Elizabeth Y.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera)
Discussion: The discovery that she’s not into discussing a difficult book she read many years ago.
Week 11 (30 - 3) Jennifer K.
Manga survey, Nietzsche, Deleuze (selections on Blackboard)
Second essay due Thursday. Choose one of the following: (1)The tenability of quickly mastering cult literature to improve sexual attractiveness (2) The possibility of presenting as datable an authentic self that is informed by popular media.
Week 12 (6-10) Lisa B.
Blogs: http://kitten_ranger83.livejournal.com & friends list, blogs from handout.
Discussion: How far is too far, what defines a stalker?
Week 13 (13-17)
No Reading.
Discussion: Why reading to understand women and get into their world is total bullshit; review for final exam.
2006, DT.
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© 2006 Damion Armentrout. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.