FORM B UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY THE FACULTY SENATE UNDERGRADUATE COURSE APPROVAL FORM (Courses Numbered 001-599) 15 Copies Required for Courses Numbered 001-499 20 Copies Required for Courses Numbered 500-599 1. DEPARTMENT, COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: SOCIOL 384, Sociology of Love 2. SCHOOL OR COLLEGE: Social and Behavioral Sciences 3. Proposer’s Name, Telephone and Email: Dan Clawson, 545-5974, [email protected] 4. Proposed Instructor: Dr. Barbara Tomaskovic-Devey 5. Course Credits: 3 6. Are there Prerequisites? yes If yes, please specify 100- or 200-level Sociology course 7. What is the intended clientele? Lower Division Upper Division XX Department majors only Departmental/related majors XX Non-Majors If course is intended for majors, what role will it play in the curriculum? Required Elective XX 8. Complete Course Catalog Description (30 Words): The Sociology of Love looks at a subject that we all take for granted, but none of us understand. Love is both a physiological state and a socially constructed experience. We will examine the major bio-chemical, psychological, and sociological theories that have attempted to explain the causes and nature of love and attraction. We will also look at the social construction of love through Western history, as well as in other cultures, and at the complex relationships that exist between love, “courtship,” marriage, and sexuality. We will conclude with a look at contemporary social constructions of love, sex, and relationships 9. Please attach the following materials: Week-by-week outline of topics covered in course (or syllabus) List of Required readings Description of required assignments (papers, exams, projects, reports, presentations, etc.) Summary of course grade criteria Selected bibliography of works used by instructor in developing course, especially recent works (as appropriate) 10. If course has been offered as an experimental or special topics course, please comment (on an attached page) on its evolution. Fall 2007 taught as 297LH; Spring 2008, taught as 397L Upon approval of the course by the department head, one copy of this form shall be sent from the departmental office to the Faculty Senate Office to allow for the course to be published on the University’s Web Site for comment. For courses numbered 500-599, the “Guidelines for Course Approval Form” from the Graduate Council must accompany the new course proposal.Soc 297L The Sociology of Love, Honors Fall, 2007 Dr. Barbara Tomaskovic-Devey MWF Office Hours: Thompson 530 Wednesdays Contact Info: 545-1763 (office) [email protected] While most Americans take for granted that romantic “love makes the world go ‘round,” and most of us want to marry for love, these ideas about love are rooted in historical eras and social changes that repeatedly changed the meanings of love, family, marriage, children, courtship and sexuality. As we read the works of social historians who have explored these historical developments, as well as about cross-cultural and biological experiences of love, students will conduct studies based on content-analysis, archival research, interviews and observations to “put flesh” on the ideas they are learning. There will be readings from primary sources, as well as a number of writing assignments; attendance and class participation are required and are a part of your grade. Basic Outline of topics in the Class 1. Introduction to Course and to the Questions Scientists Ask about Love and Courtship (Lecture, Discussion) 2. How could/do Scientists Study Love, Sex, Courtship? (Lecture, Discussion) 3. The Bio-Chemistry of Love: How Our bodies and brains are pre-programmed to “fall in love,” to “fall out of love,” to seek mates, to reproduce, and to form long-term bonds with partners. (Lecture, Videos, Readings, FIRST PAPER: observations of meeting/flirting/pickups, hookups) Read: on Course Website: “I Love You from the Bottom of My Brain” by Miranda White and “Love and Biology” by John Kilgore 4. How Sociologists have Studies and Theorized about Love, Sex and Courtship (Readings, Lecture, MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER) Read: on Library E-Reserves: John Lee, “Ideologies of Love and Sexstyle”, pages (as scanned) 33-45 and 56-end, and Robert Moore, “Love & Limerence with Chinese Characteristics,” entire article. 5. The Ancient History of Love and Courtship: a. Early Western history (Read: biblical passages from St. Paul and St. James and from Gospels) b. The Middle Ages and the Crusades; the development of Chivalry and Romance John Lee, “Ideologies of Love and Sexstyle”, p. 45-55, entire “Romance of Tristan and Iseult,” Video: “Camelot.” c. The Renaissance and Early Modern Western Period Read: any two fairy tales, from any source (NOT re-written to be PC!) Video:“Romeo and Juliet” 6. A Modern history of Love and Courtship: a. Colonial America (1600s-late 1700s and the Revolutionary Period), and our First Sexual Revolution Read, from Richard Godbeer’s book Sexual Revolution in Early America, the introduction, “Sex, Marriage and Moral Order in Early America” (on course website), and Chapter 7, “Under the Watch,” on library e-reserve. b. The Victoria Era (1800s into beginnings of the 20th century) :the influence of Religious Revivalism plus Gothic Romanticism: the Rise of “the I” Read: Karen Lystra’s Book: Searching the Heart”, entire. Video: “Possession” (OPTIONAL 3rd PAPER: CHOOSE LYRICS/POETRY/NOVEL/ADVICE COLUMNS/NON-FICTION FROM PAST, ANALYZE IN LIGHT OF COURSE MATERIAL SO FAR ) c. Our Second Sexual Revolution—The Roaring Twenties, The Automobile, and Urbanization. Read: Ellen Rothman’s article, “In Our Time”, on e-reserve d. Mid-Century—“First Comes Love, then Comes marriage, then Comes a Baby in the Baby Carriage” (lecture, discussion) e. The 1960s and 70s: Birth Control and our Third Sexual Revolution f. AIDS, Divorce, “Starter Marriages,” Cohabitation, and “Hook Ups”—“What is Love?” and our Fourth Sexual Revolution. (*****readings to be announced*****in an addendum, lecture, discussion, videos?) FINAL PAPER, DUE EXAM WEEK: ANALYSIS OF A REAL-LIFE RELATIONSHIP,