South Asian Cinema: South Asian Transnational Cinema:

Mohammed Shariff
Mohammed Shariff is a 5th year Literary Journalism major. This will be his second year teaching South Asian Transnational Cinema. His passion for his Indian heritage and dealing with diasporic issues has led him to produce a class that focuses on the lives of diasporic subjects, that is the 1.5 or 2nd generation.
Course Description:
This course will analyze cinema from South Asia and its diasporas. We will examine the films as historical, social and cultural texts that represent a national or a diasporic consciousness. Each specific film will have a topic that will be discussed and analyzed: Topics include: Queer identity, interracial relationships, Religion, and the Indian Courtesan. However, the topic and focus are not exclusive this class urges broad discussions. This course will foster students’ ability to analyze film narrative and its historical context.

Empires and Others

Daniel Poochigian
My name is Daniel Poochigian, and I am a 5th year student double majoring in History and Classics. I am the president of the UC Irvine chapter of the National Classics Honors Society, and have been involved with outreach programs orchestrated by the Classics department to expose local high school students to studying antiquities in college, as well as leading tutoring sessions for introductory Greek and Latin classes. Upon graduating, I hope to enter graduate school to pursue a PhD in Classics with a focus on Imperial Roman history. I am flattered that UTeach has given me the ability to deliver an undergraduate course of my own devising on the very subject matter I hope to be teaching as a professor one day!
Course Description:
Empires and Others is a course that seeks to explore the relationship between Roman civilization and the barbarians who surrounded it between 500 BCE to 600 CE. Throughout the course, we will ask “Who were these barbarians? In what ways did they interact with the Romans? What resulted from these interactions?” While the class is certainly about ancient history, the importance of understanding these same historical trends cannot be understated. Problems which existed for the Romans still exist today, and looking at the issues which the Romans faced when dealing with outsiders allows us some capacity for better understanding our own contemporary issues. The class will be delivered with discussions focused around readings from a variety of primary sources, both well-known and obscure. In so doing, Empires and Others will not only build an appreciation of ancient history, but will also build an awareness of primary source materials and teach students how to read them.

Environmental Crisis Study—With a focus on the People’s Republic of China

Jack Pan
Hi, my name is Jack Pan, I am a Junior Earth & Environmental Science major, Global Sustainability minor. I conducted research under the supervisions of Dr. Pataki and Dr. Tomlinson. My most recent project is “The influence of N source and fertilizer application on growth of a tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes sanguinea.” I am also the vice president of the Sustainable Energy and Technology Club (SETC), founding president of the Earth System Science Club (ESSC), and co-host of KUCI radio show Countdown UCI. In Fall, 2010, I was elected as the Legislative Representative of the School of Physical Sciences.
Course Description:
Our environmental crisis is a very complicated issue that no one academic discipline can resolve entirely. Utilizing multidisciplinary research to end our environmental crisis has become a new trend in academia worldwide. This course will help students to gain a better understanding of the different disciplines of environmentalism and how they interact with one another. We will also discuss many popular environmental issues through these different disciplines. Eventually students will utilize what they have learned from this seminar to investigate environmental cases from China. This could be an interesting yet challenging task, because China is a very unique and fast developing nation, its old system cannot keep up with the rapid development so there is a lot of pressure on the local environment. Environmental issue in China is very complex, it is not only an ecological issue but also a social issue.

Steven Tate
My name is Steven and I am a 4th year Microbiology & Immunology major. When not at Disneyland, I am usually tutoring chemistry for the Learning and Academic Resource Center or working on genetic epidemiology research with the Department of Epidemiology. I consider myself an amateur magician despite the fact I can only do one magic trick and a pastry-chef-in-training even though I usually just add weird ingredients to boxed cupcake mix. In the future I hope to attend medical school, largely because being a physician will allow me to wear a bowtie on a daily basis without catching too much flack. Most of my sarcasm and humor was expended when I was a resident advisor in Mesa Court last year but I promise to make my Uteach class thought provoking and engaging. This will be my second year teaching this course and I am excited to share my passion with you!
Course Description:
As the world becomes more interconnected through travel, trade, and technology the spread of infectious diseases has changed enormously. This class will examine the role social factors, particularly those related to globalization, on infectious disease transmission. Individual diseases such as tuberculosis and historical epidemics such as the Black Death will be covered to explain how economic, political, and other social forces influenced disease spread and how infectious disease shaped society. No prerequisite knowledge is required, as the course will introduce all necessary information. The biology of various infectious diseases and epidemiological methods will also be touched upon during the course. Class discussion will revolve around controversial issues surrounding the topics discussed such as forced vaccinations, disease eradication and vector control. Students should expect to leave the course with basic knowledge of infectious diseases, public health and globalization that will help them understand current events involving infectious diseases such as the recent H1N1 pandemic and threat of SARS.

Philippine Mythology

Earl Foust
My name is Earl Foust and I am a 4th year History major with an emphasis in Culture, Race and Ethnicity. There are several reasons why I decided that I wanted to teach a course on Philippine Mythology. The first was a personal interest in the subject stemming from my time living in the Philippines as a student and volunteer. Much of my volunteer work was inthe provinces, and during those experiences I was exposed to the very real power which myths hold over society. The children who I worked with in the urban slums of Manila would laugh at my jokes about being an Aswang, one of the mythical monsters. The children in the provinces, however, were terrified by such stories and I remember on one occasion I actually accidentally brought a child to tears be telling him a ghost story. This got me thinking about the power of myth and the fascinating complexity of the stories. It also got me thinking about the ways in which myth transforms over time and takes on forms that may not always be so readily apparent. I am interested in whether we have mythologies today, modern contemporary versions. I've structured the course around answering this question.
Course Description:
Prometheus, Zeus, Olympus, Ananzi the Spider, Icarus--these are names that you are no doubt familiar with as they have become part of our vocabulary when we use the term "myth." By the end of this quarter, you will also quiver at the thought of the terrifying fetus devouring Manananggal. You will be charmed by tales of Juan, a pleasant fellow who only seeks to help those around him--only to be tricked by his seductive qualities into giving up your most prized possessions! We'll retrace the steps of the Santo Nino and the miracles performed in its wake. We’ll visit Mt. Makiling, said to the be the form of a sleeping Goddess whobegan her slumber in times now forgotten. We find our origin in the creation of the first man and woman, Malakas and Maganda--who were created from the splitting of the same bamboo pole. These tales, and many more, await you this quarter. This class, however, is not just a storytelling exercise. Armed with the aid of scholars on mythology, we will deconstruct these stories and, amid the adventure, use them as a reflection into the societies of those who told them. We will use these insights to answer the final question of this course: Do we have mythologies today? Join me as we traverse diverse landscapes, populated by terrifying demons, benevolent gods and silly monsters. A world filled with magic--wielded by daring heroes and the most vile villains. We'll start by diving straight into the depths of stories of creation and progress chronologically until we return to the surface with new lenses in our eyes. Welcome to the world of myth!

The Art and Craft of Sewing

Maivy Nguyen
My name is Maivy Xuan Nguyen and I am a 4th year here at UCI. I am currently pursuing a degree in Studio Arts and minors in both Art History and Educational Studies. I have been sewing since I was a child, first introduced to the idea of sewing by my grandfather who was a tailor and taught by my mother. Mainly interested in conceptual, sculptural and installation arts, sewing has been both a means to create my body of work as well as a means to escape from it. For me, the many utilizations of sewing allow it to be a hobby and a very useful medium for art production. At the same time, it is extremely practical. I am crazy excited to be given the chance to teach others a new skill or help them gain new techniques, particularly the ability to understand construction of both material things and ideas. I have been an active member of Catalyst, an on-campus organization of undergraduate students running a gallery of undergraduate works. I am also a member of DIY club, Tea club, and a docent at the Beall Center for Art and Technology. I watch a lot of television, eat a lot of food and enjoy talking to interesting people. This will be my second year teaching this course and I’m excited to get a whole new group of students!
Course Description:
The Art and Craft of Sewing is not just a class that will discuss the history of sewing in its various manifestations. It is a class in which you will be learning basic sewing skills or get the chance to further develop skills you may already have. All levels of proficiency are admitted and encouraged! You will also be learning about three fields within sewing: craft, fashion, and art production. There will be an emphasis on construction in this class as a result of both sewing procedures and our class discussions. What are the steps it takes to construct a sewn project? In the same vein, how does that understanding allow you to conceive the world as a constructed space? We will be investigating the social aspects of sewing while taking part in it. This shall be a place and space for community building and practicing acquired skills. It may be frustrating. It will be fun.

Chemistry of Counterterrorism

Shaun Galvan
Shaun Galvan is currently a fourth year undergraduate pursuing an American Chemical Society certified Bachelors degree in chemistry with departmental honors and a minor in educational studies. This past summer, Shaun was selected amongst a competitive applicant pool as a Research Intern with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Advanced Materials Group under the auspices of the United States Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy. He has worked with nanomaterials synthesis and characterization using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for applications in explosives detection and other counterterrorism-related efforts. Currently at UC Irvine, he is working in Professor S. Blum’s organometallics research group and will be pursuing chemistry PhD studies starting next Fall. His career aspirations at the moment are to either pursue academia or a government research scientist position.
Course Description:
The battle against terrorism is far from over, especially in the United States of America. New technologies in counterterrorism and defense have been able to successfully thwart several terrorist plots in the last decade. However, the methodologies of initiating and executing terrorist plots have shifted to a more chemical approach. Due to the high potential of these terrorist plots to be carried out against the U.S., chemical research in terrorism prevention and detection has been greatly funded by the government in order to ensure the safety and security of American citizens. In this course, students will have the opportunity to learn and understand current chemical research, techniques, and equipment being utilized in satisfying the goals necessary to establish viable national security. Topics include: classifications of chemical weaponry, risk assessment, countermeasures, response tactics, sensors, and detection.

Chinese Popular Music and Society

Laiyin Lao
Hello. My name is Laiyin Lao. I am a fourth year student double majoring in sociology and East Asian culture. The reason I am teaching this course is not only because of my love of East Asian music, but also because popular music plays such an important role in both popular culture and social change in contemporary society. I am currently writing an honors thesis about the factors that affect American opinion on China. In my free time, I like playing the piano, going to concerts, and watching Asian dramas. I would like to attend graduate school and become a professor in the near future.
Course Description:
Jay Chou. Wang Lee Hom. Wong Faye. These are only a few of the many Chinese pop singers who have recently gained worldwide popularity. This seminar will explore the relatively recent development and globalization of Chinese popular music. In particular, Mandopop and Chinese rock music in both the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan will be analyzed along with Cantopop. The seminar aims to examine how Chinese popular music is significant in shaping sociopolitical, cultural, and economic developments in contemporary Chinese society. One of the important questions being addressed in the seminar is ‘How does Chinese popular music retain a sense of being “local” while adopting “global” elements?’ In addition, we will discuss how Chinese popular music can be used as a form of soft power. Ultimately, the goal of the seminar is for the students to gain from another culture. No knowledge of the Chinese language is required.

Writing the South: Labor, Race, and Gender in the Southern Short Story

Alexandra Lossada
My name is Alexandra Lossada, I am a third-year English major, and my self-proclaimed area of study is Southern writing. I am fascinated by Allen Tate's perspective about the region we call the South: "the last stronghold of European civilization in the western hemisphere." The South’s insistence on self preservation in the midst of the United States’ modernization creates a palpable tension in the region’s writing that has drawn me in time and time again. For instance, just ask me about my thoughts on Tennessee Williams! Although Writing the South and UTeach has become a huge part of my life, I am also a member of the Humanities Honors Program, a Humanities Out There (HOT) tutor, and participant in Jumpstart. I enjoy teaching, researching, and collaborating with professors so much that I would like to go to graduate school and further my education in 20th-Century Southern writing. I'm looking forward to meeting and working with each of you this spring quarter.
Course Description:
In his book Writing the South, scholar Richard Gray asserts: "Generations of Southerners have, I believe, been engaged not so much as writing about the South as in writing the South; they have, whether they have known it or not (and, as a matter of fact, many have known it) been busy reimagining and remaking their place in the act of seeing and describing it." Hence, the best method we can use to map and understand the South as a concept is to read the region's writing. As students of this seminar, you will be transported to Jim Crow South, where African Americans and whites are legally and socially segregated, racial violence and economic repression take shape in lynchings, and miscegenation is taboo. We will cover five issues that run predominantly throughout Southern writing: labor, lynching, women, incest/miscegenation, and passing. Each issue will be addressed by way of two stories, one by an African American writer and the other by a white. Be prepared to discuss Sartoris Snopes's critical decision in Faulkner's "Barn Burning," close-read Jean Toomer's lyrical and haunting stories of failed interracial relationships, decipher the layers of truth in Katherine Anne Porter's Old Mortality, and more. You will leave the seminar with an appreciation for Southern writing, practice in close-reading stories and analyzing secondary material, and perhaps even gain a new favorite author. Disclaimer: The seminar will show lynching photography and some stories feature prominent use of the "n-word." If you are easily offended by the graphic nature of this material, please do not consider enrolling in the seminar.

Gender in Japanese Manga

Jonathan Nguyen
Graduating this spring, I am a 3rd year Biology major. A student of the sciences, I guess it is surprising for me to be teaching a course about gender, but I love reading Japanese manga and observing gender construction in our daily lives. For me, this seminar is like my creative baby. When I’m not hitting the books, I spend my time juggling my dental internship, my Chemistry tutoring at LARC, and my Treasurer duties for the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). To maintain my sanity, I like to plunge myself into arts and crafts projects. Some past notable projects of mine include a bowtie made of zippers and an “ex-boyfriend” piñata. I also enjoy photography, eating everything within reach, and laughing till the noise complaints are heard.
Course Description:
Japanese manga, or commonly known as graphic novels, is usually viewed to have little intellectual substance since it is often classified as a “comic book.” Although manga does not impress with the written literary form, it offers a different sense of beauty, artistry, and connection for the audience. This course will explore the construction of gender in various samples of manga both narratively and visually. How do characters accomplish their goals through the absorbance of masculine and feminine traits? What is the difference in the portrayals of heroes and heroines? How do visual cues accentuate narrative gender developments? These are a few of the questions which this seminar will address. To pass this class, participation is mandatory as well as two short group presentations. By analyzing the intellectual fruit of manga, students will learn how gender and visual analysis intercept in the entertainment field.

Cut Your Own Movie

Francisco Correa
I am currently a 4th year Film and Media Studies Major with a minor in Education and Anthro. With my position as Films Commissioner in ASUCI, I put on the free movie screenings here on campus along with filming and editing videos for ASUCI events and Athletic functions. In addition, I help in all the event planning, such as concerts, major festivals, and breaking world records. I am also a member of B-Boys Anonymous.
Course Description:
Students will learn how to use Final Cut Pro in order to cut their films. In order to cut their films, the students will first film a short video covering different camera shots and angles. In addition, the class will go over editing concepts and theories, editing to a genre, and cutting to music. With these topics, the students will have a basic understanding and wide variety of ways to edit a film. The main goal of the class is for the student to expand their creativity.

Science Controversies

Stefanie Farmand
I am a third year Biological Science major and am interested in entering the medical field. I have had many biology courses that have briefly touched on each of these topics; therefore I became interested in spending more time on analyzing these hot topics. I do Virology research and work at an optometry office. On top of that, I love drinking coffee and also love to sleep and dance!
Course Description:
This course will be exploring a variety of topics that have become areas of hot debates in the science field. Introduction to many topics will be discussed, and the relationship between science, society, and government will be reviewed. Topics include: Human Genome Project, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, medical marijuana, research on homosexuality, and FDA approval for Flibanserin-a pill for the female sex drive. Students will be able to understand different points of views, and further make decisions based off of evidence and research. This course is designed to engage students in the material and provide an open form of discussion. Be ready to learn with an open mind, and be excited!

Defining Cult

Colleen Bromberger
Hey there! My name is Colleen Bromberger and I am a 3rd year History major with a double minor in Religious Studies and Global Cultures. I am extremely interested in the role that religion plays in modern society, and I first began my research in new religious movements during my freshman year for my Humanities Core research paper which explored the importance of Jim Jones' rhetoric in persuasive actions towards the People's Temple. Besides being a UTeach seminar leader, I am also an Entertainment Staff Writer for the New University newspaper, a Style Guru Writing Intern for the CollegeFashionista website, a student worker at the Ayala Science Library, a member of the Open Jam club, and a volunteer at the Irvine Animal Care Center. After graduating next year, I hope to receive a Masters in Contemporary Religion, and eventually become a professor or a travel journalist. I can't wait to meet you all in the spring!
Course Description:
The term “cult” often denotes odd, unusual or satanic images; however, very few people actually know, or understand what a cult is. This seminar aims to create a definition through comparing several current connotations of the term, as well as focusing on eight different religious groups, that will allow students to create a well-rounded definition by the end of the course. Classes between week two through nine will each focus on different American groups that have been deemed as "cults" in one aspect or another: discussed movements include Scientology, People's Temple and Heaven's Gate. At the end of the course, students will be expected to understand a popularly misconstrued term, as well as be well-versed in eight American groups that had/have cult-like tendencies. This seminar requires only participation and attendance for a passing grade.

Improving Visual-Spatial Ability

Andrew Knauft
I am a third year mathematics major, also interested in computer science, linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive science. In addition, I'm also a member of UCI Cal Teach, which is a teacher-credentialing program. When I first learned about Visual-Spatial skills, I immediately saw connections to my daily life, and wanted to learn ways to take advantage of them. Since there was no course at UCI, I created one! Come join me and we'll explore together!
Course Description:
“Spatial ability” is the ability to create, maintain, and manipulate non-verbal information. Cognitive science has been studying spatial ability as an aspect of intelligence since the 1920s, and more recently courses have appeared which support the theory that spatial intelligence can be increased through direct instruction. This class will focus on exposing students to current theories regarding spatial-ability theory, and give students experience applying their own spatial skills to solve problems, both scholastic and mundane. Students from all backgrounds are invited to explore this course – no prior knowledge required!

Gender and Photography

Varduhi Simonyan
I was born in Yerevan, Armenia. In 2005 I moved to the US, and currently live and work in Los Angeles. Photography is my primary vehicle for artistic expression, and my work exemplifies my unique perspective. I draw inspiration from my personal life experiences, particularly growing up in Armenia. My work documents and communicates ideas that are insightful in their specificity while simultaneously evincing universal truths about human experience.
I started my undergraduate studies in Studio Art at Glendale Community College in 2006. In 2008 I was selected to exhibit my works in the 3rd annual exhibition of silver-based fine-art photography "Emerging I" at the Creative Center for Photography. I entered UC Irvine in Fall 2010 as a Studio Art major and an Art History minor. My interest in arts grew up into a passion and I see U-Teach program as an opportunity to share my interests and knowledge with my peers. I will be teaching a seminar on "Gender and Photography" in Spring 2012, my last quarter at UC Irvine. I plan to continue my studies in Fine Arts and obtain a MFA degree.
Course Description:
This seminar will cover general history of photography with concentration on topics involving female photographers. It will also cover various critical and discursive approaches to photography with examples by women photographers. Starting with the invention of photography and its significance in the 19th century, the course will then move to the 20th century and contemporary developments. Photography will be related to the major art movements such as modernism and postmodernism. Topics such as documentary photography, subjective journalism, social photography, originality, appropriation, and simulacra will be discussed during this seminar.

Cuba: Myths and Realities

Melissa Lopez
Hello! My name is Melissa Lopez and I am a fifth year History major. Not only do I love learning about different cultures through books but also love to physically immerse myself in them if the opportunity presents itself. During my last four years in school I have had the chance to explore Spain, study in Cuba, and most recently volunteer in India. At school I help raise awareness throughout the UCI community about the widespread occurrence of sexual violence as a Right to KNOW peer educator under the Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE) office. I am also the president of Friends in Transit (FIT), a club whose aim is to connect commuters to each other and the wider campus through socials, volunteering, study sessions, and fundraising. I look forward to meeting you and talking about Cuba!
Course Description:
Cuba, for those familiar with its history and present course, often divides people into two extremes. On one hand, those who sympathize with the Cuban Revolution often cite examples of its successes. Examples may include its commitment to free education that has led to one of the highest literacy rates in the world and its free healthcare system that has resulted in the average life expectancy of Cubans to come close to those living in “first world countries.” On the other hand, those who disagree with Cuba’s trajectory often bring up examples of its failures, such as its human rights violations of free speech and the lack of economic opportunities. Overall, each side promulgates certain myths in order to portray Cuba as either a haven or hell. In this seminar, students will critically analyze and dispel Cuba’s myths and in turn discover its many realities.