Fall 2010 T/Th 12:30-1:50

English 2303 Room:PH103

LITERATURE OF THE GULF WARS Professor Arcé Office: Carlisle 403 Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:30 [email protected]

Course Overview: When soldiers marched out into the field of battle with lance, sword and shield, writers celebrated chivalry and courage—but then came modern warfare. With its technological advances, its political framings, and relentless media coverage, modern warfare has put distance between soldiers and the traditional tropes of heroism and sacrifice. How do contemporary American soldiers write about the experience of war? Can war literature still champion abstract ideals when the language used to discuss modern warfare often fails to make distinctions between combatants and non-combatants, freedom and occupation, valiant soldier and war criminal? War is the offspring of politics, and consequently, the critical perspectives for this class will draw from diverse disciplines such as political science, history and literary analysis, but our main focus will remain literature. Throughout the semester, we will read these texts as literary cultural products that tell us something about the way Americans understand modern warfare. The readings for this course will help us explore themes traditionally associated with soldiering such as civic duty, patriotism, gender in the armed services, military heroism and the need for (or absence of) a “belief” while serving in a war zone. Required Texts: The Things They Carried Au: Tim O’Brien Jarhead Au: Anthony Swofford I’m a Soldier To Au: Jessica Lynch Love My Rifle More Than You Au: Kayla William Journal For Jordan Au: Dana Canedy Suggested Films to View: Platoon Full Metal Jacket Jarhead Courage Under Fire Hurt Locker

Assignments You will be responsible for two 3 page, thesis driven essays throughout the semester. You will also have to write one in-class diagnostic essay, 2 one page responses, 3 quizzes, one midterm and a final. •

Readings: Assignments and readings are due on the dates listed on following course schedule.

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Thesis Driven Essays: You will generate two 4pg thesis driven essays in response to a choice of prompts arising from the readings and discussions. In addition, you will need to locate and utilize at least one academic outside source. Except for the in-class diagnostic, all essays must be typed and in 12 pt Times New Roman (the font that you are reading) with 1-inch margins all the way around, double-spaced, pages numbered, and stapled. No fancy binders. All essays must follow MLA format for research papers and use MLA style to cite and document sources. Please use single side printing please.

Plagiarism Plagiarism is the unacknowledged and inappropriate use of the ideas or wording of another writer. This type of behavior undermines the values of an intellectual community. Please make sure all of your sources are cited properly. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Attendance Policy Giving 100% (and then some) is absolutely necessary for your success. Students are expected to attend all classes and conferences on time. Your presence is essential to the learning of your classmates. Missing more than four days will effect your grade. If you must be absent due to extenuating circumstances, please advise me in advance. Should an emergency arise, please call the main office as soon as possible. Evaluation Grades consist of the following breakdown: • • • • • •

Essays Quizzes One Page Responses Midterm Final Attendance & Participation

35% 15% 10% 15% 15% 10%

COURSE SCHEDULE *Readings are due on the dates listed* Week One: Aug 26 Th

General introduction to the course: overview of class themes and discussion of the writing/rhetoric component.

Part 1: The Lessons of Vietnam Week Two Aug 31 Tue

The Vietnam War and Americans writing about Vietnam. Discussion of the major literary motifs of the Vietnam war including the idea of the first “post- modern war,” nation and the search for “meaning” through war. Readings Due: Chris Hedges [Selections from War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning] O’Brien. The Things They Carried (1-37) Due: Writing Diagnostic

Sep 2 Th

Opening Discussion on The Things They Carried Screening of a section of Oliver Stone’s Platoon Readings Due: O’Brien. The Things They Carried (37-84)

Week Three: Sep 7 Tue Discussion of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried Readings Due: O’Brien. The Things They Carried (84-180) Sept 9 Th

Finish Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried Readings Due: The Things They Carried (200-246) Due: Quiz #1

Part 2: Gulf War Repressentations- War Without Fighting Week Four: Sept 14 Tu Introduction to Gulf War literature Discussion of First Gulf War and its literary Motifs Readings Due: Peter Huchthausen’s “Chapter 9: The Gulf War: Desert Shield” from America’s Splendid Little War Andrew J. Bacevich’s “Wilsonians Under Arms” from The New American Militarism Sept 16 Th

Discussion of Dear Mr. President Readings Due: Hudson, Gabe: Dear Mr. President Readings “Dear Mr.President” & “Notes from a Bunker Along Highway 8”

Week Five Sept 21 Tu

Sept 23 Th Week Six Sept 28 Tu Sept 30 Th

Discussion of Gulf War and Swofford’s Jarhead Readings Due: Swofford Jarhead (1-85) Due: One Page Response Discussion of Gulf War and Swofford’s Jarhead Readings Due: Swofford. Jarhead (85-133) Discussion of Gulf War and Swofford’s Jarhead Readings Due: Swofford Jarhead (133-236) Discussion of Gulf War and Swofford’s Jarhead Screening of scenes from film: Jarhead Readings Due: Swofford Jarhead (236 to End) Due: Essay #1

Part 3: Women in Contemporary Wars Week Seven: Oct 5 Tu MIDTERM PLEASE BRING LARGE BLUE BOOK Oct 7 Th

Introduction to the Women in the Military Due: Hand Out

Week Eight Oct 12 Tue Discussion of Jessica Lynch’s I’m a Soldier Too Readings Due: I’m a Soldier Too (1-96) Oct 14 Th Week Nine Oct 19 Tue

Oct 21 Th Week Ten Oct 26 Tu Oct 28 Th

Discussion of Lynch, I’m a Soldier Too Readings Due: Lynch I’m a Soldier Too (96-134) Readings Due: Lynch’s I’m a Soldier Too (Finish Book) Screening of scenes from Courage Under Fire Due:Quiz #2 Finish Discussing Lynch’s Introduction to Iraq War Readings Due: Andrew J. Bacevich “Chapt 7: Blood for Oil” in The New American Militarism Kayla William’s Love My Rifle More Than You Readings Due: 1-81 Kayla William’s Love My Rifle More Than You Readings Due: 81-139

Week Eleven Nov 2 Tu Kayla William’s Love My Rifle More Than You Readings Due: 139-228 Nov 4 Th

Kayla William’s Love My Rifle More Than You Readings Due: 228-288 Due: Quiz #3

Part 4: The Iraq Gulf War Week Twelve Nov 9 Tu

Nov 11 Th Week Thirteen Nov 16 Tu

Nov 18 Th

Poems from Brian Turner’s Here, Bullet Selected scenes of documentary Homecoming Readings Due: Steven G. Kellman’s “Arms and the Curriculum” Elizabeth D. Samet’s “Not Your Father’s Army” From Soldiers Heart Selected scenes of documentary Hurt Locker Due: One Page Response Discussion of the “War at Home” Dan Canedy’s Journal For Jordan Readings Due: pgs. 1-88 Dan Canedy’s Journal For Jordan Readings Due: pgs. 88-137

Week Fourteen Nov 23 Tue Nov 25 Th

Thanksgiving Week (Finish Journal for Jordan) Thanksgiving Week (Finish Journal for Jordan)

Week Fifteen Nov 30 Tue Dec 2 Th

Finish discussing Journal for Jordan Selected Poems from Jehanne Dubrows Stateside

Week Sixteen [DEAD WEEK] Dec 7 Tue Selected Poems from Jehanne Dubrows Stateside Dec 9 Th Class Canceled and Extra Office Hours Posted Due: Essay # 2 Week Seventeen [FINALS WEEK]