purpose of art in society

Last class, we discussed the purpose of art in society and Cockerton's argument that art provides a kind of truth of the human condition. Yet, artists and artistic groups are chronically underfunded (e.g., the federal government recently announced $30 million more for the Canada Council of the Arts)

Do you think, given Cockerton's argument, the arts should receive greater public (and private) financial support than they currently do? How should artists and artistic groups convince Canadians that their work is worthy?

Lookism

Given the context of lookism in our society, can we use/claim/mark/fashion our bodies to assert our individuality? Can we, following Nietzsche and the libertarians, use and display our body in ways that assert free will and resist social/cultural demands?

Behaviourism and Nietzsche

Behaviourists argue that people are shaped, even conditioned, by their social environments. Discuss two ways in which forces in our environment, such as parents, peers, media, and schools, shape us to be individuals or individualistic. In your answer, comment on whether individualism is socially/culturally determined or is the response of an autonomous individual who has "will to power," as Nietzsche discussed.

Descartes and Freud explaining our relationship to money

Hello everyone:

Economists argue that people seek to rationally maximize their self-interests in the marketplace.
Marketers, however, seek to link emotions, such as happiness, and aspirations, such as higher social status, to their products and brands to help sell them.

How might we use the perspectives of Descartes and Freud to explain our relationship to money and consumerism? Which view do you find more persuasive?

Case Studies on public schools, diversity and equality

Based on the article you were in given in class and/or the 3 questions presented on webCT for June 28 under the tab "Case Studies for discussion" argue either A or B below:

• A. Ontario should follow France and adopt a formally equal public school system. In this system, there would be no accommodation or recognition of inequities nor differences.

• B. Ontario should build on its tradition of accommodating differences and have a public school system that accepts some public schools based around difference (be it religion, ethnicity, gender, etc.). This would be done to ensure greater fairness in ensuring that all students receive a decent public education.

In your answer, include discussions of issues of formal and substantive equality, secularism, and democracy.

June 26, Ignatieff part 2 & Video on relationships

Individualism is at the cornerstone of the rights revolution, transforming our notions and perceptions of marriage, family, and intimate relationships. In the video we saw today, Women and Men Unglued, commentators suggested individualism and the rights revolution have overturned traditional notions of gender (that is, masculine and feminine roles). One commentator suggested that gender was a "script" we made and may no longer need.

Discuss how people in the film (such as Borys the club promoter, the two male musicians, Christine the Chinese-Canadian lawyer, and others) are dealing with these changes in gender, which then affect their intimate relationships. Do you think marked gender differences are becoming obsolete? How do you feel about this?

June 21 Assignment: Rights and (In)equality

Hello everyone,

Here is the discussion topic:

The Rights Revolution has resulted in the expansion of rights in Canada and other liberal democracies since the 1960s. Yet, although we are 'legally' more equal to each other, socioeconomically there is growing inequality in Canada (see the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative's site, "Growing Gap"). Why do you think this is happening? Do you expect it to continue? Is equality something that merely exists on paper?

Looking forward to hearing your comments,

Professor Deckha