RELS 482/HUMN 400 Animals and Religion
O’Connell 120
Wednesdays 7:00—9:50 PM
Instructor:
Sarah Pike
Trinity 231
x-6341
Office hours: Wed. 2-4 and Thurs. 5-6 and by appointment
• Course Description •
Our knowledge and assumptions about the lives of other animals come not only from the field of science, but also from religion and culture. Human views of other animals are always constructed in some ways by religions, cultures and socials norms as well as by direct experiences with animals’ lives. This course will explore the ways in which different religions imagine animals, employ them in rites and mythology and what they teach us about the proper relationship between humans and animals. We will also pay attention to historical shifts in understandings about the boundary between humans and other animals and about how we should live with animals in today’s world.
• Course Texts •
Kelpie Wilson, Primal Tears
Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson, Sightings: The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey
Other readings will be available on electronic reserve through the library web page.
• Course Requirements and Grading •
PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE:
This class will be taught as a seminar, so your participation and attendance are essential. You should read assignments carefully and come to each class with written comments and questions about the readings. Absences will only be excused in the case of medical, family or other emergencies (20%).
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
1) Every week you will turn in a two-page response to the readings or take a short quiz on the readings at the beginning of class, as noted in the syllabus.
Your responses should be typed double-spaced and should not exceed two pages. This should not be a summary, rather you should react to the readings by developing one or two ideas. What issue(s) does the reading raise for you? Do you agree or disagree with the author's perspective? Why or why not? Your response should focus on one or two central issues, but you should try to make specific references to the texts and incorporate brief quotes with page numbers into your response (20% for response papers and 15% for quizzes).
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS:
One or two students will facilitate class discussion each week. You must check in with me at least a week in advance to let me know what you are planning. You will start the class off by introducing what you see as the significant issues for the week’s readings. You must also bring in information on the topic of the week to supplement assigned readings. This supplementary information could consist of your comments on an article or book about the topic, a guest speaker, a video, or a survey of World Wide Web sites about your topic. You will also be responsible for getting the discussion going with provocative questions about the readings. Feel free to bring in audio-visual aids and customize your class session in any way you like (10%).
RESEARCH PAPER:
Each student will pursue a research topic throughout the course, resulting in a 12-15 page paper. You must use at least four books or articles including at least one primary source, at least one type of visual media, such as a video or television show, and at least two electronic sources, such as websites.
--One-two page description of your topic with bibliography of primary and secondary sources. For ethnographic research projects your primary sources can be individuals, groups or communities. (Due on September 24)
--Annotated bibliography due October 22 (5%)
--First draft of research paper due in class on November 12. Drafts will be exchanged with another member of the seminar and you will read and write up comments and suggestions on each other's papers that you will also share with me. Comments will be due on (5%).
--15 minute class presentation on your topic, to be scheduled during the semester at an appropriate time or in the last few weeks (10%)
--Final paper due by December 16 (15%).
Some recommended topics: choose an animal (monkey, snake, etc.) and trace its appearance in different religions; choose any particular religious tradition (Lakota or Makah culture, Tibetan Buddhism, Egyptian, Jainism, Taoism, for ex.) and explore its attitudes towards animals; creation myths involving animals; animals in biblical texts; werewolves or other shapeshifters; feral children (raised by animals); animals in religious art, animals in contemporary art (for ex., Sue Coe, Angela Singer); early origins of animal rights movement; history of vegetarianism in the West; the debate over animal experimentation; animals portrayed in children’s films; ethical and legal arguments for animal rights; new research on animal emotions; mutant animal films (“King Kong” etc.); an animal rights organization or movement such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) or ALF (Animal Liberation Front); feminism and animal rights; pet memorials/pet cemeteries; burials for humans involving animals; the animal sanctuary movement (such as Farm Sanctuary in Orland).
Course Calendar
Topics, Readings and Films
August 27, Introduction to the course
September 3, Theorizing religion, humans and other animals: Pt. 1
Readings: Kelpie Wilson, Primal Tears, 1-120
Reading response due
September 10, Theorizing religion, humans and other animals: Pt. 2
Readings: Thomas Berry, “Loneliness and Presence,” Kimberley Patton, “Caught with Ourselves in the Net of Life and Time”
FILM: ”Cat People”
September 17, Animal-human hybrids
Readings: finish Wilson
FILM: ”Cat People” (continued)
September 24, Native American hunting and fishing traditions
Readings: Freeman House, “Totem Salmon” and Pike, “Yurok Readings” (also begin reading Sightings)
1-2 page topic description due
FILM: “Whale Rider”
Readings: Linda Hogan and Brenda Peterson, Sightings
FILM: “Whale Rider” (continued)
October 8, Animal rites: hunting
Readings: Sightings, TBA and Elizabeth Lawrence, “Hunting the Wren”
FILM: “Nanook of the North”
Readings: Joseph Murphy, “Cuban and Cuban-American Santeria”
FILM: “Vodoo and the Church in Haiti”
October 22 Animal rites: vegetarianism in Hinduism and Buddhism
October 29, Animal gods: Neopaganism
Readings: Sabina Magliocco, “Neo-Pagan Sacred Art and Altars” and excerpt from The Mists of Avalon
November 5, Animals and humans in recent Western history
Readings: Harriet Ritvo, excerpt from The Animal Estate: the English and Other Creatures in the Victorian Age
FILM: “Animal Farm”
November 12, Animals in childhood experience
Readings: Edward O. Wilson, “The Serpent”
Readings: excerpts from Barbara Noske, Beyond Boundaries, and Donna Haraway, When Species Meet
In-class quiz
COMMENTS DUE ON COLLEAGUE’S PAPER
FILM: “Gates of Heaven”
Readings: excerpt from Matthew Scully, “Dominion” and Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, “Sharing the World with Feeling Creatures”
FILM: “Behind the Masks” and “Stairway to Heaven”
December 10, Conclusions and student presentations
Readings: Barbara Noske, “Meeting the Other: Towards an Anthropology of Animals”
FINAL PAPER DUE by December 16 (Friday of finals week)
• Other Information•
--Plagiarism and cheating are grave violations of the academic integrity policy of the California State University, Chico. This policy (EM 04-36) is posted at http://www.csuchico.edu/prs/EMs/EM04/em04_36.htm . We view plagiarism and cheating as serious offenses. The policy of the Department of Religious Studies is that anyone found to have blatantly cheated or plagiarized on an assignment will automatically fail the course and be referred to student judicial affairs for further disciplinary action.
--If you have a documented disability that may require reasonable accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic accommodations. DSS is located in the new Student Services building. The DSS phone number is 898-5959 V/TTY or FAX 898-4411. Visit the DSS website at http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/ .
--Lateness: In fairness to all, I will penalize late papers 1/3 letter grade per business day. --NOTE ABOUT TURNING IN ASSIGNMENTS: I will gladly accept assignments via e-mail before class the day they are due, or by Friday at midnight for the final paper.
--It is recommended that students make and keep a copy of all assignments and papers submitted to the instructor, especially anything submitted over e-mail.
--Students are expected to turn off all pagers, cell phones and other electronic devices during class time.
This syllabus is subject to revision.