Messages
Message from Jennifer:
The final grades for exam papers will be available at SUMs reception on Monday morning. (23.5) Sorry for the delay.
Dear all, I promised you the final grades on Monday 16 May - but I forgot, of course, that 16-17 May period is a holiday. I've spoken to Jennifer who is delayed coming back from the US and won't land until Wednesday. That makes for another delay. Apologies. Hopefully she will be able to do the corrections on Thursday so that you can pick up your papers on Friday around noon. But please check with the reception first. If you have any questions you can ring me at 986 77 974. Best wishes Nina
The grades and comments on your exam papers will be available at SUM's reception on Monday 16 May.
Nina
Nina will be in her office 9-10am Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Essay Question from Jennifer Schirmer for SUM Seminar:
You are at a conference of environmentalists and represent a local NGO concerned with local issues and approaches to the environment. In answer to a presentation by a representative of a large, international environmental foundation that offers "conventional" and "essentialist" ideas about environmental issues, you need to provide an argument that illustrates 1)the cultural biases and meanings associated with conventional approaches to environmental issues, and 2)why local culture--its practices and meanings--are critical to any effort whose goal is to develop a successful environmental policy.
The lecture on Thursday 14 April is moved to 12.15.
Exam questions for the course "Cultural Aspects of Development and the Environment".
1. Nina Witoszek's question:Discuss the ways in which cultural tradition has influenced Norwegian perceptions of nature.
2. Jennifer Schirmer's question will be given to you on Thursday after the class.
The schedule for the three last lectures is as follows: 21 March, Jennifer Schirmer, "What is Culture?" 7 April, Nina Witoszek, "Landscape and Memory" 14 April, Jennifer Schirmer, "Culture and Society and the Envrionmental Movement"
Nina Witoszek's lecture on the "Norwegian Nature Tradition" will be held on Wednesday 9 March at 16.15pm. The Lecture "Nature, Culture and Ideology" is moved from 31 March to Thursday 10 March at 13.15.
PROGRAM
LECTURES: THURSDAYS 1-3pm (Mars 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 14)
SEMINARS: TUESDAYS 10-12am (Mars 8, 15, 29, April 5, 12, 19) Seminar leader:
1. Lecture 3 March: "The Cultural Turn in the Interdisciplinary Studies of Development and the Environment" Nina Witoszek
Read: Evernden, The Social Creation of Nature, entire. Croll and Parkin, "Cultural Underpinnings of the Environment" Ingold, " Culture and the Perception of the Environment" White, Jr. "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis" Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations"
2. Lecture 10 March: "What is Culture?" Guest lecturer: Jennifer Schirmer
Read: Bauman, Culture as Praxis.
3. Lecture 17 March: "The Norwegian Nature Tradition: from the Eddas to Næssianism" Nina Witoszek
Read: Chapter 53 and 54 in Witoszek and Brennan, Philosophical Dialogues Witoszek: "The Unromantic Romantics"
4. Le...
Cultural Aspects of Development and the Environment (4012)
Module coordinator: Nina Witoszek
LITTERATURE
Books to buy: Neil Evernden, The Social Creation of Nature, (Baltimore: The Johnm Hopklins University Press, 1992).
Robert Gottlieb, Forcing the Spring: The Transformation of the American Environmental Movement, (New York: Island Press, 1995).
Nina Witoszek and Andrew Brennan: Philosophical Dialogues: Arne Næss and the Progress of Ecophilosophy, (Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999).
Note: Former students of SUM 4014 have this book. Chapter 40 (Ramachandra Guha), chapter 41 (Arne Næss), chapter 42 (Stephan Harding), chapter 53 (Nina Witoszek), chapter 54 (Arne Næss), and postscript (Ramachandra Guha) are required readings.
Optional non-fiction: William Cronon (ed.), Uncommon Ground: Toward Reinventing Nature (New York: Norton,...