|
The reading map |
K.E.
Brashier |
Always one to carry
out pedagogical experiments, I will endeavor in each session to give you
suggested reading strategies for the next session. (It will be a bit tricky for me because it means
I must always be preparing materials well in advance.) In other words instead of burdening you with
copious handouts during each session, I will burden you with copious handouts
for the next session. Buy a binder.
(Eventually I intend to put them all on the web.)
Reading maps will
consist of questions to ponder as well as quotations from other sources that I
think are relevant and provocative. I
will attempt to locate the readings within the larger historical context using
a "You are here" label. Please
read through the whole map first and, after tackling the primary readings,
think seriously and creatively about the questions and quotations on the
"map" because they are obviously intended to foster conference
discussion. In other words, I am showing
you my hand in advance, so if you have your own answers and opinions to the
material on the reading map, you will be well prepared for conference.
However, please note the adage that "map
is not territory." The map I will give you only marks the trail
head that I think is useful and
fascinating. Maps are wholly dependent
upon the cartographer's own "situatedness." Whereas I see something of philosophical or
historical interest, you might spy something of economic or anthropological
interest. In other words, a reading map
is only a suggested reading
strategy. I encourage you to forge your
own trails. My maps with their questions and quotations are only meant to begin
conference discourse; your maps are
meant to dominate the conference discourse (and revise my future maps as I
shamelessly steal from you).