Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.
So bitter is it, death is little more;
But of the good to treat, which there I found,
Speak will I of the other things I saw there.
Dante’s Inferno, Canto I
We begin our descent
Our seminar begins with two different images of Hell: The first is Migration. The second is Existentialist Angst. We shall look at two versions of this second, one in a world where “God is dead” and a diametrically opposed version in a world where “He is alive.”
In this part of our seminar, I will use these images to introduce you to our first social science concept: Description. The meaning of the word “description” seems straightforward, at least until we begin thinking about it. What exactly do we mean when we describe something? What does an accurate description look like? Why do people disagree over an exercise that seems so simple? Why should this disagreement matter (in a deep sense)?
From this day forward, you are responsible for keeping up with all of the readings on this syllabus. In addition to the required books, you must bring copies of both the assigned readings marked “PRINT” as well as hand-outs to class. Every time we meet, you must have the required readings in front of you so we can have a robust discussion.
1. Tuesday, August 27
Discussion Topic: Why is the theme of Hell a significant part of life? Why do we use the term so frequently?
In this, our first class meeting, I will outline my goals and the structure of this course. I will also conduct a class survey.
On Thursday, we start familiarizing ourselves with the terrain of Hell. Here is my personal guarantee: Everything we do as we move through this semester will relate to subsequent segments of the course.
Assignment: On Thursday, we will begin our discussion of Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway. As you read the book, think about the following phrase: “After reading the Devil’s Highway, I can see that the deepest form of Hell for the migrant is . . .” Then, write a brilliant sentence in which you fill in the ellipsis of the phrase. Then write two equally brilliant follow-up sentences that clarify your first sentence and flow logically and smoothly from it.
There is no correct answer to this assignment.
At first glance, this assignment seems easy. It is not. The purpose of this exercise is to begin training your mind to formulate effective introductions to papers. Thus, please spend a serious amount of time choosing the best sentences. In particular, imagine that your sentences are the introduction to a paragraph. Why would your sentences grab my attention? Why would the way you have linked them make sense to a reader whom you want to persuade to read further?
Your sentences should be typed and double-spaced. NOTE: You should consistently adhere to this rule throughout our course. I’m afraid I won’t be able to read any of your assignments if they aren’t typed and double-spaced.
Please send me your sentences as an email document (a document, not a regular email!) before our class meets on Thursday morning. After Thursday, I will create Google folders for each of you to which you can deposit all of your assignments.
IMAGE ONE
THE PLIGHT OF THE MIGRANT: “HELL ON EARTH”
Jesus was a refugee without a home: She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn (World English Bible)
The migration of peoples is as old as human kind. We are all products of migration. The goal of this section is to meditate on the plight of the migrant. To this end, I am not interested in getting into the concrete political debates surrounding the global crisis over the migration of peoples. Reasonable people can disagree about responsible policy responses. Instead, I would like you to reflect upon the following issues:
What is it like to be a migrant? Make this personal.
Why do we, as privileged human beings, struggle with the issue of empathy when we encounter tragedies, such as those brought about by the vast movement of peoples around the world? If we should be empathetic with the plight of the downtrodden, how can we turn ourselves around?
2. Thursday, August 29
Discussion:
Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway: A True Story. Read at least the first half of the book.
WWJD?: Jesus, the Homeless Refugee – Matthew 2:1-15 READ AND PRINT
3. Tuesday, September 3
Discussion:
Luis Alberto Urrea, The Devil’s Highway: A True Story Finish the book.
Assignment: Urrea quotes Raquel Rubio Goldsmith, a human rights activist, who says: “There should be no such thing as an illegal person” (p. 196). What does Rubio Goldsmith mean? And do you agree with her?
Write a single, double-spaced, typed paragraph in which you state what she means and take a firm stand for OR against her position. When you state where you stand, you should also state what argument could be raised against your position.
4. Thursday, September 5
Discussion: Great Writing, Persuasive Criticism
George Orwell was one of the finest stylists in the English language. His works are deceptively easy to read. Most people cannot write like this. I want you to try.
Each of the following readings relates directly to the topics of our seminar. We will return to them again and again.
In the first part of this class, we will discuss what makes great writing great. What are the features of great writing? Why is great writing so difficult?
George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language” PRINT AND READ
Famous facsimile (handout)
Mystery facsimile (handout)
Yet, sometimes it’s not enough to be a great writer. See: British Council, “Apologies to Mr. Orwell” READ
In the second half of this session, we will discuss what it means to write the introductory paragraph to a paper. What should it look like? What must it do?
If we have time, we will consider Orwell’s points about the use and abuse of words. What would Orwell say about the distortion of truth in our time? Is it any different than what he describes in his time?
Bring your physical copy of the Orwell reading to class.
You have a two-part assignment:
1. Read the articles below and write a concise introductory paragraph as well as the first sentence of the second paragraph that could be used for a longer essay.
Should NFL prospects be required to play in college bowl games? READ PRO (some angry letters) and CON.
In writing your paragraph, attend to the following guidelines. Your paragraph and following sentence should be double spaced and no longer than 2/3 of a page (though the best paragraphs are no more than half of a page):
a. Identify the contested issue;
b. Identify the opposing positions;
c. State which side you will defend;
d. Provide a very brief road-map of how you shall proceed.
2. Identify three features of great writing and, in one sentence, explain why each is important.
5. Tuesday, September `10
Learning is as much about looking at something as about reading and listening.
Today: We will meet in the Special Collections room, first floor of Hesburgh Library.
An excursus into depictions of Hell, both classical and contemporary, based upon Dante’s Inferno. We will move from the twenty-first century to the fourteenth century and back. Our goal in today’s meeting is to see how artists’ depictions of Hell reflect the circumstances in which they are created.
Notre Dame is a powerhouse in Italian studies and has one of the finest collections of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Julia Schneider, the library’s expert on this collection, will introduce us to visual depictions of Dante’s Inferno.
Assignment: Read the following two Cantos closely. Also, read the notes. They will help you understand what’s going on. The better you understand these Cantos, the easier it will be for you to interpret the artistic depictions that we will see. Make sure you bring the Cantos with you.
Canto I: PRINT AND READ
Explanation of what’s going on: READ
Canto Canto XXXIII (betrayal and cannibalism): PRINT AND READ
Explanation of what’s going on: READ
READ: Is Hell Real? Two-thirds of Americans say “yes.” If Hell isn’t real, why would a smart guy like Dante say it is?
Bring physical copies of the two Cantos to this meeting in the library.
IMAGE Two
BEING ALIVE: “Life Itself Is Hell . . .”
7. Thursday, September 12
Existentialism, Version I: “A World Without God”
I am cheating a bit in having you read versions of this image of Hell. Both of the readings were written in the twentieth century. Mea culpa. However, they serve my purpose well enough to make this transgression worthwhile. Although “existentialist” literature is not in vogue at the moment, there are enough issues in the air today (e.g. the pandemic; global climate change; the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; the possibility of a renewed mandatory military draft; even an asteroid exploding over Pittsburgh) to make me think this way of looking at the world is very much in the air. To add to my provocation, I am also throwing the Catholic church into both of these sections.
For background purposes, you can find a brief and very reader-friendly outline of the attributes of “existentialism” HERE
Do not worry about the many different types of existentialism. There are too many. Just get a sense for the general idea. In this first case–Jean Paul Sartre–we are looking at “existentialism for atheists.”
Discussion Topics: What does Jean-Paul Sartre say about the meaning of life? Do human being really have control over their lives? Once you have considered his responses to these questions, ask yourself whether the Catholic Church has a significantly different response.
Jean-Paul Sartre, “The Wall” PRINT AND READ
Article IV (1033-1037), “Hell,” Catechism of the Catholic Church: PRINT AND READ
Bring physical copies of this story and the Catechism article to class.
Paragraph assignment:
Imagine a debate between Sartre and the author of the Catholic catechism (let’s call him Jesus). What would constitute the central issue in the debate? What position would each side take on this issue?
You will know if you have chosen the central issue since Sartre and Jesus will take opposing stands. Without opposing views on a subject, there can’t be a debate.
Clue: You can identify the issue by imagining that Sartre and Jesus are facing each other while they enjoy a sumptuous feast at North Dining Hall.
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Inauguration of Fr. Robert Dowd, csc as President of the University of Notre Dame
Thursday, September 12 and Friday, September 13
Here is the schedule of events, see HERE. As you can see, we are hosting some extraordinary speakers between 11:00 and 3:00 on Thursday. Our new president, Fr. Robert Dowd, csc, will give an inauguration address at 2:45.
I urge you to attend these events. They are examples of what makes Notre Dame special. I also have a gift. I will reduce the page requirement for your upcoming essay assignment by one page for every paragraph I receive from each of you identifying a highlight in one of the participant’s statements. You may only submit one paragraph. Put it in your folder. I prefer that you attend these events, though if you absolutely cannot do so, I’m sure that the participants’ statements will soon be available on the web.
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8. Tuesday, September 1`7
Existentialism, Version II: “A World With God”
Flannery O’Connor was one of the most profound Catholic writers of the twentieth century. O’Connor is most often associated with a body of literature known as “southern Gothic,” which includes other writers, such as William Faulkner and Harper Lee. Hesburgh Library has a priceless recording of her reading one of her most famous stories–“A Good Man is Hard to Find”–while on a visit to Notre Dame.
Flannery O’Connor, “The Lame Shall Enter First” PRINT AND READ
Alissa Wilkinson, “What Ethan Hawke’s ‘Wildcat’ Gets Right about Flannery O’Connor” PRINT AND READ
Topics: What is O’Connor’s view of the human condition? What does she suggest about the role of human choice? In her view, what would make life worth living?
As you read the story, ask yourself why or whether the differences between her image of Hell and Sartre’s are greater than the similarities.
Bring a physical copy of this story to class.
Paragraph assignment:
Here is a debate proposition: “There is definitely room for hope in O’Connor’s ‘The Lame Shall Enter First!'”
Identify the PRO AND CON positions in this hypothetical debate. Use no more than three compact sentences (two could be even better) to state the argument for each side. Then devote one–and only one–compact sentence saying what side you will defend and why.
9. Thursday, September 19
The first Great Debate!
TOPIC:
In this class, we will hold the First Great Debate. One side (PRO) will defend the following proposition. The other (CON) will attack it.
The Devil’s Highway:
It was wrong to make Mendez shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility for the deaths among the Wellton 26. Even if no one had died, Mendez was only a small part of a brutal system that would kill scores of others anyway.”
Before we meet for this class, I would like you to prepare to defend both sides, PRO and CON, of this proposition. Your debate leaders will start the debate preparations on Google documents. It will be up to all of you to fill in the blanks by the time you meet for the debate. Everyone must contribute at least TWICE to each of the respective sides in the debate. Your contribution should be substantial, i.e., something beyond “ditto” and provide reasons justifying your position. I will look with favor on those who contribute more.
This assignment is designed to help you think about what it means to formulate a strong argument. I have already divided you into two teams on different Google documents. However, I will not tell you which team is PRO or CON before we meet.
Note: This is a debate! Not a tea party. Be civil, but be determined to fight and win. Please leave your weapons at the door.
Your First Essay Assignment IS HERE
10. Tuesday, September 24
I will not hold our regular class today. Instead, I would like to give all of you the opportunity to talk with me about your papers. I will be in my office from 9:30 – 11:30. I suggest that you bring a draft of your introductory paragraph for us to discuss. I will also hold my regular office hours during the week (see Requirements page).
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Please leave your technology at home. It is distracting. It inhibits learning.