HIST 2212 CULTURAL RESPONSES TO CATASTROPHE
R. S. Deese
Northeastern University
Spring 2010
rsdeese@gmail.com
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30-11:35, 275 Richards Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday & Friday: 8-9:30, 213 Meserve
Course Description
This course will survey the broad history of natural disasters from ancient times to the present . Readings and discussions will explore the diverse array of cultural responses to natural disasters across civilizations and historical epochs, concluding with a focus on cultural, political, and economic responses to major catastrophes in the modern age. Topics to be explored: ancient accounts and interpretations of deluges, earthquakes, famines and volcanic eruptions; notorious disasters of modern history such as the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 and Krakatau eruption of 1883; and, finally, the often disputed distinction between natural and man-made disasters in contemporary times.
Required Course Materials
Jan Kozak, The Illustrated History of Natural Disasters. ISBN-13: 978-9048133246
Cormac McCarthy, The Road ISBN-13: 978-0307476319
Robert Verchick, Facing Catastrophe ISBN-13: 978-0674047914
Basic Ground Rules
1. Turn off all cell phones, MP3 players, etc. before all class meetings begin.
2. Always come on time to all class meetings, and participate in all discussions. Please don’t be shy about speaking up in class discussions, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Virtually all original scholarship begins by posing questions that others have overlooked or dismissed as simply not worth asking; therefore, the very question you might be afraid to ask because it seems naïve or unorthodox could well be the most interesting and groundbreaking question that anyone could raise. Don’t hesitate to ask it. Also, please remember that I am more than happy to field your questions and address your concerns via email, telephone, and during my regular office hours.
3. Always come to class prepared to discuss all readings for that week. When you do the assigned reading each week, be sure to underline passages that you see as important, and write down questions that you would like to raise in our section meetings and in my office hours.
Grade Breakdown
Attendance at all lectures is mandatory. Unless you have a documented medical or family emergency, you need to come to every lecture.
Attendance & Participation 15%
Midterm 30%
Five Page paper and Presentation 25% PAPER DUE IN CLASS APRIL 20th
Final Exam 30%
Midterm and Final Examinations
To prepare for these exams, be sure to review the assigned readings and your notes from lectures and discussion sections. Feel free to contact me via email or during office hours concerning any questions you might have. A portion of the class prior to the midterm will be devoted to review, and I will also a hold review session prior to the final exam. Please bear in mind that these review sessions will be most profitable to those who have prepared for them by thoroughly studying the material at hand.
Paper
You are required to write a 5 page position paper and do an 10-15 minute presentation analyzing two primary sources related to a specific natural disaster or man-made ecological disaster. In this paper, you will be required to develop an original thesis that relates the three primary sources to each other and to their historical context. Late papers will be penalized 5% each day past the due date.
Regulations Against Plagiarism
Needless to say, the work you present must be entirely your own and all sources must be diligently credited in your footnotes and bibliography. Any attempt at plagiarism, representing the work of another person as your own, will be result in failure in this course and severe disciplinary action by Northeastern University.
IMPORTANT: Please read the Academic Conduct Code to understand policy of Northeastern University regarding plagiarism. The punishment for any form of plagiarism at this institution is, as it should be, very severe. As you are writing your term papers, please don’t hesitate to contact me beforehand if you have any questions concerning the proper citation of source materials.
Week One
January 10 Introduction
January 12 Kozak & Cermak: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis, pp. 13-44
January 13 Kozak & Cermak: Vesuvius; Etna: pp. 45-62
Week Two
January 17 No class, Holiday
January 19 Kozak & Cermak: Stromboli, Lipari, Tyrrhenian Sea; Phleghraean Fields, pp. 63-72
January 20 Kozak & Cermak: Fredinandea; Iceland; Pico de Teide, pp. 77-86
Week Three
January 24 Kozak & Cermak: Mount Pelée; Orizaba; Jorullo, pp.87-92
January 26 Kozak & Cermak: Pacaya; Cotopaxi; Chimborazo; Antuco, pp. 93-100
January 27 Kozak & Cermak: Japan; Indonesia; Moluccas; Russian Far East, pp. 101-112
Week Four
January 31 Kozak & Cermak: Kiyev Earthquake; Aix-en-Provence; Basel; Rhodes, pp. 113-120
February 2 Kozak & Cermak: Istanbul; Tokyo; Port Royal, 121-130
February 3 Kozak & Cermak: Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755, pp. 131-141 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Chase Bentley)
Week Five
February 7 Kozak & Cermak: Calabrian Earthquakes; Valona; Zagreb, pp. 143-154
February 9 Kozak & Cermak: Earthquakes in Italy; Imperia; Azerbaijan; Chile, pp. 155-162
February 10 Kozak & Cermak: Antilles; Costa Rica; Argentina; Arequipa/Arica, pp. 163-170 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Chanda Ruff; Tigran Shougarian)
Week Six
February 14 Kozak & Cermak: Charleston; Hayward, pp. 173-178
February 16 Kozak & Cermak: The Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, pp. 179-182
February 17 Kozak & Cermak: Calabrian Earthquakes; Milestones of Seismology, pp. 183-192 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Brianna Burrows; Corey Balint)
Week Seven
February 21 HOLIDAY
February 23 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS & Midterm Review ( Justin Kammer)
February24 Midterm Exam
Week Eight
SPRING RECESS
Week Nine
March 7 Film: Dr. Strangelove (1964)
March 9 McCarthy, pp. 3-98
March 10 McCarthy, pp. 99-146 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Stephanie Mernick; Kaitlin Nesbitt; Hannah Parks)
Week Ten
March 14 McCarthy, pp. 147-181
March 16 McCarthy, pp. 182-210
March 17 FINISH McCarthy STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Grace Gottwald; Jason Permenter; Bridgette Shallcross)
Week Eleven
March 21 FILM: When the Levees Broke (2006)
March 23 When the Levees Broke (cont.)
March 24 Verchick: Go Green, pp. 1-104 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Kaylyn Cunis; Katherine Lawler; Selena Obelinas)
Week Twelve
March 28 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Greg Rothman)
March 30 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Arianna Guiseppone; Matt Borrello)
March 31 Verchick: Be Fair, 105-194 (Justin Kammer; Joe Rodriguez)
Week Thirteen
April 4 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Christal Desmarais; Connor Echols-Jones)
April 6 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Kim Narby; Elliot Lowe)
April 7 Verchick: Keep Safe, pp. 195-235
Week Fourteen
April 11 FINISH Verchick STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Ian Burn; Selena Obelinas;Naimah Al Hazzah)
April 13 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (James Stoll; Chis Roy; Scott Turner)
April 14 STUDENT PRESENTATIONS (Zacharenia Varsamis; John Muus; Jason Permenter)
Week Fifteen
April 18 Holiday
April 20 FILM: The 11th Hour PAPER DUE IN CLASS
FINAL EXAM
