The Hampshire College Preschool Extension School (HC PES) classes commence this spring. Here we have compiled a sampling of course descriptions.
EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL OF EXPERIMENTAL INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERIMENTALISM
ESEIE 103 TOPICS IN AESTHETICS: THE SAND CASTLE
(prof TBA)
In this proseminar, we will examine the sand castle and its predecessor, sand. We will take a survey approach to the history and technique, and end with a focused study of the drip castle, the moat, and found object placement (along with Freud's modification to this technique: found object displacement). Special attention will be given to the practical applications of the sand castle. There will be a $50 lab fee, for sand. Prerequisite: Public Accounting. Class will meet once a week for a hundred and twenty minutes, and students must attend the weekly sea-lab. Enrollment is limited to 15 students. Thursday 1:20-3:20
EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL OF GENERIC INTELLECTUAL EXPERIMENTALISM
ESGIE 238 PLAYGROUND THEORY (prof TBA)
In this course, we will examine complex notions of 'play' as it relates to the first-grader in terms of socioeconomic background. We will look at studies on working-class first-graders and first-graders of color at the 'play'ground which show a recent trend for an increasing sense of upward mobility, especially when near the ladder to the slide. Readings will rely heavily (but not too heavily) on Scooter B.'s Derridian reading of Morrison's 'Heterosexism and the Seasaw'. Also, we will look at the queer subtext of Foucault's 'Critics of the Tire Swing: What Matters Who's Swinging', in which Foucault shifts the mode of questioning from 'why are we dizzy?' to 'who is getting dizzy?' and 'on whom are the Dizzy hurling?' Finally, we will examine the 19th century colonization of the swingset by second-graders, and look at its' effect on playground structure (a post-structuralism of sorts). Prerequisite: at least one course on Topics in Aesthetics. Enrollment open. Tuesday and Thursday 1:30 to 2:50
EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIALISM
ESES 189 NAPS OF THE THIRD WORLD (prof TBA)
This couse will take a critical look at napping conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central America. Our focus will fall on the 1976 nap revolt in Chiapas (a. k. a. 'The Gweat Wevolution' or 'El Napo Grando Stoppo') during which thousands of four-year-olds attempted a coup on Naptime. The dubious coup crumbled around 3 pm when several of itUs foremost leaders fell asleep. What was the deeper significance of El Napo Grando Stoppo's failure? Is there a common thread between this and other unsuccessful attempts? Texts include Naps are for Saps, Goodnight Moon, and Dr. Seuss's The Sleep Book. There will be positively no sleeping in class. Enrollment is open. Tuesday and Thursday 12:50 to 2:20
EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIMENTALISM EXPERIMENTALIST EXPERIMENTS
EEEE/ESES 278 DOCTOR, HOUSE, COWBOYS, AND INDIANS (prof TBA)
This course is cross-listed and will be team taught in order to combine
a theoretic background on social programming of archetypal make-believe narrative
and a course in creative writing. After examining various texts on make-believe,
imaginary and fantasy play of the post-toddler, students will be guided through
a process of hypnosis and drunken free-writing sessions, uncovering hitherto
hidden truths about our own childhood. Especially important in this course
will be the concept of 'false memory'; I think it's a crock. In the beginning,
we will rely heavily on some of the lesser-known (read: stupid) writings of
Carl Jung ('Let's Pretend!') and Sigmund Freud ('I Like Little Boys' and 'The
Natural Tendency Toward Incest'); each day we will try to use Frued less and
less until we no longer need him at all. Prerequisite: Successful completion
of Psychoanalysis. Limit 25 students. Tuesday and Thurdsday noon to 5:00
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