Prof. Harold Marcuse
5833 Ellison, 893-2635
marcuse@humanitas.ucsb.edu
Office hours: Wed. 2-4
UCSB Hist 4C, Winter 1996
some changes will be made when I offer this course again
"Western Civilization, 1715-present"
IV Theater, TTh 2:00-3:15
I don't view history as a lot of information that "everyone
should know." For me, it is a wealth of experiences, some
of which are intrinsically interesting (like good books or movies),
and some of which help me to understand and judge what is going
on in the world around me. In this course I will share with you
some of the historical experiences I have found to be both interesting
and helpful in understanding the present. Some of those experiences
are the lives of special people, some of ordinary people. Some
are great cataclysmic events such as wars or revolutions. And
some are ideas (or systems of beliefs) which have helped people
to see the world around them in very new ways, and have thus led
to monumental changes in the way they--and we--live.
Along the way of learning about these experiences, we will also
learn and practice some skills, such as how to read and "digest"
books in order to make their contents part of our life experience,
how to think beyond the obvious level of a story, and how to express
our thoughts clearly in writing.
1. Lectures. Attendance is mandatory.
Please come prepared and on time. Arriving late distracts me and
disturbs other students; if you must come late or leave early,
sit in the very back rows. If you want to get the most out of
the lecture, sit in front!
I expect you to know the material I present in lecture; taking
notes is the best way to keep yourself attentive and to aid
your memory. AS notes will not be available.
2. Readings. There is a textbook, 5 required paperbacks, and a short reader. (see p. 2)
3. Discussion Sections. Attendance is mandatory and will be taken. Preparation for section is crucial! Writing assignments and quizzes may be given at any time.
4. Film. The film All Quiet on the Western
Front (1930) will be shown on:
_Wed. Feb. 14, 7pm, Buch 1920, and Thu. Feb. 15, 7pm, Buch 1910.
ca. 2 hrs.
5. Papers. There are two papers, one
ca. 500 words (about 2 pages), the other 1400 words (5-6 pages)
in length. Both papers are due on a Monday. If you are enrolled
in a Monday morning section, it is due at the start of
your section. Otherwise it is due at 11am in your TA's mailbox
(rm 4837 Ellison).
_short paper: MONDAY, JAN. 29, 11am (or morning section).
_long paper: MONDAY, FEB. 26, 11am (or morning section).
Late papers will be marked down 10% on the due date and each day
thereafter.
6. Examinations. There will be a midterm and
a final. They draw on the lectures, readings, and film. Each exam
has two parts: ID questions (identify and DEFINE THE SIGNIFICANCE
of names, terms, or events), and essay questions.
_MIDTERM: THURSDAY, FEB. 8, IN CLASS (3/9 IDs, 1/3 essay
questions)
_FINAL: TUESDAY, MAR. 19, 4-7PM. (4/12 IDs, 1/2 post-midterm,
1/2 cumulative)
You must turn in 3 large unmarked blue books to your TA by the
third week of classes (Friday, 19 Jan.). Your TA will provide
details.
Grades are weighted as follows: sect. 20%, papers
10%+20%, midterm 20%, final 30%.
I do not think that the purpose of a university education is to
accumulate units and grades, but rather to broaden the horizons
of your understanding and your perception of the world around
you. However, grades reflect both your participation in the course
and your academically relevant abilities, and I realize that you
are not indifferent to them.
If you feel you were graded in error, see your TA first. I will
only discuss grades with students after I have heard the opinion
of the TA. I may confirm, raise or lower your grade.
Enrollment after the first
day of classes is only possible with an RBT approval code which
can be obtained from the TA in charge. You must officially enroll
in the section you are attending, or you will receive a grade
of F (departmental policy). Students who have not attended the
first two meetings of the section in which they are enrolled will
be dropped automatically if other students are waiting
to enroll.
You must prepare yourself for each section meeting.
Please bring the appropriate texts with you, as well as
your thoughts and questions on the lectures, assigned readings,
film or theme. This is your course--think about what you
want to get out of it! I will be attending sections throughout
the quarter to find out how you are doing in the course and hear
your concerns.
Two honors sections are offered for students interested
in more intensive discussions in a smaller group; they are rewarded
with extra credit (1 unit). Interested students should talk to
the honors TAs at the end of the first lecture.
Your participation in section counts as 20% of your final grade.
TAs: James Burns, Kathleen Hasselblad, Traci Heitschmidt, Andy Johns, Ken Osgood, Kimber Schraub.
Professors and students often see things quite differently, and I am very interested in feedback from you. There will be time for questions during lecture. After lecture you are welcome to come up and talk, or to hijack me to Café Roma on the way back to campus. Of course I twiddle my thumbs during my office hours waiting for you to stop by, and I especially encourage you to contact me on e-mail (marcuse@humanitas). Send me questions and comments you have about lectures, sections, readings and assignments. I will respond quickly, and important questions and their answers will be stored on the mcl gopher [mcl% gopher<enter>]: 3. campus & school; 2. class materials; 10. history 4c.
The textbook reading assignments are to be read BEFORE
lecture. At 15 pages/hour the textbook readings should take you
about 1-2 hours for each lecture.
The books ("_") must be read BEFORE YOUR SECTION MEETING
that week. I recommend that you read them over the weekend. Depending
on your attentiveness, you will probably need about 3 hours each
for the short books (Candide, Communist Manifesto), and
7-8 "quality" hours each for the others (Contested
Terrain, Love of Worker Bees, The Drowned and the Saved).
Jackson Spielvogel, Western Civilization vol. 2 (1994), $30 used/$40 new. CB245.S63 1994
Voltaire, Candide or Optimism (1758), $3.70/4.95. PQ2082.C3E5
A biting satire of life in the 1700s by a master writer
of the Enlightenment.
Richard Edwards, Contested Terrain: The Transformation of the
Workplace in the 20th Century (1979), $12.75 used. HD6957.U6
E35
A perceptive analysis of how companies control workers
today.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto
(1848), $2.95/3.95. HX276.M32
A radical analysis of social relations by the founders
of Communism.
Alexandra Kollontai, Love of Worker Bees (1923), $7.50/10.00.
PG3476.K58 L513
The leading feminist of the Russian revolution describes
a revolution in private life.
Primo Levi, The Drowned and the Saved (1986), $7.50/10.00.
D810.J4 L45313 1988
A survivor of Auschwitz reflects on the meaning of his
experience for "civilization."
A Reader (35pp.) is available at the Alternative Copy Shop opposite the IV Bookstore on Pardall Road in Isla Vista, ca. $2.50.
Wk. 0 Section: What does it mean to "think historically"?
4 Jan. 1R. Introduction: Your Teacher and His Goals
in 4C _Reader: 3 Kinds of Hist. 11
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Wk. 1 Section: discuss "thinking historically;" Voltaire, Candide _Voltaire: Candide 140
9 Jan. 2T. Life in the 18th Century Splv. 631-45,659-65
20
11 Jan. 3R. The Enlightenment Splv. 597-623 26
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Wk. 2 Section: discuss French Revolution sources: Splv. 665, 684+5, 690, 692 _Reader: Kuhn, Structure 45
16 Jan. 4T. The French Revolution I: Things Don't
Work Splv. 675-94 19
18 Jan. 5R. II: Searching for a Solution [paper
ass. handout]
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Wk. 3 Section: discuss Contested Terrain and "paradigms" _Contested Terr., 3-162 160
23 Jan. 6T. Napoleon Reorders Europe Splv. 694-702,735-46 19
Splv. 652-9,705-17 19
25 Jan. 7R. Another Revolution: Commerce and Industry SHORT
PAPER DUE MONDAY
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Wk. 4 Section: discuss Comm.
Manifesto; MON.
IN SECT. OR 11AM, TA MAILBOX _Communist
Manifesto 60
[4837 ELL.]
30 Jan. 8T. Mass Movements I: Nationalism, Socialism
Splv. 719-32,747-54,
[this week: midterm study guide] 798ff,834-7
26
1 Feb. 9R. Mass Movements II: Abolition, Democracy, Women Splv.
757-61,827-34,890-5 16
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Wk. 5 Section: return first paper; review for midterm
6 Feb. 10T. Building States and Empires Splv. 781-97, 844f., 855-68 31
STUDY FOR MIDTERM
8 Feb. 11R. MIDTERM EXAMINATION
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Wk. 6 Section: discuss Kollontai, Love of Worker Bees; paper assignment _Love of Worker Bees 220
13 Feb. 12T. The (first) "Great War": World War I [2nd paper ass.] Splv. 868-73,899-917 23
14+15 W+R FILM: ALL QUIET, 2¼ hrs, 7PM: WED. BUCH 1920, THU. 1910 VIEW EVENING FILM
15 Feb. 13R. Peasants and Proletarians: The Russian Revolutions Splv. 846-8,918-24,958-61 11
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Wk. 7 Section: discuss film All Quiet on the Western Front [Monday=Presidents' Day]
20 Feb. 14T. The 1920s: A New Era? (The "Up" Side) Splv. 925-31,35-40,62-7 16
WRITE PAPERS!
22 Feb. 15R. Fascism and National-Socialism (The "Down"
Side) Splv. 943-56 13
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Wk. 8 Section: discuss Nazi Germany sources: Splv. 946+54, 975+89, 950+93
26 FEB. MON. 11AM (TA MAILBOXES)(OR AT START OF SECTIONS): LONG PAPER DUE MONDAY
27 Feb. 16T. Germany Picks a Fight Splv. 973-9,988-90
8
29 Feb. 17R. The Twisted Road to Auschwitz Splv.
991-3 2
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Wk. 9 Section: discuss Levi, The Drowned and the Saved _Drowned & Saved 200
5 Mar. 18T. World War II and its Aftermath Splv.
984-7,993-1003,
1007-12 18
7 Mar. 19R. Stalinist Socialism vs. Capitalism Splv.
1019-35 16
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Wk. 10 Section: final discussion: Havel speech; papers back
12 Mar. 20T. Re"f"olutions in Eastern Europe,
1987-89-91 Splv. 1039-54 15
Tuesday: final exam study questions
14 Mar. 21R. So what? Looking back and looking forward Splv. 1057-62
5
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19 MAR. (TUESDAY), 4-7PM: FINAL