Environmental Studies 101
Dr. Rachel D. Shaw
Fall 2001
Tues-Thurs 11:45-1:10
M30
environ-studies-101@stolaf.edu
Dr. Rachel D. Shaw Phone: (507) 646-3143
Office: Holland 513C History Dept.: (507) 646-3167
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30-4:00 and by appointment. E-mail: shawr@stolaf.edu
(You are also welcome to just drop by!)
Welcome to “The Culture of Nature”! This environmental history course explores the social and cultural construction of “nature” in the 20 th century, looking at the historical and theoretical roots of contemporary environmental issues.
Specific Goals: You will learn about the history of “nature” in the United States. You will learn what it means to say that “nature” is historically specific and culturally constructed. You will learn to question representations of the non-human world, and ask what agendas or presuppositions lie behind them. You will learn how issues of class, race, and gender, nationalism, individualism, and identity are contested and expressed through the medium of “nature.” You will learn to interpret the cultural and ecological terrain of local ecoscapes. You will assess the pros and cons of using “nature” to understand the non-human world (we will explore the ecoscape as an alternative). You will learn why “nature” appears in scare quotes in this introduction!
Skills: You will learn how to summarize, critically assess, and construct effective arguments, both textual and visual. You will learn how to interpret ecoscapes and how to assess and deconstruct social constructions. You will learn how to present your ideas effectively in image, text, and speech.
I. G. Simmons, Interpreting Nature: Cultural Constructions of the Environment. (Routledge, 1993; 1996).
Anne Whiston Spirn, The Language of Landscape. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998).
William Cronon, ed., Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature. (W. W. Norton, 1996).
Articles and other materials will be placed on reserve in the library.
Additional materials may be contributed by members of the class as need
and interest warrant.
Critiquing Cultural Constructions
Weekly Reading Reactions: 15% (1% each)
Images of “Nature”: 20%
Cultural Constructions: 15%
Reading a Local Ecoscape: 15%
Final Exam: 10%
Note that your work is not graded by starting with 100 points and subtracting points for errors. Rather, each contribution is weighed on its overall merits, judged to be falling within a given grade range, and the number assigned accordingly. Moreover, comments on written work will focus on major and/or typical problems or strengths; they will not itemize every flaw or contribution.
If you have questions about how to improve your work, I will be happy to meet with you during office hours. You can also contact me by phone, email, or in person to arrange an appointment.
You are also welcome to stop by my office just to chat!
A 95
A- 92
(90 is counted as an A-)
B+ 88
B 85
B- 82
(80 is counted as a B-)
C+ 78
C 75
C- 72
(70 is counted as a C-)
D+ 68
D 65
D- 62
(60 is counted as a D-)
Below 60 is an F
To calculate your grade, take the number out of a hundred each assignment earned, then multiply by the relevant percentage, then add the results.
Example: Participation, 88/100; Reactions (averaged), 82/100; Scrapbook, 84/100; Constructions, 88/100; Reading, 86/100; Final, 87/100.
Thus: (88x.25)+(82x.15)+(84x.20)+(88x.15)+(86x.15)+(87x.10) = 88.9 = B+
Note that the following guidelines for assessing student performance are just that, guidelines.
All student work is assessed on a case by case basis within those general standards.
Participation: You are expected to attend all sections of class, barring emergencies. Beyond attendance, you will be assessed on how well you contribute to class discussion and work. This includes commenting on and asking questions about the reading, and responding thoughtfully and respectfully to others in the class. All students are expected to participate regularly in class discussions and to keep up with the reading and other assignments. If you have concerns about your ability to meet this requirement, please see me as soon as you can.
Weekly Reading Reactions: (1-2 pages) At the beginning of every week each of you will turn in a short paper in which the reading for that week is summarized and assessed. You should also include several questions for discussion. You may, if desired, add a brief paragraph summarizing your personal reaction to the readings; this section will not be graded and won’t count toward the page total. Due weekly.
Images of “Nature” Sketch/Scrap Book : (Minimum 15 images (1 image/week)) Each week you will obtain or produce at least one image of a “natural” or “unnatural” object to put in your scrapbook. Each image will be accompanied by a short annotation identifying the object and explaining why it is -- or is not -- “natural.” You are encouraged to relate your thoughts about the object to the reading, and to be creative in the production of this scrap book. Scrap books will be turned in periodically for comment, and will be shared with the class during the last weeks of class. The format of the scrapbook is up to you -- it can be a notebook, a sketchbook, a series of posters, a diorama, a web page -- anything that allows you to display and comment on your images. Images can be created by you (sketching or painting is encouraged) or can be “foundobjects.” Check-in, 18 October . Due 4 December .
Critiquing Cultural Constructions of Nature : (5-7 pages) For this paper, you will find three representations of nature, describe them, and assess them critically, drawing on the ideas and frameworks offered by Simmons in Interpreting Nature to do so. This is somewhat similar to what you are doing in your scrapbook, but the focus here will be on critically “deconstructing” the representations -- what do they reveal about the assumptions and agendas of the people who produced them? Possible sources include film, television commercials, popular magazines, travel brochures, science textbooks, etc. Due 8 November .
Reading a Local Landscape : (6-8 pages, not counting supporting images) Drawing on the techniques and ideas presented by Spirn in The Language of Landscape, you will describe and “read” a landscape belonging to either St. Olaf or Carleton. This means that you must go to the landscape in question (choose one that you can take in from a single vantage point), describe what you see, research the history of the site in question, and assess the success or failure of that landscape. You will probably need to visit your landscape several times during the semester to observe changes (due to weather, human use, changing vegetation, etc.) You are encouraged to include photographs or sketches or maps. GROUP WORK: 5-6 people. Description due 20 September . Due 27 November .
Final Exam: The final exam will assess what you have learned as
a result of taking this course. Part of it will assess your familiarity
with the readings; part of it will test your comprehension of course themes
and materials; and part of it will ask you to reflect at greater length
on what you have learned in this course.
Week 1: Introduction: The Culture of Nature
Thursday, 6 September
Introduction to course and to each other
In-Class Assignment: What Does “Nature” Mean to You?
Week 2: Perceiving Landscapes
Readings: Tuan, Topophilia: Introduction; Conclusion;
Chapters 2-3
N. Katherine Hayles, “Simulated Nature
and Natural Simulations” in Uncommon Ground, pp. 409-26.
Tuesday, 11 September
Reading Response DueThursday, 13 September
Week 3: Environmental Attitudes
Readings: Tuan, Topophilia: Chapters 4-7
Tuesday, 18 September
Reading Response DueThursday, 20 September
Deadline for choosing landscape
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF LANDSCAPE DUE
Week 4: Experiencing Topophilia
Readings: Tuan, Topophilia: Chapters 8-10
Tuesday, 25 September
Reading Response DueThursday, 27 September
Week 5: Urban Landscapes
Readings: Tuan, Topophilia: Chapters 11-15; re-read
Conclusion
Tuesday, 2 October
Reading Response DueThursday, 4 October
Week 6: Culturally Constructing the Environment
Readings: Tuan, Topophilia: re-read Conclusion
Simmons, Interpreting Nature:
Chapter 1, “Introduction”
Carolyn Merchant, “Reinventing Eden,”
in Uncommon Ground, pp. 132-59.
Tuesday, 9 October
Reading Response DueThursday, 11 October
Week 7: Scientific Constructions
Readings: Simmons, Interpreting Nature:
Chapter 2
Michael G. Barbour, “Ecological Fragmentation
in the Fifties,” and
Jeffrey C. Ellis, “On the Search for
a Root Cause,” in Uncommon Ground, pp. 233-68.
Tuesday, 16 October
Reading Response DueThursday, 18 October
MIDTERM ASSESSMENT OF IMAGES OF NATUREASSIGNMENT
FALL BREAK 20-23 October
Week 8: Social and Aesthetic Constructions
Readings: Simmons, Interpreting Nature: Chapters 3-4
Jennifer Price, “Looking for Nature
at the Mall,” and
Susan G. Davis, “ ‘Touch the Magic’”
in Uncommon Ground, pp. 186-217.
Tuesday -- NO CLASS
Thursday, 25 October
Reading Response Due
Week 9: Constructions, Actions and Ethics
Readings: Simmons, Interpreting Nature: Chapters
5-6
James D. Proctor, “Whose Nature?”
and
Giovanna Di Chiro, “Nature as Community”
in Uncommon Ground, pp. 269-320.
Tuesday, 30 October
Reading Response DueThursday, 1 November
Week 10: Learning to “Read” Landscapes
Readings: Spirn, The Language of Landscape: Introduction,
Prologue, Part I (Chapters 1-3)
Spirn, “Constructing Nature,” in
Uncommon Ground, pp. 91-113.
Tuesday, 6 November
Reading Response DueThursday, 8 November
CULTURAL CONSTRUCTIONS OF NATURE DUE
Week 11: Learning to “Compose” Landscapes
Readings: Spirn, The Language of Landscape: Part II (Chapters
4-6)
Kenneth R. Olwig, “Reinventing Common
Nature,” in Uncommon Ground, pp. 379-408.
Tuesday, 13 November
Reading Response DueThursday, 15 November
Week 12: Learning to Argue Through Landscape
Readings: Spirn, The Language of Landscape: Part
III (Chapters 7-9); Epilogue
Tuesday, 20 November
Reading Response DueTHANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 21-25 November
Thursday -- NO CLASS
Week 13: Putting the Pieces Together
Readings: “Toward a Conclusion” in Uncommon Ground,
pp. 447-59.
Tuesday, 27 November
Reading Response DueCHRISTMAS FESTIVAL -- 29 November - 2 December
READING A LOCAL LANDSCAPE DUE
Thursday, 29 November -- CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Exchanging work for discussion.
Week 14: Reflections on the Meanings and Uses of “Nature”
Tuesday, 4 December
IMAGES OF NATURE DUEThursday, 6 December
Exchange and discussion of Images of Nature projects
Return to first in-class essay: write response on it instead of on readings.
Week 15: Thinking Back over
the Semester
Re-read first papers and comment on changes since then.
Tuesday, 11 December -- LAST DAY OF CLASS
“Thinking Back” Paper Due -- discussionWednesday, 12 December -- READING DAY
FINAL EXAMS -- 13-29 December
NOTE: We may have a take-home
final in lieu of an in-class exam. It is your responsibility to attend class
regularly so as to be aware of any possible changes, and to check with me
if you are unsure about materials covered in class or miss a section due
to illness.