There
are two important announcements for the next couple of weeks:
1.
Dr. Strangelove
Next week you
will be watching the film Dr. Strangelove. In your journals, please answer the following question: “In
what ways did the film lampoon (make fun of) U.S. policies in the Cold
War? Identify as many as you can.”
Discussion
will be led by Dr. Kollander. Please
participate and make me proud.
Please also make sure you sign an attendance sheet.
Also, the
short article you are going to read on Dr. Strangelove was written by a
student at a Canadian university.
It provides a decent model for you to follow when thinking about your
own papers.
2.
The Kennedy Tapes
Beginning the
week after Spring Break, we will be reading The Kennedy Tapes. This will be a very interesting read,
but it may be somewhat challenging.
I strongly encourage you to get a head start on it over the break.
Also, there
will be journal assignments for every section of the Kennedy Tapes. These will be handed out, and will be
posted on the Internet as well. Click here for description of assignments for The Kennedy
Tapes.
For homework
on 2/6, answer this question: “Was
the Manchurian Candidate critiquing the Cold War climate of anti-communism, or
reinforcing popular fears of the communist menace?”
**
THERE HAS BEEN A ROOM CHANGE!!!
From now on,
we will meet in different locations on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
On Tuesdays,
we will meet in SC 180 (Sanson Science, Bldg. 1, a new bldg at the far north
end of the breezeway.)
On Thursdays,
we will meet in GCS 108.
Sorry for the
inconvenience!
**
For next two classes, you will be reading the document NSC-68. This is a long
and important document. Please
remember to print it out and bring it to class. In your
journal, write on any aspect of the document that interests you. Some questions to consider:
a. How does the document describe the
intentions and actions of the U.S. and USSR?
b. What role does ideology play in shaping
the analysis of the document?
c. What might have been the purpose of this
document? Who is it written for
and why?
d. How do you “react” to the statements in
the document? Do you find it
believable, convincing, ridiculous, disturbing, etc? Why?
e. What would you say, according to NSC 68,
is the “nature of the conflict”?
f. What attitude does the document have toward
negotiation?
g. This document, like all NSC documents, is
in part a result of interagency cooperation and collaboration. Can you identify areas that might have
been produced by the Department of Defense, or Department of State?
h. What courses of action does the document
list as possible, and which does the document ultimately recommend? Ultimately, what actions and policies
does the document advocate for the U.S.?
** I have posted a sample journal entry
from last week, and I may continue to post some samples. You may follow my style or adopt your
own. My sample journal entry is
posted here.
For
next class (1/14), you will be reading U.S. and Soviet Documents
from the early Cold War. In
your journal, please do the following:
i. Write a paragraph, or create a
list/table, comparing and contrasting U.S. and Soviet perceptions of each other
as represented in the documents.
You may wish to consider such questions as: How does each side describe the actions of the other? Why does each side view the other as a
threat? What evidence does each
side use for its assessments? What
kinds of policies do the representatives from each side recommend to their
governments?
j.
For
each document, identify what you think are the top three or four most important
points or phrases. List these
phrases, using quotations where appropriate.
k.
Create
a list of “buzzwords” from the documents.
Do you see words that each side uses repeatedly? (To describe itself, the enemy, or for some other purpose?)
·
If
you missed the first day of class, I handed out a “course
information sheet” summarizing the Top Ten Things You Should Know. Please
be advised that you have an assignment due on
Thursday, 1/9.
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