WSU - AMERICAN STUDIES/ENGLISH 472

American Studies/English 472 not only provides students with a focused way of examining how American nature writers have framed human interactions with the natural environment and how these writings are relevant to current ecological problems and issues, but it also demands that they step back from the scientific knowledge that they have acquired in earlier courses to inquire about how cultural values have shaped our definitions of nature, our perceptions of and relationships to the natural environment, and our political priorities relative to the kinds of environmental problems and solutions that we address in the United States.

LINKS TO CLASS PAGES

Class Assignments

Desert Solitaire

White Noise

Norton Anthology of American Lit.

Ecodefense

Mean Spirit

A Sand County Almanac

Heroes and Saints

My First Summer in the Sierra

Toxic Nation, The Fight to Save Our Communitties from Chemical Contamination

Ceremony

A Thousand Acres

Practice of the Wild

Walden

Refuge

WEEK 1: NATURE, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

Reading:: Gary Snyder, "The Etiquette of Freedom"
Links:: Literary Kicks - Check out this literary link with biographical information, bibliographies, link-ups, and writings on Gary Snyder and other Beat poets.; Towards an Environmental Poetics -This link explores and defines interactions and relationships between nature and literary creation. Also included are interpretive readings of works by Geothe, Anna de Noailles, and Gary Snyder.

WEEK 2: TRANSCENDENTALISM: THE SPIRITUAL AND THE MATERIAL

Reading:: R.W. Emerson, "Nature"
Links:: Environmental Ethics: Ralph Waldo Emerson; Two Perspectives on Racism - This link discusses racism from the perspectives of Transcendentalism and Social Darwinism.

WEEK 3: TOWARD A MATERIAL PHILOSOPHY

Reading:: H.D. Thoreau, Walden
Links:: Electronic Drummer - Check out this newsletter from the Thoreau Institute with plenty of environmentally oriented link-ups.

WEEK 4: BIOCENTRISM EMERGING

Reading:: John Muir, excerpts from My First Summer in the Sierra
Links:: Sierra Club - Take a look at this link dedicated to historical and contemporary issues and involvements of the Sierra Club and its founder, John Muir.; John Muir Centre - This site contains information on Dunbar's John Muir Association, as well as links to writings on the conservation movement and on-line John Muir texts.

WEEK 5: NATIVE RIGHTS AND RESOURCE EXTRACTION

Readings:: Richard White, "Transforming the Land"; Linda Hogan, Mean Spirit; Guest Speaker from the History Department on reservations, allotments, resource extraction and Native Rights.
Links:: Listening to Native Americans - John Barry Ryan discusses his own experiences in listening to and understanding the complexities of Native American voices in art, literature, religion, ritual, and politics.; National Environmental Coalition of Native Americans - Find out how Native American organizations are fighting to save the environment and end environmental racism. Also find out how you can get involved.; Native Americans and the Environment - This link contains extensive resources for research and education at all levels on environmental and cultural issues. Great links and bibliographies!

WEEK 6: TOWARD A LAND ETHIC

Readings:: Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac; Excerpted articles on "Takings" Legislation
Links:: Perceptual Transformation from an Economic to an Ecosystem Paradigm - An essay that explores how economics influence perceptions of the environment.; grazing 4 html - Check out this site constructed by activists concerned about overgrazing in the American west.; us and our constitution - Contribute to this re-envisioning of the Constitution.

WEEK 7: "DEFENDING" THE LAND

Readings:: Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire; Ecodefense, foreward by Edward Abbey
Links:

WEEK 8: ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM

Readings:: Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony; Background reading on the history of Los Alamos
Links:: Toxic Wastes on the Border- Focuses on toxic dumping in the border region between San Diego and Tijuana.; Environmental Liberty and Social Justice for All - An essay that explores and defines advocacy planning and how it can be used to fight environmental racism.

WEEK 9: THINKING ABOUT HANFORD

Readings:: Terry Tempest Williams, excerpts from Refuge; Background readings on nuclear testing and Hanford
Links:: Introduction to the Hanford Site - Published by the Department of Energy, this link outlines the Hanford Site'smission, values, and vision.; Nuclear Technology: The Inappropriate Exercise of Human Intelligence - Poses fundamental questions about the rationale of nuclear technology. Plenty of historical documentation and extensive references.

WEEK 10: TECHNOLOGY AND DENIAL OF DEATH

Readings:: Don DeLillo, White Noise; Background readings on Three Mile Island, Bhopal, and Chernobyl
Links:: Three Mile Island: Recovery and Decontaminination - An excellent resource with access to extensive databases on cleanup operations at Three Mile Island and plenty of links to related web sites.; Earthbase: The Bhopal Disaster - Get information on the effects, causes, and politics of the Bhopal disaster and the nature of chemical accidents.

WEEK 11: ECOFEMINISM

Readings:: Christine J. Cuomo, "Ecofeminism, Deep Ecology and Human Population"; Victorian Davion, "Is Ecofeminism Feminist?"; Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres
Links:: Environmental Education

WEEK 12: CANCER, THE ENVIROMENT AND THE POLITICS OF SCIENCE

Readings:: A Thousand Acres cont.; Robert Proctor, "Doubt is Our Product," from Cancer Wars; "The Struggle for Certainty," and "The Virtues of Messy Democracy and Uncertain Science"
in Toxic Nation
Links:: Intro to a Series on Health Costs of Nuclear Technology

WEEK 13: PESTICIDES AND THE RIGHTS OF FARMWORKERS

Readings:: Cherrie Moraga, Heroes and Saints; "Poisonous Doubts" from Toxic Nation; Guest Speaker, PCUN
Links:: The American Farmworkers Page - Includes several links to issues involving migrant workers within U.S. borders.

WEEK 14: THE CULTURE OF INDIVIDUALISM

Film:: Safe
Links:

WEEK 15: CONCLUDING DISCUSSION

Please report problems to the following address: prh@wsunix.wsu.edu

This page created by Penny Hall for Dr. T.V. Reed and Dr. Desiree Hellegers.