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This is blog for students of History 102g - Medieval Civilization
Discussion Section Syllabus
History 102g, Medieval Civilization Discussion Section Syllabus
Fridays 9am, 12pm
TAs: Stacey Lutkoski & Ericka Swensson
Email: staceybl@usc.edu, emswensson@yahoo.com
Office: Shrine Offices
Welcome to the discussion section for History 102g. Discussion sections will examine and elaborate on the material presented through the lectures and readings. These classes will help us work through difficult concepts and problematize historical issues. As stated in the course syllabus, the discussion sections are worth 20% of your total course grade. Half of your discussion section grade will be determined by performance in the section itself. In order to receive full credit you need to be present at every class with the readings in hand, be an active participant, and demonstrate a familiarity with the sources.
Cell phone calls, tardiness, inappropriate use of laptops, and other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will adversely affect your grade.
Attendance is mandatory. Consult the course syllabus for more information on the attendance policy and penalties.
The second half of your discussion section grade will depend upon your performance in our class blog. Please email Ericka if you have not yet been added to the blog. This is your responsibility, and we will not be held responsible for your negligence. Each week we will post an assignment by Monday evening. You must post a thoughtful paragraph response on the blog by Thursday at 8pm. Late postings will not be accepted. We encourage you to use the blog not only as a place to express your ideas but also as a discussion forum by responding to your classmates’ postings. Your post should neither be a “fact” oriented question/ comment nor a question concerning the content of the works themselves, i.e.: a question that requires outside sources to answer. Rather, your response statement should deal exclusively with the contents of the texts themselves. Also, make sure that you cite the page(s) used for your question or comment.
This syllabus is subject to change. We will communicate with you outside of class primarily through email, and it is your responsibility to check your account regularly for pertinent information. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact either one of us.
Any student requiring academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained by DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to us as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30am-5:00pm Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
4 comments:
After reading the accounts by McNamara, Gregory, Fortunatus, and finally Saint Radegund (Thuringian War). I have a singular view of a compassionate, devoted acolyte of God. As I read McNamara and Baudonivia they both describe St Radegund as a woman of miracles, but a woman still tied to the secular world where she intervenes in the wars between Kings (reader pg 93). This description varies greatly from the biography presented by Fortunatus where St Radegund is prone to self mutilation in her quest to triumph over her earthly body (reader 81) . Fortuntas writes a passage where he states St Radegunnd, " She punished herself if anyone else did a good deed before she did". I did not find this type of ego driven sacrifice in the other writings (reader 80). Lastly, Gregory of Tours (Gregory pg 530) gives his account of the how the Bishop Marveous refused to consecrate the relics for St Radegund and these accounts match to the accounts recorded by Fortunatus and Baudonivia reader . I saved my opinon of St Radeguun for her passage in the THURINGIAN WAR where she loses her brother to the man she would latter marry - ' He who never gave me a hard word, took all hurt to himself, That he feared to give hurt has become the cause of sorrow" (reader pg 69). The authors all agree - she was special.
In all the readings, the descriptions of Radegund have similar points about this saint, praising her close to Godliness qualities. In Gregory's text, Radegund is referred to in a letter Gregory's predecessors sent to her as “most blessed lady Radegund, daughter of the church of Christ” (IX.39). She certainly is described as a wholesome person with “celestial love” in her as per God’s will. One of the biggest points the seven bishops write in the letter is Radegund’s similarity to the revered Saint Martin. The letter makes point that Radegund is from the same town as martin and also resembles martin in her actions and faith. Not much is written about Radegund in full detail in Gregory’s text because he talks of another book of his that goes more into her life, including Gregory’s experience of the saint’s funeral (IX.2). The texts in the course reader are more biographical descriptions of Radegund going into more depth one the details of the life she lived and the services she performed for the people. Through these texts there is a feeling that the people of the time truly loved the “good Lady.” In response to Radegund’s death, it is described as a moment for awe not tears because “paradise received her and there she is in glory with God […] we have lost our lady and mother, but we have sent her before us as our intercessor in the kingdom of Christ” (McNarma 102).
Radegund is described as an incredibly holy individual. Gregory uses terms such as "blessed" and "considered great by people." This is remarkable given the circumstances of her life. She was essentially taken prisoner and forced into marriage (or so it seems in HotF.) She then 'changes her garments', which I equate to some form of giving up her possessions in exchange for a holier, devout life. McNarma refers to her as "our lady and mother."
There is little doubt in my mind as to whether or not Radegund was considered a holy individual. This, in and of itself, is incredible as she is a woman. The Saints that we have learned about have all been male. That's not to say that there wern't female saints, but there wern't 'famous' (for lack of a better word) female saints.
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