ENGL 2080r: Topics in Intellectual Inquiry:

Anarchy in the UK!

T/Th 3:05pm-4:20pm
HOLT 204
Dr. James Arnett
Office: Holt 338-E
Office Hours: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, 1-3pm [and by
appointment]
James-arnett@utc.edu
Course Description:
ENGL 2080r - Topics in Intellectual Inquiry
(3) Credit Hours
Special topics course. The actual topic to be studied will be specified in
the schedule of classes. Pre- or corequisite: ENGL 1020 or department
head approval.
Better Course Description:
In this class, we will be studying the intersections of culture and
political theory by focusing on the long cultural, historical, and
political tradition of anarchy and anarchism in 20th-Century Britain. We
will be reading a comprehensive history of anarchism as a political
ideology or strategy alongside a wide range of sources from 1890 to
present, sources ranging from novels to albums to graphic novels to
film. The class will have several creative/outside-the-box
assignments designed to challenge you to apply the concepts were
reading about in interesting, engaged ways public ways, even,
because in this class, well be stressing the relationship between
intellectual life and public, personal lives.
Because this class satisfies the Literature general education
requirement, some of our focus will be in navigating and understanding
differences in structure, form, and genre. We will also be focused on
developing and honing critical thinking skills so that you can read
through, with, and against ideas and beliefs that dont coincide with
your own.
Course Objectives:
1. Understand the basic tenets and variations of the political and
philosophical theory of anarchism.
2. Become adept at using and understanding literary terminology in
response to texts.
3. Become able to synthesize secondary theoretical texts and
primary literary texts.

4. Formulate clear and direct arguments about texts and ideas in

academic writing.
5. Learn how resistance and refusal are political actions in their own
right.
Required Texts
Marshall, Peter. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchy.
[PM Press, ISBN: 978-1604860641]
Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. [Penguin, ISBN: 9780141441580]
Chesterton, G. K. The Man Who Was Thursday. [Modern Library,
ISBN: 9780375757914]
Seven, John. A Rule is To Break: A Childs Guide to Anarchy.
[Manic D Press, ISBN: 978-1933149257]
Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. [Perigee, ISBN: 9780399501487]
Hebdige, Dick. Subculture and the Meaning of Style. [Routledge,
ISBN: 978-0415039499]
Bey, Hakim. Temporary Autonomous Zone. [Autonomedia; ISBN:
978-1570271519]
Moore, Alan. V for Vendetta. [Vertigo, ISBN: 978-1401208417]
Blackboard Readings
Selections from Matthew Arnold, Culture and Anarchy, Bakunin,
Statism and Anarchy, Emma Goldman, Anarchism; Peter
Kropotkin, Anarchy.
Film
Stanley Kubrick, dir. A Clockwork Orange.
Music
You are encouraged to obtain the following two, full albums
legally:
Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK
Clash, London Calling
Grading Scale:
A: 89.5%-100%; B: 79.5%-89.4%; C: 69.5%-79.4%; D: 59.5%69.4%
Assignments
Attendance and Participation (10%)
Rules in a class on anarchy? Well navigate creating a collective
(and reasonable) attendance policy together on day one.
FOUR absences are free that is to say, without penalty.

If a student has
lowest grade.
If a student has
lowest grade.
If a student has
lowest grade.
If a student has
on lowest.
If a student has
If a student has
If a student has
If a student has

NO absences over the semester, s/he receives +10 on

ONE absence over the semester, s/he receives +8 on
TWO absences over the semester, s/he receives +6 on
THREE absences over the semester, s/he receives +4
FOUR absences, its cool. Youve broken even.
FIVE absences, you will lose 5% of your grade.
SIX absences, you will lose 10% of your grade.
SEVEN OR MORE absences, s/he has failed the class.

Presentations (10%, 5%)

We will be working through Peter Marshalls Demanding the
Impossible: A History of Anarchism over the course of the semester,
but the text is long, and complex. Accordingly, for each class period,
we will have one presentation per day on each chapter of the text as
we move forward. Each presentation needs to be a ten-minute
presentation of the salient ideas from the assigned chapter; must
include visual aides; and must also have a one-page (single-spaced)
handout [with quotes and appropriate citations!] for each member of
the class.
The first presentation will be solo each person is responsible for
their own presentation. The second presentation in the second half of
the semester will be pairs of you.
Reading Responses (10%, 10%, 10%)
You will be required to write three literature response papers
over the course of the semester. There will be four due dates, and for
each you will be required to respond to a selected text or texts. You will
be given an example of what this entails in advance of the first due
date. The papers will be three-page, double-spaced, 12-point-font-ed,
require a creative title, and a clear/distinct thesis statement that
explores, elaborates, and argues about the presence of anarchist
ideas in the designate literary texts. If you complete the fourth
paper using the correct deadlines you will receive extra credit for
the fourth paper.
Punk Unit Performance (15%)
Well be doing a comprehensive unit on the dawn of punk
ideologies, aesthetics, music, fashion, and literature in Thatcherite
England. For this presentation assignment, each student will be
encouraged to do TWO of the following things to capture the punk
spirit
1) Punk Persona!

For the first part of the assignment, youre required

to create a character/persona grounded in a
subcultural fashion or aesthetics (Rasta, dread, punk,
ska, skinhead, etc.) elaborated by Dick Hebdige in
Subculture: The Meaning of Style. You will need to present
your persona to the class, explaining what about the
persona is punk, and youre encouraged to maintain
character all day long. A good guide to these are YouTube
videos and Tumblr photos organized under the hashtag:
#punkedits
2) ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
a. Youre Forming a Band!
One-half of the class will elect to form a punk band. No real
musical skill is required. For this half of the assignment,
you and your bandmates are going to have to come up
with roles, instrumentation (including at least two guitars),
and a single song lyric. You will have access to some
musical recording equipment and materials with the
Library Studio, and Bo and Emily are on hand to help you
record and edit your song. This particular option requires a
Behind the Music collaborative presentation of the
video/single, as well as a walk-through of the various steps,
skills, etc., that the assignment required.
b. Public Intervention!
The other half of the class is required to work together to
create a public art/poster campaign for the Temporary
Autonomous Zone were making at the end of the
semester. You will need to brainstorm an a) aesthetic, b) a
logo, c) a catchphrase or tagline, d) two posters that can
be reproduced and will need to be hung across campus,
and e) a video trailer for the upcoming Temporary
Autonomous Zone, 30 seconds in length
Final Project: Temporary Autonomous Zone
The final project will have three components, two written, one
performative. This project will replace a traditional final exam.
Part One: Me & Anarchy (5%)
You will need to write a 3-page personal essay describing
how you, personally, respond to the ideas and ideals of anarchy. I
want you, in particular, to focus on either the reasons you cant
or wont engage with anarchist political ideas yourself, or,
which anarchist ideals you could support or encourage. Either
way, this is also a hidden position paper: are you pro-anarchy?
Anti-anarchy? Or, probably, somewhere in the middle?
Part Two: My Temporary Autonomous Zone (10%)

You will need to write a three-page paper outlining four to

five principles that you would want to include in your own
temporary autonomous zone, if you were in charge (ha! In
charge under anarchy?! Ha!) of establishing it. What political
ideals would you support? What would be prohibited? What
would be merely allowed, and what encouraged? I need you to
elaborate at least five of these things, with some support from
the readings this semester (three discrete references to any
three different texts from the semester).
Part Three: Anarchism in Practice: Our Temporary Autonomous
Zone (15%)
We will be spending the last two days in class having an
Anarchist Parliament. You will need to bring your first two
assignments for this project to class. I will say nothing more
about this at the moment. More will be revealed.
Late Work Policy
Students will receive one extension on the written work, and one
extension only, to be used for up to two class periods, maximum.
No late work other than this, or after two class periods, period.
Cell Phones & General Respect
As discussed on the first day of class, it is crucial that we be
respectful towards each other during what might or can be
contentious discussions about literature, philosophy, and politics.
If at any time someone oversteps, the professor will do his best
to correct or address the situation as necessary. If someone has
overstepped but no corrected is issued, please contact the
professor afterward so a satisfactory resolution can be reached.
Cell phones are permitted, but only within reason. If cell phone
usage exceeds a brief check or otherwise projects disrespect to
the class, the class deserves the right to address this at that
time.
CLASS SCHEDULE
[date]
[reading]

Week One
Tuesday
Introductions,
Jan 12
Syllabus,
Expectations;

[presentation
chapter from
Demanding
the
Impossible]

[writing /
projects]

Thursday
Jan 14

Arnold, from
Culture and
Anarchy
(handout);
Shelley, The
Mask of
Anarchy
Conrad, Secret
Agent (Chapters
1-3)

Week Two
Tuesday
Conrad, Secret
Jan 19
Agent (Chapters
4-6)
Thursday
Conrad, Secret
Jan 21
Agent (Chapters
7 & 8)
Week Three
Tuesday
Conrad, Secret
Jan 26
Agent;
(Chapters 9-11)
Thursday
Conrad, The
Jan 28
Secret Agent
(Chapters 12,
13 & end Note)
Week Four
Tuesday
Conrad, The
Feb 2
Secret Agent
Thursday
Feb 4
Week Five
Tuesday
Bakunin, from
Feb 9
Statism and
Anarchy;
Kropotkin,
Anarchism: Its
Philosophy and
Ideals
[Blackboard]
Thursday
Seven, A Rule is
Feb 11
to Break;
Golding, Lord of

Chapter 1: The
River of Anarchy

Chapter 2:
Society and the
State
Chapter 3:
Freedom and
Equality
Chapter 8: The
English
Revolution
Chapter 10: The
British
Enlightenment

Chapter 13:
British
Libertarians
Chapter 15:
William Godwin

FIRST
READING
RESPONSE:
(Conrad)

Chapter 18:
Mikhael Bakunin

Chapter 16:
Max Stirner

SECOND
READING
RESPONSE:

the Flies (pp. 147);

Week Six
Tuesday
Golding, Lord of
Feb 16
the Flies (pp.
48-144)
Thursday
Golding, Lord of
Feb 18
the Flies (pp.
145-end);
[ARNETT @
CONFERENCE:
WATCH EMAILS]
Week Seven
Tuesday
Bey, Temporary
Feb 23
Autonomous
Zone (pp. ix-35)
Thursday
Feb 25

Bey, Temporary
Autonomous
Zone (pp. 3671)

Week Eight
Tuesday
Emma
Mar 1
Goldman,
Anarchism
[Blackboard];
Bey, Temporary
Autonomous
Zone (pp. 7192)
Thursday
Bey, Temporary
Mar 3
Autonomous
Zone (pp. 95end)
Week Nine
Tuesday
Bey
Mar 8
Strategies and
Revolution
Thursday
Wrap up Bey;
Mar 10
Hebdige,
Subculture
(Intro, Ch. 1 &
2)

(Seven)

Chapter 17:
Pierre-Joseph
Proudhon
Chapter 19:
Peter Kropotkin

Chapter 22: Leo

Tolstoy

Chapter 23:
American
Individualists
and
Communists
Chapter 24:
Emma Goldman

Chapter 26:
Mohandas
Ghandhi

THIRD
READING
RESPONSE:
(Golding)

Week Ten
Tuesday
Hebdige,
Mar 22
Subculture
(chapters 4, 5 &
6)
Thursday
Mar 24

Week Twelve
Tuesday
Moore, V for
Apr 6
Vendetta
Moore, V for
Vendetta

Week Thirteen
Tuesday
Moore, V for
Apr 13
Vendetta

Thursday
Apr 15

FOURTH
READING
RESPONSE:
(Kubrick)

LIBRARY
STUDIO DAY;
Hebdige,
Subculture
(chapter 6 & 7)

Week Eleven
Tuesday
Hebdige,
Mar 29
Subculture
(chapters 8, 9,
conclusion);
LIBRARY
STUDIO DAY
Thursday
Sex Pistols,
Apr 1
Anarchy in the
UK

Thursday
Apr 8

Chapter 35: The

New Left and
Counter-Culture

Demanding,
Chapter 40

Week
Fourteen
Tuesday
Demanding,
Apr 20
Chapter 41;
TAZ Workshop
Thursday
TAZ Workshop
Apr 22

Chapter 36: The

New Right and
AnarchoCapitalism
Chapter 37:
Modern
Libertarians
Chapter 38:
Modern
Anarchists
Chapter 39:
Murray
Bookchin and
the Ecology of
Freedom

PUNK
PERFORMANC
E
DUE

Week Fifteen
TEMPORARY

AUTONOMOUS

ZONE