America’s Most Bizarre and Politically Correct College Courses

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Charles, Dec 31, 2005.

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  1. Charles

    Charles New Member

    1. Princeton University - The Cultural Production of Early Modern Women examines “prostitutes,” “cross-dressing,” and “same-sex eroticism” in 16th - and 17th - century England, France, Italy and Spain (emphasis added).

    2. Occidental College - The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie: Race and Popular Culture in the United States.

    3. Johns Hopkins University - Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ancient Egypt. Class views slideshows of women in ancient Egypt “vomiting on each other,” “having intercourse,” and “fixing their hair.”

    4. Swarthmore College - Lesbian Novels Since World War II.

    5. Alfred University’s Nip, Tuck, Perm, Pierce, and Tattoo.

    6. Harvard University - Marxist Concepts of Racism.

    7. Occidental College—making the Dirty Dozen list twice—offers a course in Stupidity, which compares the American presidency to Beavis and Butthead.

    8. University of California—Los Angeles - The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience.

    9. Duke University - American Dreams/American Realities course supposedly unearths “such myths as ‘rags to riches,’ ‘beacon to the world,’ and the ‘frontier,’ in defining the American character” (emphasis added).

    10. Amherst College - Taking Marx Seriously: “Should Marx be given another chance?”

    11. Brown University - Black Lavender: A Study of Black Gay & Lesbian Plays.

    12. University of Michigan - Topics in Literary Studies: Ancient Greek/Modern Gay Sexuality.


    http://www.yaf.org/press/12_21_05.html

    And some people wonder why I would look forward to voting for graduates of Patrick Henry College. :)
     
  2. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    I'm going to give the award to Amherst College (a very, very selective school that costs LOTS of money).

    Marxism should NOT be given another chance.
    Jack
     
  3. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    And what, praytell, is so bad about prostitution, transvestitism, and lesbianism in early modern Europe?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 31, 2005
  4. 3$bill

    3$bill New Member

    I can't say the YAF looked very hard. What, is any course containing the word "gay" or "lesbian" automatically funny?
     
  5. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    I strongly suspect that the Johns Hopkins course on Egyptian religious rituals and art is not nearly as sensational as the YAF thinks, despite the provocative course title. JHU seems proud of it.
     
  6. Orson

    Orson New Member

    C'mon Jack! They can shove the rest, I'll take more Marxism, please.

    Even when the last remaining regimes join the dustbin of history, aren't we likely too be seduced again into trying it?

    Besides, as Lawrence Eubank state in his book "The Case Against Capital," while the fall of communism has chastened the Left from advocating Marxist utopianism, the remaining plausibilities - like capitalism's exploitation - are still part and parcel of the chatechism. This is behind contemporary assaults against business like "Big" tobacco. And now the campaign against fast food "dangers" and the pharmaceutical industry's "excessive" profit.

    This and other debates are still worth having. We need Marxism taught in order to engage the enemy.
     
  7. It is SO good of you to point out our (meaning "the Left") stupidity in getting upset about things like Big Tobacco companies killing our people, major food providers (like McDonalds) poisoning our youth and ruining their health, and major pharamceutical companies raking in excess profits from what should be a noble cause - the eradication of disease.

    Now I finally understand! These things are actually GOOD for our country because they help capitalists get richer!

    Thank you, Thank you Orson, for clarifying the conservative message so succinctly. Just to recap, and in my own words, don't fight corporate America, even if it is killing you and your children - they are actually the "good guys". The "bad guys" are always those evil Leftists who in their befuddled views somehow think that humanity can work together to improve their overall situation. What nonsense! HA!

    Thanks again!

    - Carl
     
  8. Jake_A

    Jake_A New Member

    What he said!

    Same applies to YAF's silly reference to one of Brown University's many serious playwrighting courses (in one cited Department; dozens more exist in other Departments).

    Happy New Year, all!
     
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I had the same reaction. I see no reason why ethnic and sexual minorities can't be serious subjects of study even if courses on them are given names approachable to young adult undergraduates.

    -=Steve=-
     
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    In reading this, I can't help but think that Mom and Dad should look in the mirror to see who's responsible rather than blaming Ronald McDonald and the Marlboro Man.

    -=Steve=-
     
  11. Mike Wallin

    Mike Wallin New Member

    More YAFfers here

    this place is getting better, I remember being alone conservative here when i started so many moons ago :)

    Mike - Music Industry Chair "Rudy in'08"
     
  12. Khan

    Khan New Member

    Re: More YAFfers here

    Yeah, anti-intellectualism is really taking off!
     
  13. While there is merit in your observation, there is also the troubling question of how to defuse and deal with incessant propaganda coming at our young people from all angles - most of it corporate rubbish designed to get them to buy things they don't need, and in extreme cases, are actually harmful to them. No amount of "mom and dad" can effectively counter this onslaught, which is why I take issue with corporate messages unfettered by any sense of government regulation.

    And, of course we all know that government regulation is ALWAYS bad, right? Especially when it interferes with the profits and rapacious greed that fuels our economy and foots the bill for our politicians' campaigns....
     
  14. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Amen!
     
  15. ianmoseley

    ianmoseley New Member

    There was also an interesting programme on UK radio claiming that, under the Bush administration, scientific advisors have been chosen on the basis of their political beliefs, rather than the quality of their science.

    www.spinwatch org has some interesting articles on how US public opinion is being manipulated
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Ian wrote:

    There was also an interesting programme on UK radio claiming that, under the Bush administration, scientific advisors have been chosen on the basis of their political beliefs, rather than the quality of their science.

    Perhaps that's because only those with a strong political affiliation for the Administration is interested in being associated with it? I'm not saying that to be obnoxious -- I can imagine that in left-leaning academia association with the Bush regime might be a heavy albatross.

    -=Steve=-
     
  17. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Suppose that corporations and their advertising never existed. What do you think people would look like?

    Would they be tranquil enlightened beings living in paradaisical classless harmony and equanimity? Or would human desire still exist and simply erupt through alternative channels? (Religion, alcohol, sex, political activism, scholarship...)

    One characteristic of Western society is the promise that people can (and should) change their lives in profound ways during this earthly lifespan. The market system consists of people making their living by supplying the things that other people desire.

    By feeding their desires, most people hope to find that ultimate satisfaction and wholeness that everyone seeks but never seems to find.

    Compare that to a medieval peasant, born into a mode of life that had always been the same (as far as he knew) and would always remain the same until the end of time. No corporations. No capitalism. No products. No advertising.

    But even that peasant had a life that was focused and centered squarely on desire and on change. The difference between then and now was that the final wholeness was translated into heaven, to be enjoyed after death.

    Carl has denounced rural West Virginia churches as some kind of opiate of the masses. And he has denounced the market system that supplies all those products and services that people desperately hope will change their lives.

    So what's the prescription here? What should enlightened people who are freed from exploitation and delusion be doing with their lives?
     

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