Backpage | New Courses Not in Catalogue

The Backpage has been excluded from the April 6 edition of The Miscellany News to make room for descriptions of classes not listed in the 2007/08 Catalogue. We regret not being able to feature The Backpage in this week’s issue, but after much deliberation, the Editorial Board decided that because of our responibility to the community, it is more important to feature recently added classes for next year. The Backpage will return in its usual space next week.
—The Editors in Chief

Biology
III. Advanced
327b. Pokémon Taxidermy (1)
Like all fads, Pokémon couldn’t last forever. This course is intended to address the issue of how one can preserve Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pikachu and other favorite Pokémon, or “pocket monsters.” To ensure a life-like product, students will begin by first freezing the Pokémon carcasses before removing the epidermis. The carcass will then be used to create a cast from which a mold is made and the skin is re-attached and glass eyes are added. Students will also experiment with other preservation techniques, such as freeze-drying Pokémon or creating a completely artificial result.
Prerequisite: Biology 226a. or permission of the instructor.

Classics
III. Advanced
304a. The Future of Ancient Roman History (1)
An examination of what will happen to Ancient Roman History in the 21st century and beyond. This course begins with an introduction to how societies have perceived the Roman Empire since its fall. Students will then consider how the Roman Empire will influence the future through reading primarily secondary sources, as well as through other media such as film, music and dance. This course is designed to place a particular emphasis on enhancing students’ ability to reconcile the past and the future, and improving their predicting and prophesizing skills.

Economics
II. Intermediate
243a. Economic Principles of a Navajo Tribe (1)
This course is intended to be a survey of important issues relating to the economy of a Native American population, specifically that of the Navajo Nation. From examining their traditional economy, which includes textile manufacturing and animal rearing, to comparing it to modern money-yielding activities, with special attention paid to the rise of casinos, students will develop an understanding of how the Navajo economy has transformed over the ages. Special attention will be paid to the challenges that casions will face in the coming years as market competition increases.
Prerequisites: Economics 100 or 101 and Math 131a. Numbers, Shape, Chance and Change.

Film
II. Intermediate
213b. Genre: Infomercial (1)
This course explores the history of infomercials, from their 1984 origins following the elimination of FCC regulations regarding television commercials to their late-night/early-morning prevalence on television today. In addition to kitchen products and home improvement items, topics of study will include politics in infomercials and televangelism. Special attention will be paid to George Foreman and Ron Popeil’s contributions to the genre and how it has transformed over the years.
Two 75-minute periods, plus outside screenings.
Prerequisite: Film 210 and permission of the instructor.

History
III. Advanced
341b. The Rise and Fall of Ask Jeeves (1)
This seminar examines the tumultuous story of Internet search engine Ask Jeeves (www.ask.com) and its significance in the context of the World Wide Web. When P.G. Woodhouse’s “gentleman’s gentleman” appeared on the Web in 1996, few imagined that such a colloquial tool would gain popularity and even devotion. We will explore the theories behind why “everyone just loves Jeeves,” specifically the two salient ideas that “people shouldn’t ask questions when they don’t want answers” and that “sometimes the answer to a question is a question.” Though Ask Jeeves did not suffer from computer-generated linkspam, its prominence today is only a fraction of what it has been in the past due to the rise in popularity of sites such as Google, Yahoo!, and Earthlink. The legacy of Ask Jeeves is uncertain in the foreseeable future and this seminar will end with a discussion of what is next.
Prerequisite: 999 recorded hours of Internet browsing.

Hispanic Studies
II. Intermediate
284a or b. Spanish for Native Canadian Speakers (1)
Designed for Canadian students who grew up in a Spanish-speaking home. This course provides students with the tools needed to examine philosophical and ethnological triumphs and struggles of various Hispanic communities in Canada through systematically analyzing each individual province or territory. While improving their written and oral skills, students will gain a greater sense of self.
Open only to Canadian Spanish speakers of Hispanic origin.
Three 50-minute periods.

Klingon Studies
I. Introductory
105a-106b. Intensive Introductory Klingon (2)
Fundamentals of the language taught in an intensive setting for students who wish to learn Klingon at an accelerated pace. This course will serve as an introduction to the essential structures of the language, in which students will learn to understand spoken (and unspoken) Klingon and to express idea both orally and telepathically. While learning the language, students will also gain a better understanding of Klingon culture, biology and their military campaigns of the 22nd and 23rd centuries.
Not open to students of Klingon descent.
Five 75-minute periods, plus four 30-minute drill and conversation sessions.

Religion
I. Introductory
153b. Religion in Video Games (1)
Can you really get closer to God by holding down on the A and L buttons while pressing forward on the joystick? This course approaches religion in an often-ignored form of media. Special attention will be paid to subjects including violence, race and sex and how these issues are influenced by the religions of the world. From Zelda constantly gazing at heaven to Mario and Luigi’s “Cain and Abel” relationship to Medal of Honor’s complete rejection of Buddha’s teachings, today’s video games are littered with religious themes. Students in this course are encouraged to help organize events to further blur the differences between religion and video games, including planning a NonCon held in a synagogue and hosting a virtual communion.