by Lightmary Flores '16
Students at Whittier College have the opportunity to explore topics through multi-disciplinary lenses by enrolling in paired courses or in the case of a First-Year Programs’ class, triplet courses. In one of the triplet courses offered last fall, first year students studied the cultural and sociopolitical implications of globalization and how these issues are depicted in theatre and literature with Professor of English Charles Eastman, Professor of Theatre Gil Gonzalez, and Professor of Political Science Joyce Kauffman.
Through these three consecutive courses, first-year students were able to apply the theories they learned from their Introduction to Globalization to their English and theatre classes where they produced and literary and textual regarding issues within globalization.
Kaufman’s course “Introduction to Globalization,” explored globalization on a macro-level through global and cultural studies. “We explored how and why do empires rise and fall, countries, and within those, how do people behave and how do their behaviors affect different countries as well as other people,” said Kaufman.
The Introduction to Theatre class offered by Director of First-Year Engagement and Professor of Theatre Gil Gonzalez and Director of the Writing Program and Senior lecturer Charles Eastman’s writing seminar with a focus on genocide, allowed students to apply their knowledge in a more creative way that depicted these global phenomenon’s, often using their own creativity as well as the literary works to demonstrate their understanding of these concepts.
“Globalization is not a topic, it's a vision, a perspective, a lens,” said Eastman. “The linchpin holding these courses together is the ethos of globalization. We hope our students view the arts and the theater through that lens, not the other way around.”
Professor Eastman shared his perspective on how these distinct courses provide a better foundational learning on globalization. “Theater is a global phenomenon, one of the oldest and most widely observed, and one that transcends national boundaries,” said Eastman. “One might say the same for writing, with the proviso that audiences, expectations, and conventions vary widely even in as small a universe as this campus. But the behaviors that make for good writing here help amplify the students' global thinking when they are focused on a truly global problem like genocide.”
Students shared their enthusiasm for the linked course that allowed them to draw connections between these diverse disciplines. “The integration of all three courses into a triplet has been a great success and the discussions here have really created an overall discourse-rich classroom culture,” first-year Allexander Roggero said. “We have had short essays and a few responses and had the opportunity to create our own monologues that explored the topic of genocide as part of our theatre class.”
For first-year Eryn Wells, the opportunity to apply her knowledge through a visual and literary analysis was rewarding. “We are very fortunate to have the best of the best,” first-year said. “All three Professors formed a good power source, that encouraged us to think critically and express our ideas through theatre and writing.
“This triplet course is definitely a departure from anything I have ever taken before,” said first year Taylor Charles said. “It really allows us to look at genocide and globalization through a different lens which I really enjoyed.”
This triplet course was first offered back in Fall 2013 and is one of three triplet courses offered to first-years this semester. According to Eastman, at least two triplet courses will be offered next fall.
Kaufman shared the importance of offering triplet courses such as these to Wittier curriculum. “I love seeing students, especially freshmen, struggle to bring the pieces together,” said Kaufman. “To me, that is the essence of learning as they apply parts of what they have learned in one class to other classes.”
