1 ECOFEMINIST THEOLOGIES & SPIRITUALITIES RELS-V265 Spring 2020 Section 1 (001) MWF 1:30 – 2:20 PM, Bobet 332 Section 2 (002) MWF 2:30 – 3:20 PM, Bobet 332 Dr. Anne Daniell Office: Bobet 440 [email protected] Office Hours: Thursdays, 10:15 – 12:15 E-mail for other meeting times. Course Overview Students become familiar with the ecofeminist and ecowomanist intellectual and activist movements of the late twentieth century to the present day, coming to understand how these perspectives have shaped and continue to shape contemporary theology and spirituality. Throughout the course, we examine ecofeminism’s claim that patriarchal institutions and other- worldly concepts of divinity are mutually reinforcing, serving to create and maintain a hierarchical worldview that subjugates women, nature, and all those who are “othered.” We read and unpack the meaning of significant ecofeminist/womanist theological texts, considering the diverse influences that different social locations (e.g., ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and gender-sexuality differences) have on people’ lives and theological thinking. Through student-created Wikis, all of us will learn about ecofeminist spokespersons and activist groups representing a variety of different religions and cultures. Reading and Source Material All assigned articles, excerpts, chapters, films & links to websites will be accessed via Blackboard (Bb) Course Material. DVDs will be placed on Bb Streaming Video. It is important that students familiarize themselves with Blackboard and check Check Bb Week-by-Week and Bb Announcements at least once a week to keep up with assignments, changes in the schedule, extra credit opportunities, etc. Types of Assignments: 100 pts. Total 10 pts. Participation* (includes attendance**) 10 pts. Assignment: Wiki Collaborator or Discussion Leader 10 pts. Responsive Writings (worth approx. 3.33 pts. each) 20 pts. 1st test 15 pts. 2nd test 15 pts. 3rd test 20 pts. Final Exam/4th test. *Participation: Everyone begins with a 7-pt. (average) participation grade. You can work your way up or down from there. Points will be subtracted for poor attendance, for being habitually late to class, and for being disruptive in class. Points will be added for attentive listening and note-taking (i.e., “active listening”); bringing relevant readings and notes to class; and participating in class through discussions and asking questions. **Attendance: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class. It is the student’s responsibility to talk to the professor if they arrive late, or if they will be, or have been, absent. Absences are only excused if students provide an official excuse. Four (4) classes can be missed before a student’s grade is affected. After 4 missed classes, students 2 cannot get more than 7 points in their participation grade. Students absent 15% (6+) of classes cannot get higher than a B+; more than 20% (8+) cannot get higher than a B; 30% (12+) cannot get higher than C; 40% (17 +) cannot get higher than D. If a student misses half or more of the class periods they will fail (F). Hand-written vs. computer-written notes: You are advised to take notes during class, especially (but not only) on those days when there is no power-point accompanying the lecture. There will be many days when take an in-depth look at scriptures or at assigned readings and videos. You will be tested on this material. Students who take hand-written notes are typically more successful than those who take notes on electronic devices, or who do not take notes at all. Grading scale: A = 95 – 100 A- = 90 – 94 B+ = 88 – 89 B = 83 – 87 B- = 80 – 82 C+ = 78 – 79. C = 73 – 77 C- = 70 – 72 D+ = 68 – 69 D = 60 – 67 F = 0 – 59 How students will be informed of grades & course progress: Notes on attendance, participation & grades on assignments and tests are recorded in the professor’s gradebook. Students are encouraged to consult with the professor (during office hours, or you may email to arrange a different meeting-time) to discuss how they are doing in the class. Midterm & final grades will be posted on LORA. Assignments: A. Response-Papers comprise 10% of the final grade. These are short, informal papers (1.5 – 2.5 pages) written in response to a prompt. No footnotes or endnotes are needed. The papers will either be written in class or assigned as a take-home assignment on Bb. Depending on the flow of the class, there will be 1 - 3 responsepapers over the course of the semester. If 3 Response Papers are assigned, they will each be worth approximately 3.33 points. If two are assigned, they will each be worth 5 points. If for some reason only one (1) paper is assigned, that paper will be worth the entire 10 points. B. Wiki collaborator OR Discussion-group Leader: Students will choose a topic during the second or third week of class. Groups of 2 to 3 students will work together on a Wiki in relation to their chosen topic, and they will give a group presentation (5 – 7 mins.) on their assigned day. The other option is to lead a small discussion group either on the film, Rachel’s Daughters or on the essay, The Clan of One-Breasted Women. Sequence of Topics & Assignments: approximate dates* *The schedule and assigned readings will be posted every week on Bb Week-by-Week. If there is a major change to the syllabus, the Syllabus will be updated on Bb and an announcement will be sent out via email asking you to consult the updated syllabus. Students should check Bb Week-by-Week and Bb Announcements at least once a week. Mon. Jan. 6 Introduction: Syllabus Wed. (part 1) Feminism & Ecology: What are they & why are they connected? Jan. 8 Bb: King, Ynestra, “The Ecology of Feminism & the Feminism of Ecology” Fri. (part 2) Feminism & Ecology: What are they & why are they connected? Jan. 10 (finish) Bb: King, Ynestra, “The Ecology of Feminism & the Feminism of Ecology” Mon. Ecofeminist Classics Jan. 13 Alice Walker & Susan Griffin (Copies of excerpts will be brought to class.) 3 Wed. (finish) Ecofeminist Classics (Walker & Griffin) Jan. 15 (part 1) Ortner’s theory: Patriarchy, Nature & Women’s Intermediacy Bb: Ortner, Sherry, “Is Female to Male as Nature is to Culture?” Fri. Sign Up for Assignment: Wiki Collaborator or Discussion Leader Jan. 17 (part 2) Ortner’s theory: Patriarchy, Nature & Women’s Intermediacy (See reading above.) Mon. Jan. 20 MLK DAY: No class. Wed. U.S. Feminist “Waves” & 2nd Wave “personal is political” slogan Jan. 22 Waves of Feminism & The Personal is Political Fri. Basic Types of modern, U.S. Feminism Jan. 24 Types of Feminism Mon. Womanism Jan. 27 Walker, Alice: excerpt on Womanism Williams, Delores: excerpt; short video of Delores Williams (in-class) Wed. Intersectionality Jan. 29 Kimberle Crenshaw & other short video (in-class) Fri. Oppression of women & nature in Europe (part 1) Jan. 31 Bb: Merchant, Carolyn. The Death of Nature (excerpt) Mon. Oppression of women & nature in Europe (part 2) Feb. 2 Bb: Merchant, Carolyn. The Death of Nature (excerpt) Wed. Catch Up Feb. 4 Go over format for Test 1 Fri. Feb. 7 TEST 1 (20% of final grade) Mon. Early Feminist Theology (pt. 1): Mary Daly Feb. 10 Bb: Daly, Mary: article Wed. Early Feminist Theology (pt. 2): Nelle Morton Feb. 12 Bb: Morton, Nelle: article Fri. Early Feminist Thealogy (pt. 3): Carol Christ Feb. 14 Bb: Christ, Carol: “Why Women Need the Goddess” Mon. Feminist Hermeneutics of Suspicion Feb. 17 What is exegesis? What are feminist hermeneutics of suspicion? ...of remembrance & performance? Bb: Phyllis Trible article(s): excerpts 4 Wed. Feminist Hermeneutics: (continue) Genesis’ Creation stories Feb. 19 Bible: Genesis 1& 2; Bb: Phyllis Trible article(s): excerpts Fri. Jewish Feminist Hermeneutics: Lilith, Miriam & Vashti stories Feb. 21 Feminist hermeneutics of remembrance and performance Mon. Feb. 24 - MARDI GRAS Week Fri. Feb. 28 No Class Mon. Feminist Hermeneutics of suspicion & remembrance: Hagar story Mar. 2 Bible: Genesis 9 – 16; Read one of the following & be ready to report on: Bb: Tamez, Elsa: “The Woman who Complicated History” Bb: Weems, Renita: “A Maid, A Mistress, and No Mercy” Wed. Womanist & Feminist Hermeneutics: Women in the New Testament Mar. 4 Bb: Weems, Renita: “Certain Women” Fri. Review/Catch Up: Feminist and Womanist Hermeneutics Mar. 6 Go over format for Test 2. Mon. TEST 2: Feminist & Womanist Hermeneutics (15% of final grade) Mar. 9 Begin Constructive Ecofeminist Theology Wed. Ecofeminist Theology Mar. 11 Bb: Nicene Creed & El Shaddai Fri. Ecofeminist Theology: Source, Grace & Faith Mar. 13 Bb: Elizabeth Johnson, “Images: Mother, Wisdom, Spirit” Mon. Ecofeminist Theology: Jesus & Christ Mar. 16 Bb: Denis Edwards on Jesus & Christ Communitarian Christology of Ivone Gebara from Bilgrimage blog Wed. Ecofeminist Theology: Wisdom (part 1) Mar. 18 Bb: Wisdom Texts & D. Edwards on biblical Wisdom (pt. 1) Fri. Ecofeminist Theology: Wisdom (part 2) Mar. 20 Bb: Wisdom Texts & D. Edwards on Wisdom & Christ (pt. 2) Responsive Writing on Wisdom (last 20 – 30 mins. of class) Mon. Ecofeminist Theology: Spirit (part 1) Mar. 23 Bb: Baker-Fletcher, Karen (excerpts) Wed. Ecofeminist Theology: Spirit (part 2) Mar. 25 Bb: Chung Hyun-Kyung, “Welcome the Spirit: Hear Her Cries” Fri. Ecofeminist Theology: Trinity (& Catch Up) Mar. 27 Go over format for Test 3. 5 Mon. TEST 3: Constructive Ecofeminist Theology Mar. 30 (15% of final grade) Wed. Ecofeminism & Environmental Justice (pt. 1) April 1 Interview with Melanie L. Harris; other video excerpts (in-class) Fri. Ecofeminism & Environmental Justice (pt. 2) April 3 Student Wiki presentation on EcoWomanism. possible: video clips from Rachel’s Daughters DVD-003287 DUE Sun. Apr. 5 Response Paper to Rachel’s Daughters, DVD-003287 (Bb Streaming Video) 11:59 PM Watch video on your own (2+ hours) & write response paper: See Bb Prompt.