The School of Humanities and Sciences will be offering two exciting and intellectually challenging Slow Reads this fall. They are open to all students. There are no pre-requisites. Both of this fall’s Slow Reads will bring you at a deliberate pace through your encounter with rich and complex texts.
Remember, if it’s worth reading it’s worth Reading Slowly!
Megan Graham (WRTG)
Slow Read: Elaine Castillo’s How to Read Now (2 credits)
WRTG 20700 CRN: 21298
Mondays, 4:00-5:40 (full semester)
By diving into Elaine Castillo's nonfiction essay collection How to Read Now, this class will explore the political and ethical dimensions of reading, with special focus on how to read texts (books, comics, tv shows, films, everything) within the context of contemporary debates about "problematic" texts and authors. How do we go beyond simplistic readings that "praise" or "blame" authors, to sophisticated readings that take the fulness of historical and social context into account? Come learn how to read better.
Tatiana Patrone (PHIL)
Slow Read: Friedrich Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil
PHIL 21500 CRN 21747
Mondays 1:00-1:50 (full semester)
Beyond Good and Evil is one of the most intellectually exciting philosophical texts that have come down to us and one that is just about guaranteed to stretch your ethical muscles. Why do we believe some actions are ethically correct while others are inherently bad? How can one create an authentic ethical stance to guide one’s way through life’s problems? What is the relationship between religion and our notions of good and evil. Nietzsche’s polemical investigation of these fundamental issues has troubled and challenged readers since its first appearance in 1886. To read Nietzsche, you just have to Read Slowly!
If you would like more information about ICs Slow Reads, wish to hear about future plans, or have suggestions for new Slow Reads, please contact Bob Sullivan (ENGL) at rsulliva@ithaca.edu.