21L.430 / CMS.920 / SP.492 / WGS.492 Popular Narrative: Masterminds

As taught in: Fall 2004

Level:

Undergraduate / Graduate

Instructors:

Prof. John Hildebidle

Image of Mary A. Shanley, New York City detective.
Mary A. Shanley, New York City detective. (Image courtesy of World-Telegram photo, the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, NYWT&S Collection, [LC-USZ62-134710].)

Course Highlights

This course features student essays and an extensive reading list.

Course Description

Our purpose is to consider some of the most elaborate and thoughtful efforts to define and delineate "all-mastering," and to consider some of the delineations of "all-mastering the intellect" in various guises - from magicians to master spies to detectives to scientists (mad and otherwise). The major written work of the term will be an ongoing reading journal, which you will circulate to your classmates using an e-mail mailing list. The use of that list is fundamental - it is my intention to generate a sort of ongoing cyberconversation.
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