History through Selected Biography:
Post War Europe
Cristofer Scarboro
History 255
King’s College, Fall 2006
Cristofer Scarboro
MWF: 10:00-10:50
McGowan 407
E-mail: cristoferscarboro@kings.edu
Phone: 208-5900 ext. 5637
Office: Hafey-Marian Hall 312
Office Hours: Mon. / Wed. /Fri. 11:00-2:00
Tues. / Thurs. 9:30-12:00
I. Course Description
This course will explore the thesis that a well-written biography, memoir or autobiography provides important insight into a historical period. Special attention will placed on the methodology of historian in constructing a biography (a task which you will engage in yourself) and to questions of memory, selectivity and objectivity in the case of all three written genres.
Further, this course is about a specific time and place, namely Europe from the immediate post-war period to the present. It is structured around the idea that Europe’s twentieth century was played out as a struggle for competing versions of modernity. Traditionally in the United States, the second half of the century has been framed by the larger rubric of the “Cold War” viewed as a struggle between “freedom” and “communism.” This course investigates twentieth century as a period of high modernity, when regimes (in both Eastern and Western Europe) sought to create and perfect particular types of subjects and subjects sought to subvert and transform the intentions of the regime to their own ends. Such topics as the “Sovietization” of Eastern Europe, the “rebuilding” of Western Europe, the rise of a mass consumer culture and the creation of the welfare state, feminism and the revolts of 1968, socialist humanism, decolonialization and the collapse of European Empires, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and socialist regimes in Eastern Europe and such significant trends as globalization and European Unification will be discussed under this rubric.
This course is based on a topical approach rather than a strictly chronological or national one: major events will be addressed in roughly chronological order, but certain economic, political and social phenomena and intellectual and cultural movements will be explored over time in order to adequately trace their development and impact. Also, in some instances, focus will rest on particular countries and examples that provide profound and striking illustrations of the key aspects of European history in the Twentieth Century that we are discussing.
This class is designed to familiarize students with major themes and issues in post-war European history and the possibilities, problems and insights the historian can gain through biography. Acting as biographers themselves, the student will come put these issues to work by placing their written study of a subject into a larger historical conversation. Fundamentally, this course is designed to foster the development and enhancement of critical thinking skills: the ability to analyze and critique arguments and texts both in class discussions and in their written work.
A. Course Readings:
The books for the course are listed below and are available at the King’s College bookstore. You will be responsible for reading the assigned sections of the books prior to class according to the class schedule and are expected to come to class having digested the material and ready to contribute to class discussion. You will also be expected to lead class discussion on the readings twice during the semester.
**Liudmila Alexeyeva and Paul Goldberg, The Thaw Generation: Coming of Age in the Post Stalin Era, (Series in Russian and East European Studies) Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1993.
**Heda Margolius Kovaly, Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968, trans. by Franci Epstein, Holmes & Meier Publishers, 1997.
**Eric Hobsbawm, Interesting Times: A Twentieth Century Life, New Press, 2005.
**Svetlana Drakulic, Café Europa: Life After Communism, Penguin, 1999.
**Eva Hoffman, Lost in Translation: A Life in a New Language, Penguin, 1991.
There will also be several readings (generally primary sources) handed out periodically during the semester for which you will be responsible for reading prior to class.
During the semester we will also be watching and discussing three films: The Bicycle Thief, The Battle of Algiers, and Underground. The films will be shown outside of class according to the schedule below and will be available for viewing on reserve at the College Library.
Bicycle Thief: Sept. 20th (7:00-9:30)
Battle of Algiers: Oct. 16th (7:00-9:30)
Underground: Nov. 15th (7:00-9:30)
As well as providing you with the methodological and analytical tools for engaging in historical thinking, this class will ask you to actively take part in a larger conversation of historical issues within the class. I expect this class to allow us to delve deeply into the historical topics of each week’s readings. To that end you need to make sure that you arrive to class on time ready to discuss the weekly readings, having carefully read and thought over the material. You must take an active role in the class discussions. Thus a portion of your grade will depend on your in-class performance and presence.
In a class of this nature it goes without saying that a classroom environment in which everyone feels comfortable is essential. You should treat your fellow classmates with respect, listen carefully to their comments and respond to them in a polite manner.
D. Class Attendance:
King’s College regards student participation in class as essential to the learning process. Therefore, regular class attendance is required of all students. After three unexcused absences your class participation grade will drop a letter grade (from A to B). Each subsequent absence will result in another letter grade deduction. Please see the King’s College student Handbook for policies regarding excusing absences and campus attendance policies.
Students are responsible for making up any work they miss while absent from class. Work missed should be turned in the day you return from an excused absence (unless otherwise agreed to). Late work due to an unexcused absence will be penalized a 1/3 a grade (from A to A-) for each day late.
E. Leading Class Discussion:
You will be responsible for leading class discussion twice during this semester. This will entail reading the assigned text, song collection or film closely, arranging a list of topics and themes to discuss in class and preparing a series of questions to discuss during class. You will e-mail a list of 8-10 questions to me and your classmates no later than 5:00 the evening before class so that we will have time to reflect on them and prepare responses.
F. Written Assignments:
There will be two written assignments during the semester both with a European historical figure of the post war years as the subject.
A. The first assignment, due in class on October 16th will be to write an obituary of 3-4 pages on your historical figure. This should be done in five stages.
1) Make an appointment to meet with me during the week of September 4th-8th in order to choose a cultural intellectual or political figure of post war Europe. You must submit your choice in class on September 11th.
2) Refer to at least three printed scholarly, detailed works (namely, not electronic from the internet or CD-ROM and not tertiary such as the textbook, handbooks or encyclopedias). These should be history books and/or journal articles written by professional historians and which closely examine the person. If you have any doubts about the appropriateness of your professional sources, please see the instructor.
3) You must turn in to the instructor pre-bibliography of your sources, in proper format, with a photocopy of each title page for each printed source on September 25th.
4) Read several obituaries in order to get a sense of the style. Ideally this exercise should help you highlight the major accomplishments of the historical figure’s life and help you in your second paper assignment.
5) Write an obituary of your figure noting the important events shaping and shaped by your historical figure. You might use the writing center to help you with the structure and content of your work. Your final draft is due in class on October 16th.
B. The second writing assignment, due in class on December 11th will be to write a paper 12-15 pages on your historical figure. This paper is to be composed of two linked parts: first, drawing on your first paper assignment, this paper is to carefully outline the important events of the historical figure’s life. What did he or she do? Why was it important? What were the outcomes and effects? About half of your paper should deal with these questions. The second part of your paper should examine the historical debate of the figure. What are the historical arguments surrounding your figure’s life? Where do scholars disagree about their legacy and importance? To do so you must read several biographies and articles on your figure, note the points of contention and come to terms with the discrepancies. You should weigh out the major differences in historical opinion and come to some conclusions yourself about how your figure shaped and was shaped by the mid to late twentieth century. This should engage the second half of the paper.
1) You will schedule to meet with me during the week of the Oct. 16th-20th in order to plan your second paper assignment. Here we will talk about the sources you intend to use and how to frame the historical debate around your figure
2) We will meet again during the week of Nov. 13th-17th in order to gauge your progress and discuss any question that you have.
G. Peer Review
You will be responsible for conducting a peer review of two of your classmates’ first paper assignments. The review should be both marginal comments on the paper itself, suggestions on grammar content and style, and must include a typed 1-2 page review offering constructive criticism and advice for the second project turning the obituary in to the longer historiographical study of the subject. We will also conduct oral peer review sessions in which we all can offer our suggestions in class on Oct. 20th and 23rd.
H. Grading:
It is your responsibility to understand why you have achieved a certain grade, and what
steps you can take to maintain or improve your grade. You should consult with the
instructor during office hours or by appointment before and after exams and written
assignments.
For your protection, in case of errors in record keeping, you should keep copies of all
exams and assignments until you have received official notice of your final grade.
Your final grade will be based on a percentage (100-92%=A, 91-89%=B+, 88-82%=B,
etc.). Your grade distribution for assignments is as follows:
Class Participation: 10%
Leading Class Discussion 15%
Peer Review 15%
First Written Assignment 25%
Second written Assignment 35%
I. Academic Integrity:
The Department of History adheres to guidelines on academic integrity outlined in the Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook: http://www.kings.edu/student_handbook/studentregulations_rights/conductcode.htm
Cheating and plagiarism will be penalized in accord with the penalties and procedures indicated in that source. All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the definition of these infractions of academic honesty.
J. Dissabilities:
King’s College and this instructor will make every effort to accommodate students with a bona-fide disability that impacts on their ability to learn the course material. Please meet with me privately so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help in the learning process.
IV. Course Schedule:
Course Introduction
Mon. Aug. 28th
Competing Modernities
Aug. 30th:
Russian Revolution and the Socialist Self
Sept. 1st:
(Last day for Course Add)
Sept. 4th: Labor Day: No Class
Sept. 6th: No Class
***Schedule appointment to meet with me either Sept. 7th or 8th***
***to discuss the topic and strategies for your first paper assignment***
Soviet Union and the “New Society”
Sept. 8th
**Fitzpatrick, “Palaces on Monday,” from Everyday Stalinism
Nazi Visions of the Self: The Degenerate Art Exhibition
Sept. 11th
(Last Day for Course Drop)
***Subject for first written assignment due in class***
World War II
Sept. 13th
Discussion of Interesting Times
Sept. 15th
Origins of the Cold War
Sept. 18th
“Normalization” in Western Europe
Sept.20th
Class Discussion on the Bicycle Thief
Sept 22th
Post War and the Family
Sept. 25th
Class Discussion on Second Sex
Sept. 27th
**Readings: De Beauvior, “Towards Liberation” and “Conclusion” from Second Sex
***Pre-Bibliography for first written assignment due in class***
“Sovietization” in Eastern Europe
Sept. 29th
Class Discussion on Under a Cruel Star
Oct. 2nd
The Thaw
Oct. 4th
Consumption in Western Europe
Oct. 6th
Visions from the Colonies
Oct. 9th
**Readings: Fanon, “Algeria Unveiled,” in, A Dying Colonialism
Decolonialization
Oct. 11th
Oct. 13th: Fall Break No Class
Class Discussion, The Battle of Algiers
Oct. 16th
***First written assignment due in class***
1968 Part I
Oct. 18th
1968 Part II
Oct. 20th
Peer Review of First Paper Assignment
Oct. 23rd
Peer Review of First Paper Assignment
Oct. 25th
No Class
Oct. 27th
***Schedule appointment to meet with me either Oct. 27th or 28th***
***to lay the groundwork for your second paper assignment***
Class Discussion: The Thaw Generation
Oct. 30th
Socialist Humanism
Nov. 1st
Stagnation in the USSR
Nov. 3rd
Nov. 6th
Conservatism and the Collapse of the Welfare State
Nov. 8th
Class Discussion: Vladimir Vysotskii and the Politics of Dissidence / Punk Rock and the Politics of Dissidence
Nov. 10th
1989
Nov. 13th
1991: Yugoslavia
Nov. 15th
Class Discussion: Underground
Nov. 17th
1991: USSR
Nov. 20th
Nov. 22nd: Thanksgiving Break: No Class
Nov. 25th: Thanksgiving Break: No Class
European Union (?) (!)
Nov. 27th
Class Discussion: Café Europa
Nov. 29th
Dec. 1st
Dec. 4th
What is Europe? (2006)
Dec. 6th
Class Discussion: Lost in Translation
Dec. 8th
Wither Europe?
Dec. 11th
***Second paper assignment due in class***