syllabus - Morse Academic Plan - New York University

“Sometimes we're animals. How else to account for a man who approaches a female
chimp nursing its wide-­‐eyed newborn, takes aim amid howling protests from nearby
apes and blasts the mother with a tranquilizer dart -­‐-­‐ then snatches the sobbing infant
and delivers it to an otherwise thoughtful, loving woman, who whisks the creature off
to her New York brownstone? It was science, this was the '70s, and the gauntlet had
been thrown down by none other than Noam Chomsky. While nonhumans may
communicate with one another, the MIT linguist said, they are fundamentally
incapable of language.” From Chris Colin, “The chimp who thought he was a boy”
< http://www.salon.com/books/int/2008/03/31/Nim_Chimpsky >
Bonobo Bambi Wolf-man
Fall 2011, Morse Academic Plan UA.0400
Texts and Ideas: “Animal humans”
New York University
Lecture: TR 11 am- 12:15 pm, Cantor 200
Professor Jacques Lezra ()
Department of Comparative Literature
Rm. 303, 13-19 University Place, ph. 212 998-8780
Office Hours: T 1-3 pm and by appointment
Preceptors:
Juan Carlos Aguirre
Nienke Boer
Kevin Daniel Goldstein
Benedict Hunting
Ceci Moss
Mert Bahadir Reisoglu
Ozen Nergis Dolcerocca

Sections:
Lezra
“Animal humans”
Page 2
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9838 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 036 09/06/2011 -
12/16/2011 Fri 8.00 AM - 9.15 AM at SILV 506 with Moss, Cecilia
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9839 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 037
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 9.30 AM - 10.45 AM at TISC LC6 with Moss, Cecilia
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9840 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 038
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 11.00 AM - 12.15 PM at 145F 210 with
Hunting, Benedict
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9841 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 039
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 12.30 PM - 1.45 PM at 145F 210 with
Hunting, Benedict
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9842 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 040
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 11.00 AM - 12.15 PM at SILV 518 with
Dolcerocca, Ozen
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9843 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 041
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 8.00 AM - 9.15 AM at SILV 512 with Goldstein, Kevin
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9844 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 042
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 9.30 AM - 10.45 AM at TISC LC5 with
Goldstein, Kevin
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9845 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 043
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 9.30 AM - 10.45 AM at TISC LC4 with
Dolcerocca, Ozen
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9846 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 044
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 11.00 AM - 12.15 PM at 25W4 C-5 with Aguirre, Juan
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9847 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 045
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 12.30 PM - 1.45 PM at 145F 207 with Aguirre, Juan
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9848 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 046
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Mon 8.00 AM - 9.15 AM at BOBS LL142 with Reisoglu, Mert
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 9849 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 047
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Mon 9.30 AM - 10.45 AM at 25W4 C-12 with Reisoglu, Mert
MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 19004 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 048
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 11.00 AM - 12.15 PM at 12WV L114 with Boer, Nienke

MAP-UA 400 | Class#: 19005 | Session: 09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 | Section: 049
09/06/2011 - 12/16/2011 Fri 12.30 PM - 1.45 PM at 12WV L114 with Boer, Nienke
Lezra
“Animal humans”
Page 3
“One might go so far as to define man as a creature that has failed in its effort to keep its
animalness…” So writes the German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk. What sort of animal were
we? Where, how and by whom has the line between the human and the animal been drawn?
With what consequences for our “human” understanding of the world? Of concepts like the
“soul,” “society,” politics, the family? Is the line between the human and the animal drawn
differently in different genres—in literary works, theological treatises, natural histories,
paintings, films? We will come at these questions from different angles, following them in
the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, pre-Socratic and other classical works (Ovid, Pliny,
Euripides), in early modern responses to these questions (in works by Marie de France,
Shakespeare, Montaigne, Descartes, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Titian), in
essays by contemporary philosophers and advocates (Singer, Derrida), and in films that treat
the blurring of borders between humans and animals (Walker, Wylie).
Course requirements: Attendance at lecture and recitations. Militant participation in
discussion. Two essays (4-5pp double spaced), the first essay to be rewritten and
resubmitted if the preceptor indicates. In-class midterm OR Visual Assignment (4-5 pp.
double spaced), and final exam.
Readings: The texts listed on this syllabus should be read for the lecture in which they will
be presented, not after!
Grading: Attendance, discussion, and short weekly recitation assignments: 20 %
Two essays: 40 %
Mid-Term OR Visual Assignment: 20 %
Final: 20 %
Unpleasant observation regarding computer use in lecture and in section: You may use
your laptop to take notes during lecture. Computers may not be used in section. It is highly
disrespectful—insulting, in fact—to your teacher to check email, play games, watch films,
go on Facebook, etc. during lecture. Worse—other students find it distracting. Lecture halls,
however, are not police-states in small. We will not parade the aisles constantly, checking
that you are making appropriate use of your laptops. If, however, we receive complaints or
notice that students are abusing, I will prohibit the use of laptops in lecture altogether.
Course books are available at the University Book Store. Screening times for the films will
be announced.
Blackboard: A good number of the class readings are posted on the class Blackboard site,
and all of the images we use in class will be there as well. (On the Schedule below, posted
items are marked “Bb”.) I encourage you to visit the site often.
Email: The TAs and I will rely on the Blackboard email function to relay information about

the course. These emails go to your NYU.edu email account. If you do not use that account,
you should right away give your TA your preferred email address.
Lezra
“Animal humans”
Page 4
Schedule of readings and assignments
September 6 T Introduction: Animal humans
Genesis 1 and Genesis 22 (Bb)
Caravaggio, “Sacrifice of Isaac” (Bb)
Yeats, “Leda and the Swan” (Bb)
8 Th Plato, Phaedrus
13 T Plato, Phaedrus
15 Th Euripides, The Bacchae
20 T Euripides, The Bacchae
**Essay 1 due in lecture**
22 Th Ovid, Metamorphoses
Aristotle, On the Motion of Animals (Bb)
27 T Ovid, Metamorphoses
Titian, “The Rape of Europa” (Bb)
Velázquez, “Las Hilanderas (The Fable of Arachne)” (Bb)
29 Th Apuleius, The Golden Ass
Pliny, Naturalis Historia (Bb)
October 4 T Apuleius, The Golden Ass
Pliny, Naturalis Historia (Bb)
6 Th **No class—visit Metropolitan Museum or another museum on
your own in preparation for Visual Assignment
11 T **No class**
13 Th The Gospel of Luke
18 T Aquinas, Summa Theologica 1, q. 75 (Bb)
20 Th Marie de France, Bisclavret
Agamben, “The Ban and the Wolf” (Bb)
25 T Marie de France, Bisclavret
Agamben, “The Ban and the Wolf” (Bb)
27 Th **In-Class Midterm Examination OR **Hand in Visual
Assignment
November 1 T Walker, Werewolf of London (1935)
3 Th Walker, Werewolf of London (1935)

8 T Cervantes, “The Dialogue of the Dogs” (Bb)
10 Th Montaigne, “Of Cannibals” (Bb)
November 15 T Montaigne, “Apology in Defense of Raymond Sebond” (Bb)
17 Th Montaigne, “Apology in Defense of Raymond Sebond” (Bb)
18 F **Essay 2 due by the end of the day on Friday, Nov. 18**
22 T Descartes, Discourse of Method
Derrida, “The Animal That Therefore I Am” (Bb)
Singer, “All Animals Are Equal…” (Bb)
Thanksgiving
29 T Descartes, Discourse of Method
Derrida, “The Animal That Therefore I Am” (Bb)
Singer, “All Animals Are Equal…” (Bb)
Hearne, “How to say ‘Fetch!’” (Bb)
December 1 Th Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream
Bibliography:
Lezra
“Animal humans”
Page 5
6 T Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream
8 Th H.G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau and Island of Lost Souls
(Wylie, 1933)
13 T H.G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau and Island of Lost Souls
(Wylie, 1933)
15 Th Conclusion: Beyond Nim Chimpsky?
**Take-Home Final Exam Prompts Distributed**
19 M Final Exam period begins
20 T ** Take-Home Final Exam Due**
These are the editions I have ordered. You should try to make use of them, since the
class readings will be keyed to page numbers in these translations.
Plato, Phaedrus, Albert Keith Whitaker (Editor), Stephen Scully (Translator). Focus
Publishing/R. Pullins Company
Euripides, Bacchae (Cambridge Translations from Greek Drama), David Franklin (Editor).
Cambridge University Press
Ovid, Metamorphoses, Denis Feeney (Introduction), David Raeburn (Translator). Penguin
Classics
Apuleius, The Golden Ass, E. J. Kenney (Introduction, Translator). Penguin Classics
New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, augmented 3rd College Edition.

The Lais of Marie de France, Glyn S. Burgess (Introduction, Translator), Keith Busby
(Introduction, Translator). Penguin
Lezra
“Animal humans”
Page 6
Classics; 2nd edition
Descartes, Rene. Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy (Paperback).
BN Publishing
Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night's Dream, A. R. Braunmuller (Editor), Stephen
Orgel (Editor), Russ McDonald
(Introduction). Penguin Classics
Wells, H.G. The Island of Dr. Moreau. Bantam Classics