Capitalism II: Can individuals resist?
Thu, Oct 06
Learning goals - By the end of this session you will:
- Form a viewpoint on the purpose of Herman Melville's Bartleby, in regards to work or capitalism (what is this story trying to convey?)
- Reflect on your own response to Bartleby (with whom do you sympathize?) and what that suggests about your relationship to capitalism/work.
- Understand multiple possible views of what 'justice' would look like, in this story, and decide which you agree with
Read This:
Access readings on the course's Perusall page.
- Karl Marx, selections from Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844
- Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener (1853) (finish the rest of the story)
Do This:
- Prepare for Don Rags II. Sign up here for an individual conference with us next week (aka, Don Rags II). Prepare to discuss your survey responses and reflect upon your strengths, weaknesses, and goals as a reader, writer, dialogue partner, and class participant. You may bring notes to the conference.
Watch This:
Slovenian philosopher and cultural theorist Slavoj Žižek explains the significance of Bartleby's linguistic choices.