Sir Ian McKellen as Macbeth (1978)
 GSTR 110 (Writing Seminar I: Critical Thinking in the Liberal Arts)
Macbeth across Cultures

Section V – TR 10-11:50 a.m., Frost 210
Section X – TR 1-2:50 p.m., Frost 210

Dr. Jeff Richey
Berea College
Fall 2007		 Toshiro Mifune as Washizu (1957)


William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth poses questions about fate and freedom, good and evil, duty and ambition.  What happens when Shakespeare goes samurai?  Students in these sections of GSTR 110 will be introduced to concepts of culture, study Macbeth and its cultural background, and then explore one of the most famous adaptations of the play: Akira Kurosawa’s film Throne of Blood, in which the characters and events of Macbeth are transplanted to the culture of 16th century  “Warring States” (Sengoku) Japan.  In the process, they will hone their writing, reasoning, research, and reflective habits and skills through a developmental sequence of assignments.  These sections are particularly recommended for students interested in Asian cultures, drama, history, and religion.

Course materials:

  1. S. Barnet and H. Bedau [B&B], From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide (Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005
  2. D. Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual, 4th ed. (Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005)
  3. W. Shakespeare, Macbeth (New York: Washington Square Press, 2004)
  4. Various resources located online (WWW) or on reserve at Hutchins Library


Course requirements:

  1. Students are expected to prepare for and participate in all class sessions, including Convocations, film screenings, and theatre performances. The instructor reserves the right to reduce the final grades of students who miss class sessions. Excuses for absences may be sought, but may not necessarily be granted.
  2. Students are expected to complete all writing assignments in a timely fashion. Most writing assignments will not be graded at all (or at first), so students either will or will not receive credit for them, depending solely on whether they are completed on time. All writing assignments are time-sensitive in nature and cannot be made up.  Student writing will be assessed as follows:

Course calendar:

DAY & DATE
 SECTION V
 SECTION X
R 8/30
 Introduction to the course Introduction to the course
T 9/4
 Read "Definitions of Culture" (WWW)
 Read "Definitions of Culture" (WWW)
R 9/6
 Read H. Miner, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" (WWW)
 Read H. Miner, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" (WWW)
T 9/11
 Read A Pocket Style Manual, pp. 103-111
Complete BANC Tutorial
Meet in Hutchins Library 107
bring laptop & ethernet cable
 Read A Pocket Style Manual, pp. 103-111
Complete BANC Tutorial
Meet in Hutchins Library 107
bring laptop & ethernet cable
R 9/13
 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #1 due in class
 Video: Cross-Cultural Communication (in class / reserve DVD 303.482 C951 2005)
Meet in Hutchins Library 106
T 9/18
 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #1 due in class
R 9/20
 Video: Cross-Cultural Communication (in class / reserve DVD 303.482 C951 2005)                    
Meet in Hutchins Library 106		 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
T 9/25
 Read "The Great Commitments of Berea College" (WWW)
 Read "The Great Commitments of Berea College" (WWW)
R 9/27
 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #2 due in class Cultural Studies Forum
with Profs. Richard Cahill & Deborah Thompson
Meet in Emery 206
T 10/2
 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled		 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #2 due in class
R 10/4
 Cultural Studies Forum
with Profs. Andrew Baskin, Chad Berry, & Soren Peterson 
Meet in Draper 308
 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
T 10/9
 NO CLASS SESSION (MIDTERM READING PERIOD)
 NO CLASS SESSION (MIDTERM READING PERIOD)
R 10/11
 Read B&B, pp. 172-212
Meet in Draper 106
 Read B&B, pp. 172-212
Meet in Draper 106
M 10/15
 Revised ASSIGNMENT #1 or #2 due by e-mail Revised ASSIGNMENT #1 or #2 due by e-mail
T 10/16
 Read "Shakespearean Culture" (WWW)
 Read "Shakespearean Culture" (WWW)
R 10/18
 Read "Shakespeare's Macbeth," "Reading Shakespeare's Language," and "Shakespeare's Theater" (Macbeth, pp. xiii-xxiv, xxxii-xli)
Guest: Prof. Deborah Martin (Director of Theatre Laboratory)
 Read "Shakespeare's Macbeth," "Reading Shakespeare's Language," and "Shakespeare's Theater" (Macbeth, pp. xiii-xxiv, xxxii-xli)
Guest: Prof. Deborah Martin (Director of Theatre Laboratory)

Attend 1 of 2 screenings of Macbeth:
F 10/19 or M 10/22 (7 p.m. in Draper 311)
 Attend 1 of 2 screenings of Macbeth:
F 10/19 or M 10/22 (7 p.m. in Draper 311)
T 10/23

Read Macbeth, I.i-III.iii (pp. 7-97)

Read Macbeth, I.i-III.iii (pp. 7-97)
R 10/25
 Read Macbeth, III.iv-V.viii (pp. 99-191)
 Read Macbeth, III.iv-V.viii (pp. 99-191)
T 10/30
 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #3 due in class NO CLASS SESSION
R 11/1
 NO CLASS SESSION 
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
 NO CLASS SESSION 
F 11/2
 Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled 1 copy of ASSIGNMENT #3 due in Draper 204-C by 2 p.m.
T 11/6
 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled		 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
R 11/8
 NO CLASS SESSION NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled

Attend 1 of 6 performances of Julius Caesar :
11/9, 11/10, 11/14, 11/15, 11/16, or 11/17 (8 p.m. in McGaw Theatre)		 Attend 1 of 6 performances of Julius Caesar :
11/9, 11/10, 11/14, 11/15, 11/16, or 11/17 (8 p.m. in McGaw Theatre)
T 11/13
 Read "Sengoku Culture" (WWW)
 Read "Sengoku Culture" (WWW)
R 11/15
 Read L. Jin, "Silence and Sound in Kurosawa's Throne of Blood" (WWW)
Guest: Prof. Shan Ayers (Asian Studies/English & Theatre)
Handout: Throne of Blood -- A Viewer's Guide
 Read L. Jin, "Silence and Sound in Kurosawa's Throne of Blood" (WWW)
Guest: Prof. Shan Ayers (Asian Studies/English & Theatre)
Handout: Throne of Blood -- A Viewer's Guide

Attend 1 of 2 screenings of Throne of Blood:
R 11/15 or M 11/19 (7 p.m. in Draper 311)
 Attend 1 of 2 screenings of Throne of Blood:
R 11/15 or M 11/19 (7 p.m. in Draper 311)
T 11/20
 Video: Daimyo (in class / reserve Video 952 D133)
 Meet in Hutchins Library 106		 Video: Daimyo (in class / reserve Video 952 D133)
 Meet in Hutchins Library 106
R 11/22
  NO CLASS SESSION (THANKSGIVING VACATION)
 NO CLASS SESSION (THANKSGIVING VACATION)
T 11/27
 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #4 due in class 2 copies of ASSIGNMENT #4 due in class
R 11/29
 NO CLASS SESSION
Attend Convocation presentation at 3 p.m. in Phelps-Stokes Chapel:
Karin Muller, "Japanland: A Journey into the Soul of Japan"
 NO CLASS SESSION
Attend Convocation presentation at 3 p.m. in Phelps-Stokes Chapel:
Karin Muller, "Japanland: A Journey into the Soul of Japan"
T 12/4
 NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled 		NO CLASS SESSION
Individual meetings with instructor, as scheduled
R 12/6
 Concluding conversations & course evaluations
 Concluding conversations & course evaluations
M 12/10
 Revised ASSIGNMENT #3 or #4 due by e-mail
 Revised ASSIGNMENT #3 or #4 due by e-mail