Prof. Jackson

San Francisco State University

Fall 2005

HSS 310 TuTh 12:35-13:50

Office: Science 224 Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:00-11:30; by appointment

Does the Holocaust stand outside of history? Can it be approached dispassionately? Should it be approached that way? The topic is so emotionally charged that names, words, and even the very spelling of words have become issues of heated debate. What is the appropriate way to deal with such a monstrous event? Should the history of the Holocaust be written out of anger, as a lesson, or should it be approached as an historical event that was "uniquely unique," never to be repeated? Was it the culmination of centuries of anti-Semitism? Or was it part of the transformation of political ideology in the 20th century? Or was it part of a larger pattern of human behavior, and therefore comparable to other instances of genocide?

This course will examine not only the various answers to the classic question "How could it happen?" but also deal with issues of comparability of genocide, representation, and memory as we trace the origins, course, and meaning of the greatest crime of the 20th century, and perhaps of all history. Film, fiction, poetry, music, and even comic-books will be included among the course materials.

Note: This course fulfills the university’s Segment III B Jewish Experience requirement.  To receive Segment III credit for this course, students must complete the cluster as described in the Class Schedule and Bulletin, including the requirement that they must have earned 60 units by the end of the semester in which they take the course.

Course requirements: Midterm (20%--October 18), 10-12 page paper  (45%--due December 6th), final (35%--December 13th, 10:45-1:15). Paper topics are on-line. Students may alternatively write on a topic of their own choosing, but only after consultation with, and the approval of, the instructor.

Note: Failure to complete all course requirements will result in a grade of "F." The instructor will not initiate withdrawals. If you choose not to complete the course, it is up to you to drop it in time. Incompletes will only be given in genuine emergency situations, and suitable documentation will be required.

Note: Auditors are allowed only with the permission of the instructor, and that permission may be revoked by the instructor at any time without reason or recourse.

1. Christopher R. Browning, Ordinary men:  Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland Reprint edition (1993)

2. Century of Genocide: Eyewitness Accounts and Critical Views, 2^nd ed., by Samuel Totten (Editor), William S. Parsons (Editor), Israel W. Charny (Editor) 

3. Primo Levi, Survival in Auschwitz  Paperback - Reprint edition (1995)

4.George Mosse, Toward the Final Solution

5. Donald L. Niewyk, ed., The Holocaust  Paperback 3^rd edition (1997)

6. Art Spiegelman, Maus:  A Survivor’s Tale I & II (My Father Bleeds History/Here My Troubles Began) (New York:  Pantheon Books, 1993)

Additional materials will be available through e-reserve.

Reading: Mosse, entire

Reading: selections from Mein Kampf (photocopies on e-reserve)

Reading: Niewyk, Introduction, part I

Reading: Browning, entire; Niewyk, part II

Reading: Niewyk, III, IV, V

Reading: Primo Levi, entire; Century of Genocide, chaps.6,7

Reading: Maus, entire; poetry selections

Week 13: Genocide I: Armenia

Reading: Century of Genocide, chap.2

Reading: Century of Genocide, chaps. 11, 14

Reading: Century of Genocide, "Afterword," photocopies