Naropa University Oakland

Master of Liberal Arts Program in Creation Spirituality

 

TRAGEDY & CREATIVITY: Working With Suffering and Grief

 

WEEKEND SEMINAR SYLLABUS

 

CSP     690                                                                  Number of Credit Units:  1

 

Instructor: Masankho Banda, MA                            Instructor’s contact telephone number:  (510) 773-7328                                                                             

                                                                                    Web Site: http://www.ucandanc.org

 

Class Schedule: Fall Semester, 9/11 – 9/12, 2004

 

Course Description: In this class, we will examine human tragedy - both personal and collective - and its spiritual potential through human responses to it, such as creativity, compassion and acts of great courage. Narratives, myths, art and teachings from different cultures and traditions will be explored, so that together we may arrive at a deeper understanding of human tragedy and develop tools for responding to it.

 

Tragedy: In aesthetics, tragedy is the quality of experience whereby, in and through some serious collision followed by fatal catastrophe or inner ruin, something valuable in personality becomes manifest, either as sublime or admirable in the hero [sic], or as triumph of an idea.   Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://www.iep.utm.edu/t/tragedy.htm

 

Instructor Bio:  Mansankho Kamisisi Banda is a Malawian native and former political refugee.  He teaches dance and storytelling and offers classes and retreats. He focuses on creativity, Interplay, peace building, diversity and spirituality.

 

Course Objectives:

• To remember September 11^th in a way that gives new meaning to this event;
• To deepen our understanding of human tragedy, both personal and collective;
• To develop tools for responding to tragedy and suffering;
• To experience the potential grief rituals offer for healing and forgiveness.

 

Course Requirements: 

 

1.   Attendance and Participation ………………………………   40%

(Attendance at each session of the weekend is required in order to gain credit for the course.)

 

2.       Readings (evidenced in papers and discussions)…………….  30%

 

3.   Final Paper (4-5 pages)..……..……………………………… 30%

 

4.    Other …………………………………………………...……  0 %

 

Total Requirements …………………… 100%

 

 

List of required reading:

Falling Out of Grace: Mediations on Loss, Healing and Wisdom, Sobonfu Some

 

List recommended reading: 

September 11, 2001:  American Writers Respond, William Heyen, et al

Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe

Letters and Papers From Prison, Deitrich Bonhoeffer

When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

 

 

Note:

Naropa University-Oakland will provide accommodations for qualified students with disabilities.  To request an accommodation, or to discuss any learning needs you may have, contact the Dean of Students, (510) 835-4827 ext 15.

 

SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE