2 Course Proposals

Descriptions of 2 courses I proposed for Duke University's Talent Identification Program. The first one was accepted and is being offered summer 2011. The second is a proposal for a weekend course in the fall of 2011. I'm writing this post to practice the habit of posting about something other than freewriting about various media issues. While I've posted other things before, I'd like to get better at it. So here goes:

Existentialism in Film and Other Media
This course will explore the ways in which existential philosophy manifests itself in texts from a variety of media sources– films, novels, comic books, music and more. Beginning with an introduction to classic existential texts by Sartre, Camus and Dostoevsky, students will get a strong understanding of the basics of existential thought. From here, the class will examine short stories, films and other texts, creating interpretations through discussions, paper writing and in-class activities. The course will help students to create their own philosophical interpretations and grow in their ability to analyze and make sense of literary texts and the world around them.

Inspiring Writing Through Multimedia

This course will explore the ways in which internet and multimedia texts can be used to inspire creative writing. Students will learn how to use photographs to help develop characters, YouTube videos to write inner monologues, electronic music to create settings and more. In addition, the class will offer a brief introduction to online publishing and peer feedback on writing. During the course, students will have the option of producing a short story, several poems, or a multi-genre piece. The goal of the class will be to equip students with simple ways to continue writing on their own by drawing on resources already available to them.  The course materials will build upon the most successful lessons from my Inspired Writer and Writer’s Workshop classes, both offered as part of the 2010 TIP Summer Studies program at Texas A&M University.

It's interesting to see these two side-by-side. I had never written a course proposal before submitting the Existentialism course earlier this year. Since the class was accepted, I used this paragraph as a template for the second. Even on top of the obvious stylistic similarities, it's interesting to see my own interests shining through so similarly in both, despite the fact that they were conceived apart. It's also fun to see a little bit of BS in them both.