2015
The following UTeach classes were taught during Spring 2015:
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
Science Fiction on the Radio
1950’s Film and Gender
Once Upon a Fractured Fairy Tale
Sex Education in America
Microliterature
Video Games and Gender
Islam in America
Salem Untold
Plants and People
Theories of Improv
How to Solve Puzzlers
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
Ema Bidiwala
Biography:
The idea of being able to quantify the human mind is provocative. The fact the way our eyes see, the way we learn language can all be modeled in mathematics. The personification of these algorithms is a robot. I have always been fascinated by robotics and the human mind, specifically how it works. Why do we make certain decisions? Why do we see corners the way we do? How do we perceive color? I am fortunate enough to be able to study these intriguing questions as a fourth year Cognitive Psychology major, here at UC-Irvine. My main research interests are color, memory, and of course artificial intelligence. As a naturally curious person, reading about these questions keeps me satiated. When I am not studying cognitive science I play cricket and practice classical ballet. I would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Barett, Dr. Lisa Pearl, and Dr. Donald Hoffmman for their assistance and support and UTeach for allowing me this opportunity.
Course Description:
Artificial Intelligence and robotics have played a significant role in the Science Fiction genre. Whether it be in classic film like “Robocop” or in literature such as Isaac Asminov’s I, Robot. The fields of robotics and artificial intelligence are growing. With the integration of artificial intelligence into daily life, a question arises about ethics and the capabilities of the products. Defining Roboethics and understanding the “machines” is difficult because we have nothing to compare the capabilities to. The only examples available are presented in the media. In this course we will explore some of the capabilities and philosophical questions about artificial intelligence. We will use philosophy, cinema, literature, and cognitive science to assist in understanding the impact and ethical concerns of robotics. Topics such as consciousness, what defines us as human, and morality will be discussed.
Enrollment Information:
Time: W 10:00 – 10:50
Place: SSL 171
Course Code: 87631
E-mail: ebidiwal@uci.edu
Science Fiction on the Radio
Scott Hogan
Biography:
As an adult learner at UCI, I am often looked at by my fellow Humanities undergrads with glances that say, “Are you our teacher?” Participating in the UTeach program will finally give me the opportunity to look them in the eye and say, “Yes, I am. Now, put your cellphones away.” It isn’t the power or prestige that appeals to me, however, but rather the idea of presenting to a class of eager Anteater undergrads a course that I planned and developed with my faculty mentor. As a 5th-year English major, the prospect of attracting non-Humanities undergrads to the wealth of cultural and self-knowledge through close listening of radio dramas is a challenge I find exciting, especially in light of the topic I plan to focus on: Science fiction radio programs of the 1930s to the 1960s.
Course Description:
Before television there was radio. Radio was the center of family entertainment from its beginnings in the 1920s thru the 1950s when it was eventually replaced by television. Science fiction, (or sci-fi), as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.” We will be listening to sci-fi radio programs and discussing their contributions to American entertainment. Beginning with 1938’s War of the Worlds, and ending with an episode of the long-running series Suspense from its final year in 1962, we will also discover what each of these shows tell us about the times in which they were written. We will compare the stories of yesterday with events and concerns of our present time to see just how close we have come to being the future that was imagined in the 1930s through the 1950s.
Enrollment Information:
Time: M 12:00 – 12:50
Place: HH 105
Course Code: 87632
E-mail: hogans@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Gail Hart
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1950’s Film and Gender
Kelly Liang
Biography:
Hi everyone! My name is Kelly Liang, I am a fourth year history major. When I am not reading books with a cup of tea, working in student housing or writing my research paper, I am probably watching television or film, more specifically films from the 1950s. Films from this era have always amazed me with their visual and sound style. I always feel transported into the time. Thus I have been fascinated with learning as much as I can about the decade’s culture and society. I hope to share what I have learned so far and to continue to discover the 1950s perspective.
Course Description:
In this course we will explore the different depiction of gender in 1950s film and television shows. Historically, 1950s America was a decade filled with conflict from the Civil Rights movement to the Cold War. The conflict influenced and greatly defined the ideal roles of men and women in the household. Roles of men and women were clearly defined for a particular group, but for others the norm was not so. Through this course, films such as The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Rear Window, and Some Like it Hot will be watched and analyzed for its historical and cultural value. By the end of the course, students will learn to understand the historical perspective of the decade, and will also be able to develop their critical analysis skills of gender in film within historical and social contexts.
Enrollment Information:
Time: M 2:00 – 3:50p
Place: DBH 1420
Course Code: 87633
E-mail: liangk@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Allison Perlman
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Once Upon a Fractured Fairy Tale
Kevin Matson
Biography:
Hola! I’m Kevin. I’m a 4th year English major, with an emphasis in creative writing. I was a peer tutor for the humanities core course, and have done an independent study where I worked with 5th graders on poetry at an elementary school. I also completed an independent study involving fairy tales, folklore, and the television show Once Upon a Time. I enjoy writing short stories, and I’m constantly imagining how some minor quirk in my daily life can be incorporated into a story. I’m recently married and enjoy trying new food spots in LA with my wife, along with watching TV shows and movies with her. My mentor Dr. Susan Morse has been dedicated to this class, working with me since last spring, and has given me a pair of glass slippers to wear to the ball (er, I mean class).
Course Description:
Once upon a time, there was a class at UCI that offered a course that featured as its homework watching 1 episode a week from the ABC television show Once Upon a Time. In this course, we will watch Fractured Fairy Tales from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, and more frequently read tales from the literary tradition that preceded fractured fairy tales. In this course, we will explore various meanings of particular fairy tales in different contexts. What is Disney’s role in the shaping and production of fairy tales? What were the culturally important messages of fairy tales in times past, and do they still have resonance with us today? Did you know there is a more original version of Little Red Riding Hood than the one where the hunter rescues everyone, and that this version has elements of cannibalism and the scatological to it? We will situate fairy tales and fractured fairy tales in a social context, try to analyze what they mean to us, personally, and learn to construct our own fairy tale… wouldn’t that be a dream?!
Enrollment Information:
Time: Tu 3:00 – 3:50p
Place: HH 105
Course Code: 87634
E-mail: matsonk@uci.edu
Faculty Mentors: Gail Hart and Susan Morse
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Sex Education in America
Melissa Mayr
Biography:
So nice of you to check this out! My name is Melissa Mayr and I am a fifth year nursing science major. When I am not in the hospital for clinical rotations, my hobbies are singing, reading fiction, and creative writing. I got interested in the topic of sex education after my involvement in the Vagina Monologues as a cast member– my curiosity has culminated into the creation of this seminar. I am so excited to explore this topic with you all!
Course Description:
The purpose of this seminar is to analyze the progression of standardized sex education and the success of sex education in preparing youth to be competent, knowledgeable, and able to form healthy sexual relationships. Ultimately, the question we will explore is: what is the best way to engage American society in learning and adopting healthy sexual behaviors? By the end of the seminar, students will be informed on the basics of sex education and have participated in a discussion of how sex education should be conducted in America. The intended outcome is for students to be well-informed, to have critically analyzed the efficacy of current sex education methods, and be innovative and collaborative in developing a basic sex education plan.
Enrollment Information:
Time: M 5:00 – 5:50p
Place: HH 210
Course Code: 87635
E-mail: mmayr@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: E. Alison Holman
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Microliterature
Edie Montgomery-Pool
Biography:
Edie Montgomery-Pool is currently studying English at the University of California, Irvine. She has a long-standing interest in microliterature and has published poetry and flash fiction in various journals and magazines, most recently in the U.K. publication, “Danse Macabre, A Selection of Terrifying Poetry.” During her spare time, she works with rescue animals.
Course Description:
This seminar will explore microliterature, the short form of short forms. Topics will include fiction with a word count anywhere from 6 to 1,000 words. Short forms of poetry will be explored, such as haiku and twitter poems. We will also look at short films. We will explore what these short forms reveal about the cultures that produce and consume them and how microliterature conveys information in ways that challenge accepted views and boundaries regarding what stories should be and how stories should be told. We will explore the structure of story. Microliterature is a tight and compressed form full of empty spaces and implication. We will discuss whether this compressed structure enhances the understanding of the ideas being conveyed or acts as a barrier between the text and the understanding of the reader.
Enrollment Information:
Time: W 11:00 – 11:50
Place: ICS 253
Course Code: 87636
E-mail: ewmontgo@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Jami Bartlett
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Video Games and Gender
Troy Ortega
Biography:
Hey there! I’m Troy Ortega, I’m a senior in the Film and Media Studies department. My research interests include the effects different economic structures have on film production & aesthetics, and looking at gender representation in video games, specifically looking at the ways women are represented in both male and female targeted dating sims.
Apart from consuming a perhaps unhealthy levels of media (seriously, film/tv/video games are my life blood), I enjoy drawing, painting and other artistic endeavours. Recently I’ve been trying my hand at handicrafts (pun fully intended).
Course Description:
Issues of gender, gender representations and sexism in video games and video game communities has been a hot topic lately. Incidents like Gamergate, which occurred last summer/fall, have sparked a lot of questions about how things are run in the video game industry. Throughout the course we’ll be working through these questions, trying to answer things like:
“How are video game representations of men and women alike problematic?”
“What makes a character a ‘good’ representation of their gender?”
“Why is there such hate towards female gamers, when the make up over 40% of the gamer population?”
To answer these questions we’ll be looking at and playing (that’s right you get to play games in this class!) different games including, but not limited to Catherine, Bayonetta, God of War, The Legend of Zelda, Kim K’s Hollywood and OFF. The point of analyzing these games isn’t to impart judgment on quality, rather the goal is to begin to recognize the issues that come up in relation to gender. After all, just because a game is sexist does not mean that it’s a “bad” game, and, on the other end, just because a game has good gender representation doesn’t mean that its necessarily a “good” game.
Enrollment Information:
Time: F 10:00 – 10:50
Place: HH 214
Course Code: 87637
E-mail: toortega@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Braxton Soderman
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Islam in America
Najmah Sadat
Biography:
My name is Najmah Sadat and I am a fourth year History major with an emphasis on European history and a Religious Studies major with an emphasis on monotheistic religions. I enjoy learning about how race, gender, class, and sexuality work to navigate our experiences in society. After studying abroad in Berlin where I took a class about Islam in Europe I grew interested in the how someone’s religious identity also shapes their experiences. This led me to explore the history of Muslims in the United States. As an American Muslim, analyzing processes that have affected me personally was a conflicting yet enlightening experience. I hope to expand this discussion in my class so we can all better understand the world around us. The research that has gone into planning my course in addition to writing my senior honors thesis owes a debt of gratitude to the support and guidance of my research adviser Professor Jack Miles.
Course Description:
Muslims come in all shapes and sizes: they can be a white male homosexual, a feminist fashionista, a Black lesbian, a refugee immigrant, and so much more. In this class, we will deconstruct the hegemonic definition of Islam by analyzing the history and contemporary experiences of Muslims in the United States. Over the course of ten weeks we will work towards creating a more accurate definition of American Islam. This will require us to recognize the overwhelming diversity within the American Muslim population and all of its “contradictions.” We will take an intersectional approach that considers factors of race, class, gender, and sexuality side by side. My hope is that this knowledge will aid us in recognizing and embracing our differences and similarities with all humans as equals.
Enrollment Information:
Time: M 4:00 – 4:50
Place: IAB 130
Course Code: 87638
E-mail: nsadat@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: John R. Miles
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Salem Untold
Jacky Schlegel
Biography:
Hello, everyone! My name is Jacky, and I am a fourth-year transfer student majoring in English. I am a member of the Teachers of Tomorrow Club and work as a peer academic advisor for the School of Humanities. I am so excited to be teaching a class on the Salem witch trials! My research and enthusiasm for Puritan history stems from my New England upbringing; I was raised in South Portland, Maine and moved to California in 2010. In creating this course, it has allowed me to bring a little bit of New England to California, starting with my New England accent.
Course Description:
Definition of Witch: A noun.
1. A person, especially a woman, who professes or is supposed to practice magic
2. A woman who is supposed to have evil or wicked magical powers
Etymology of the Word Witch:
1. Weid, proto Indo-European, meaning to see or to know
2. Wit, English, meaning knowledge
In 17th-century Puritan New England, witches were commonly thought to be very real and associated with the devil. It is this belief that catalyzed one of the most notorious incidents in American history. Everyone has heard of the Salem witch trials, which brought a crop of witchcraft accusations into court, but have you ever wondered what really happened in Salem, 1692? Contrary to popular opinion, the Puritans’ belief in the supernatural is neither solely responsible for the proceeding trials, nor does it account for the supposed “mass hysteria” that erupted. In this class, we will delve our way through the bewitching history of Puritan New England, juxtaposing history and fiction to gain a clearer picture of what actually happened in Salem.
Enrollment Information:
Time: F 1:00 – 1:50p
Place: IAB 129
Course Code: 87639
E-mail: schlegej@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Jayne Lewis
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Plants and People
Sarwat Siddiqi
Biography:
Hi there! My name is Sarwat Siddiqi and I’m a fourth year Earth System Science major with minors in Biological Sciences and Psychology & Social Behavior. I am also the Managing Editor for our campus Yearbook Anthology and I dabble in research both on campus (Dr. German’s lab) and off (Aquaponics Project). I like to consider myself a lifelong learner and I have a passion for diving into the unknown. I am specifically interested in understanding our world: how it came to be, how we got to here, how nature works, and how all these little pieces come together to make this planet the home we live in today. And this is why I will be teaching our class on Plants & People for Spring. I’m fascinated by how plants make up such a large portion of our existence and yet receive such a small amount of recognition or attention in modern society and media. I hope this class will help students see just how fundamentally linked we are to our green brethren -in predictable and unforeseen ways- and appreciate the beauty of the plant world.
When I am not knee-deep in schoolwork or academic commitments, I enjoy voraciously reading, writing and, having riveting (albeit sometimes long) conversations. Likewise, I love being out in the natural element and helping with environmental efforts whenever I can. I have a casual interest in sci-fi, social justice, alternative culture, surrealist art, and history (namely the 50s, 20s, etc.) and I am always trying to travel to new places. I’m always on the hunt to fill my head with more random information and I look forward to sharing this passion with all of you in Spring!
Course Description:
If you’re a living breathing human reading this, there’s a great chance it’s all because of your largely plant-based existence. The ubiquity and necessity of plants in our daily human existence is something that is largely forgotten and often take for granted in today’s society. In this class we will discuss just how much plants play a part in our collective livelihood and focus on the mutual relationships formed between us. We’ll touch on a variety of disciplines from history to biology. Topics include shamanism, recreational use, wine culture, aphrodisiacs, plant sciences and more! We’ll even be having outdoor activities and a visit to the UCI Arboretum! From agriculture to Victorian floriography, we’ll go over all the uses of plants that have shaped our modern civilization, perhaps even ones that you’ve never considered! Students will get the chance to see, taste, smell, and dissect all the juicy details of our floral love affair!
Enrollment Information:
Time: M 10:00 – 10:50
Place: DBH 1423
Course Code: 87640
E-mail: stsiddiq@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Stephen Weller
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Theories of Improv
Vinny Tangherlini
Biography:
Hey, you! You! With the face! YOU!!! I’m Vinny Tangherlini, a fourth year Drama Major, improviser, teacher, and benevolent hermit wizard. Currently, I am one of the captains of UCI’S Improv Revolution (an improv team on campus that makes things up on the spot and desires to spread creativity and laughter across our campus, our California, and our country—like that alliteration?) and I perform in various theatre arts productions on campus. I was first introduced to improv in sixth grade (when I saw a Comedy Sportz show at the local high school down the way), and knew instantly that I wanted to be like the people onstage—I had always acted (since before I can remember I was pretending to be other people, whether that was pirates, princesses, or parakeets—again, more alliteration), but this seemed like an opportunity to really invest in a challenging aspect of theatre. Since then, I have really discovered how the art of “being in the moment” onstage has incredible effects on my life offstage—I am a better listener, I am more in touch with my emotions, and I am more willing to play and participate in whatever is asked of me. My hope is that, should you take my class, you will garner some of these skills too and enjoy the process of improv!
Course Description:
Improvisation is something that you do each and every day, whether you realize it or not. Though, arguably, the roots of improv can be traced back to the dawn of the cavemen, formalized improvisation really came into being in the mid-twentieth century through the work of some truly exceptional people. In this class, we will take a historical approach to improvisation, examining the work of early figures and slowly transitioning through today, exploring ideas and theories that have served as “landmarks” for improvisation instruction. Ultimately, through this analysis, we will create a “crash course” through the years of what has been and what currently is important to improvisational artists. In addition, we will focus on concepts that primarily deal with the “soft skills” that improv teaches—such as listening, spontaneity, emotional connections with your partners, responding to an environment, confidence, and a sense of play. This way, we may examine the more practical uses of improvisation through activities and exercises artists have used or are currently using to determine how improv has shifted over the years and yet how it continues to affect us.
Enrollment Information:
Time: Tu 5:00 – 5:50p
Place: CAC 3002
Course Code: 87641
E-mail: vtangher@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Joel Veenstra
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How to Solve Puzzles and Brain Teasers
The Heuristic Approach
Igii Enverga
Biography:
Hi, everyone! My name is Igii Enverga, and I am a fourth year majoring in computer science. Aside from working as a resident advisor (Middle Earth!) and peer academic advisor, I really enjoy binge-watching TV shows, reading urban fantasy and sci-fi novels, and figuring out which superpowers I would want when we get them. Whenever I watch a detective show (like Sherlock!), see a thriller, or play a puzzle video game, I just love how everything clicks together at the end when the protagonist reveals how he or she solved the grand mystery. Being exposed to these kinds of things is what sparked my interest in learning how to solve puzzles and brain teasers, and hopefully I get to share that with you all!
Course Description:
In this seminar, we are going to explore various problem solving strategies, otherwise known as heuristics, that we will use to solve some of the more difficult puzzles and brain teasers. Students will learn how to tackle a wide assortment of these puzzlers, ranging from the more common logic ones to the more novel “Google Interview Questions” that have been popularized in recent times. To get a preview of what the course covers, here are a few of them that will hopefully pique your interest (and should be cake for you after you take my class!):
- How many times a day do a clock’s hands overlap?
- You work in a 100-story building and are given two identical eggs. You have to determine the highest floor from which an egg can be dropped without breaking. How many drops would it take you to do it?
- How many piano tuners are there in the entire world?
Enrollment Information:
Time: W 12:00 – 12:50
Place: DBH 1423
Course Code: 87642
E-mail: envergaj@uci.edu
Faculty Mentor: Michael Goodrich
Adrianna Burton
Majors: English, Film, & Media Studies
D&D: Roleplay, Characterization, and Representation
Biography:
Hello to all! My name is Yara Bojorquez, I am a senior Political Science and International Studies double major and I cannot wait to guide you through the “Psychedelic Humans” seminar as part of UCI’s UTeach program! As a fellow undergraduate, it is my privilege to introduce my peers to the world of psychedelic research. A “substance use” researcher and honor’s student investigating “cognitive liberty” myself, the current limitations and inconsistencies apparent in the existing literature regarding these topics have motivated me to embark on this educational pursuit. The specific knowledge in international law and global conflict I have attained during my time at UCI has equipped me with the tools to take a critical look at the domestic War on Drugs, its subjects, and its effects on individual consciousness and society-at-large. It is with this insight, an enthusiasm for the natural world, a responsibility to progress the academic archives, and (hopefully) your collaboration that I humbly embark on this mind-expanding journey.
Course Description: As agents of the natural world, psychoactive substances impact humans on psychological, physiological, and social levels of existence. With the increasing decriminalization of federally illicit drugs, it is pertinent for the average citizen to understand the impact of psychoactive substances on society. This seminar is designed to increase a student’s awareness of psychedelic substances and their effects on the liberal individual and two major democratic societies. We will discuss the origins, cultural significance, and change through time of psychoactive plant use in these societies to distinguish their potential influence on present-day Americans. The rationale behind the War on Drugs and domestic drug policy will be reviewed accordingly.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87637
Faculty Mentor: Caesar Sereseres
Yara Bojorquez
Majors: Political Science, International Studies
Psychedelic Humans and the War on Consciousness
Hello to all! My name is Yara Bojorquez, I am a senior Political Science and International Studies double major and I cannot wait to guide you through the “Psychedelic Humans” seminar as part of UCI’s UTeach program! As a fellow undergraduate, it is my privilege to introduce my peers to the world of psychedelic research. A “substance use” researcher and honor’s student investigating “cognitive liberty” myself, the current limitations and inconsistencies apparent in the existing literature regarding these topics have motivated me to embark on this educational pursuit. The specific knowledge in international law and global conflict I have attained during my time at UCI has equipped me with the tools to take a critical look at the domestic War on Drugs, its subjects, and its effects on individual consciousness and society-at-large. It is with this insight, an enthusiasm for the natural world, a responsibility to progress the academic archives, and (hopefully) your collaboration that I humbly embark on this mind-expanding journey.
Course Description: As agents of the natural world, psychoactive substances impact humans on psychological, physiological, and social levels of existence. With the increasing decriminalization of federally illicit drugs, it is pertinent for the average citizen to understand the impact of psychoactive substances on society. This seminar is designed to increase a student’s awareness of psychedelic substances and their effects on the liberal individual and two major democratic societies. We will discuss the origins, cultural significance, and change through time of psychoactive plant use in these societies to distinguish their potential influence on present-day Americans. The rationale behind the War on Drugs and domestic drug policy will be reviewed accordingly.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87637
Faculty Mentor: Caesar Sereseres
Katrina Hough
Major: Neurobiology, Enligsh
Heartbreak Narratives: Broken Heart in Poerty&Lit
Hello All!
My name is Katrina Hough and I am a fifth year double major in neurobiology and English. You might think those are two majors on the opposite ends of the spectrum but I like to think of them as close together in discovering and analyzing the human condition. My likes include reading, attempting to cook/bake new recipes, and super soft blankets. My dislikes include nuts (because I’m allergic, I went through a phase in middle school where I was totally bitter about never having peanut butter, but I’ve moved on, clearly), loud noises, and anything that requires body coordination.
Course Description:
In this course, students will be exposed to different pieces of literature centering on the theme of heartbreak. The class encompasses a wide range of pieces including works by Sylvia Plath, Frank O’Hara, and Danez Smith. Students will engage in close reading practices and are encouraged to think about the effect of these narratives on their own feelings and lives. Subjects of grief coincide with other topics like love, joy, mental illness, race, and feminism. Through discussion and written assignments, students will be given an opportunity to express their visceral reactions to a piece and work alongside their peers in analysis.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87631
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Jackson
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Alessandria Pai
Majors: Biomedical Engineering: Premed, Classics
What are Lasers?
Biography:
Hey all! I’m Alessandria (Aless), a fifth-year double major in Biomedical Engineering: Premed and Classics. I have a very wide variety of interests, including reading novels, writing short stories, and singing. Another of my favorite pastimes is learning languages: so far, I’m working on Spanish, Italian, Attic Greek, and Russian! On other days I might be reading through history articles or getting knee deep into quantum mechanics. Or, I might just be a couch potato and binge on manga. When I’m with my friends, we enjoy putting together charcuterie boards and watching musicals or just coasting for good places to eat. As you can see, I’m a very curious person and tend to dip my fingers into every topic I can!
Course Description:
“What Are Lasers?” is a course for students to expand their knowledge on lasers. Lasers are used everywhere from daily life to research and medicine to the battlefield. However, the science behind lasers can be dramatically different from how lasers are commonly portrayed in literature and media. The course will include several topics regarding lasers, including the science behind how they work, the history of lasers, current positive and negative uses of lasers, and the presence of lasers in literature and media. Students will also learn to research and explore the wide world of lasers on their own, including fascinating topics such as laser cooling, optical tweezers, and approaches to nuclear fusion.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87635
Faculty Mentor: Bernard Choi
Cassidy Contreras-Macik
Major: English
The Reality of the Dream
Biography:
Hey! My name is Cassidy and I am a fourth year English major. I was born and raised in Orange County; living in both Orange and Santa Ana throughout my youth. I decided to study English because I firmly believe in the capturing of the human experience that is within literature. After I graduate from UCI, I want to move into teaching at the high school level. My goal in life is to help people and make a positive impact on those I meet and I figure: “What better way to do that than to be an educator that is dedicated to the intellectual and personal growth of our youth?” In my free time, you’ll see me reading poetry, writing, laughing while watching 90 Day Fiancé and other trash reality T.V. shows with my mom, hanging out with friends, doing self-care, or at a taquería because tacos are the love of my life.
Course Description:
The American Dream. Many people have heard of it and many define it in different ways. It is, however, in most cases, suggesting a certain quality of life that is made possible for those living in the United States. While, in American education, we often talk about the American Dream at least once but when do we ever talk about American dreams that stem from oppression? In this course, we will begin by spending a day in which we discuss the canonicalized term “The American Dream” and its limited representations and spend the remainder of the class studying narratives that are often not brought into the light. Focusing on literature that uplifts the American voices and experiences of immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, and more, we will be looking at the parts of American life that go underrepresented when we address the American Dream, quality of life and the dreams that stem from it as a result.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87641
Faculty Mentor: Theodore Martin
Chloe Low
Majors: English, Literary Journalism
Worldbuilding in Indie Video Games
Biography:
Hello folks, and welcome to Wordbuilding in Indie Video Games!! I’m Chloe and I’m an English and Literary Journalism double major with a minor in Creative Writing at UCI. When I’m not scavenging for new games to play, you can find me working at Langson Library or writing poetry. While my studies do not center around video games, I’ve loved them my whole life and I think they are awesomely unique medium that has the potential to teach everyone something new about the way they view the world. In this course, my goal is to introduce you to a variety of independently made games that are thought provoking, comforting, and fun, and then critically analyze why that is. Don’t feel like you need to have experience playing video games before this taking class, I hope we can learn and grow while exploring indie video games together!
Course Description:
This seminar serves as an introduction to worldbuilding through its application in indie video games. In this course, worldbuilding will be defined as the construction of an imaginary world. We will engage in the world building techniques of video games, including game mechanics, storytelling, sounds, and visuals. We will be able to identify elements of worldbuilding in an academic lens and articulate critical perspectives on their effectiveness in indie video games. The goal of the course is to develop the language to describe the mechanics of indie video games effectively, illuminate understanding of worldbuilding as a methodology, and have the opportunity to engage in a variety of indie video games. No previous experience with video games or video game theory is necessary
Enrollment Information:
Time: 1-1:50 PM PST on Fridays
Place: Online
Course Code: 87640
Faculty Mentor: Anton Soderman
Victoria Hernandez
Majors: English With Specialization In Education
The Evolution of Feminism In Film
Biography:
Hello, hello! My name is Victoria Hernandez, but most of my friends call me Tori. I am a fourth-year English major with a specialization for Future Teachers. I aspire to become a high school teacher because I want to help students prepare for their future, encourage them to pursue their dreams, and show them that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. I am currently the social media coordinator for the English Majors’ Association and one of the writer contributors for Her Campus— both clubs mean a lot to me because they are my outlets to express unlimited creativity and work alongside many other talented students. There are no words to describe how fortunate I feel to meet so many inspirational people during my UCI experience (in-person and remotely). So let’s continue this momentum of greatness by creating some more fun memories of our own during this class. I also have a passion for writing slam poetry, writing song lyrics, writing film reviews, watching horror films, listening to pop music, attending television show tapings, and creating my own sense of style in film editing. I am obsessed with binge watching many Netflix shows, or the entire series of Game Of Thrones. I am also a HUGE DISNEY FANATIC. If it is at all possible to live in the Cinderella castle at Disneyland with unlimited churros then sign me up.
More importantly, I sincerely hope that this class will inspire you, encourage you to watch films differently, and progress the movement of female empowerment. Sometimes the best feeling ever is to make people smile, learn from others, and try to make someone’s day shine brighter because it’s a great feeling to spread kindness wherever you go. Lastly, you’ll definitely hear me playing some songs from The Greatest Showman, classic Disney anthems, or anything that has to do with the concept of self love during the beginning of this class for the Spring quarter!
Course Description:
This course will explore the development of working women roles in film from the early twentieth century to the present day. How are women’s roles portrayed on the big screen from the early twentieth century to the present day? This course is going to examine the different working environments of women such as the office, the household, the factory, the classroom, and the music industry. After streaming the films before in-class discussion we are going to ask ourselves what were the biggest challenges for women and think about the ways in which their roles gradually changed overtime. For example, for some homework assignments you will be viewing the films entitled Thelma and Louise directed by Ridley Scott, and North Country directed by Niki Caro, Freedom Writers directed by Richard LaGravenese, and Selena directed by Gregory Nava. Then during class discussions we will learn the elements of how to do a film analysis, and how their biggest challenges within their working environments impact each female role. How do these artistic details in film portray the female role? Throughout the course, we will also compare and contrast the female roles, their biggest social issues like gender inequality, and how film captures their diverse working positions. We will, also consider how the revolution of women in films themselves and how they were presented from back then to the present day. The main goal of this class is to learn a brief overview of feminist history, examine how working environements impact the female roles, and also go into depth as a class about how we watch and write about film itself. In these selected films, we are going to learn how to evaluate the behind the scenes features of artististic cinematography, and how to study the powerful notions of symbolism during a scene analysis. This class is going to include a few screenings, very short passage readings, short journal entries, a short team discussion post, uplifting discussions, and overall learning how to utilize film as a visual tool to view the feminism movement in a new light.
Please be advised that some of these films featured in this class may contain scenes of explicit sexual or violent nature. In addition, I will create a google drive that will provide all films, short readings, and scenes throughout the entire course.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87639
Faculty Mentor: Joseph Jeon
Vanessa Nicole Torres
Majors: Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x Studies
Daydreaming: The Undocumented Immigrant Reality
Biography:
Hello folks, I am Vanessa Nicole Torres and my pronouns are She/Her/Ella. I am a fourth-year first-generation student majoring in Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x Studies and double minoring in Latin American Studies and Literary Journalism.
I got involved in UTeach after deciding I want a career as a Professor to able to teach, learn, research, and create. Outside of school, I am a BIPOC makeup & arts lover, consumer, supporter, and creator. I enjoy recreating makeup looks as well as creating poetry, long-form narratives, paintings, and sketches so let your creativity soar in my course.
Before UTeach, I pursued UROP research inspired by my academic pursuits and experiences as a Latinx woman of color who worked as a TRIO Tutor Mentor for Math and Science Upward Bound high school students. As a UROP Honorary Fellow, I had the opportunity to present at on campus events, at the 2019 Imagining America National Gathering and at the virtual 2020 Johns Hopkins Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium.
This past year I have been the School of Social Science’s FGFQ Challenge program Administrative Assistant, with hopes to help shape and build the community that will further the journey of more first-generation BIPOC students. The FGFQ program and team is a place for everyone to grow as academics and take control of their academic trajectory from the first quarter of their undergraduate experiences at UC Irvine.
Course Description:
This course is an introductory seminar that analyzes undocumented immigrant youth experiences in the United States. By tracing various forms of media documentation to their intersectional experiences, we will explore immigration and undocumented policies, mixed-status family dynamics, gender and sexuality, activism, and reform. Assigned readings will draw from interdisciplinary, Queer immigrant essays, or testimonials/testimonios, and media (e.g. arts, journalism, books, videos, memes, etc), to introduce students to past and contemporary creative movements on undocumented and/or queer youth. These materials will inform our zoom discussions by taking into consideration how activism has played a highly visible role in the lives of undocumented immigrant populations and their desire for reform. Gaining a deeper understanding of the complex intersectionality of undocumented youth in United States history and in the present moment will help students meet their own needs or that of undocumented students and families they will encounter on campus and beyond.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87636
Faculty Mentor: Anita Casavantes Bradford
Jonathan Almguer
Major: English
Echoes and “Echo Chambers”
Biography:
What’s going on everyone! My name is Jonathan Almaguer and I am a 4th year English major. Some of my favorite things to do are playing guitar, and chatting with friends about theoretical concepts and ideas that don’t really have a true answer. I find that if we are not set on finding or arguing an ultimate conclusion, the resulting conversations tend to be a lot more fun! I plan to teach high school English in the future and my general love for teaching and discussion has led me to Uteach. The specific idea of working with echoes and “echo chambers, was inspired by many conversations with some professors here at UCI. In the beginning I was simply interested in the way soundbites and repetition functions in persuasive rhetoric. This lead me down a never-ending rabbit hole exploring all the different ways echoes function in both classical and literature, and finally all the way to mainstream media where I became well acquainted with the metaphor of “echo chambers.” In some ways, I am inviting all of you to join me on this journey. More significantly, I’d like to join each of you on your journey of exploring the many different versions and functions of echoes, and can’t wait to learn from my fellow students!
Course Description:
An acoustic echo chamber is an enclosed space used for its ability to allow a sound to continuously reflect off of the walls, creating a reverberating effect and reproducing the original sonic source multiple times. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a co-founder of FactCheck.org, transforms the acoustic echo chamber into a metaphorical echo chamber as the foundation for her analysis of the way media outlets enclose and reverberate messages. A pressing question, however, is what determines when echoing is helpful – such as creating a collective voice in order to create positive change – and when echoing becomes a substitution for individual thought? Although traditionally, the metaphor of the “echo chamber” has been reserved to describing political circles that shut themselves off from differing opinion, in this call we will explore the question: metaphor? Is expanding the metaphor of the “echo chamber” useful in helping us to understand the way ideas are perpetuated, maintained or even strengthened? Furthermore, we will be asking ourselves what are the potential dangers of applying a metaphor that fits imperfectly to any object it is trying to describe. How far can we expand this metaphor outside of the political arena? All the way to an individual level? Can the entrapments of an “echo chamber” exist within the confines of one’s own mind? Your input and discussion will be at the core of our entire course, and our goal will not be to simply answer these questions, but to explore them, discover whether or not these are important questions deserving of our time and energy.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87632
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Tzechung Fan
Catthi Ly
Major: Human Biology and Anthropology
The History and Philosophy of Cancer
Biography:
Hello all! My name is Catthi, and I’m a 4th year Human Biology and Anthropology double major. I’m so excited to be teaching you the Philosophy of Cancer in the spring! Cancer has always been extremely fascinating to me, and there’s simply so much that we don’t know. There’s so many unknowns when it comes to cancer, how it develops, and how we treat it. And while biology is really important to understand cancer, I also firmly believe that philosophy plays an important role as well. Besides UTeach, I serve as the student director of Global Health Research Education, and Translation, a Learning Assistant for the Human Biology series, a Bio 199 Student in the Neurosurgery Department at UCIMC, and as a student ambassador for the Women’s Health, Gender, and Empowerment Center of Expertise at the UC Global Health Institute. In my free, I love singing, playing piano, scrapbooking, and talking about Colombia’s bizarre hippo problem.
Course Description:
The oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee refers to cancer as the Emperor of All Maladies. While modern medicine has been able to accomplish miraculous feats, cancer is still a disease that we have yet to effectively combat. In this class, we will go over the history of cancer and epistemic challenges that are pervasive in contemporary cancer research. We will explore cancer from the perspective of patients and the phenomenological experience of being a cancer patient.
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87634
Faculty Mentor: Cailian O’Connor
Raymond Rosales
Majors: History
Underworld Journeys: Classical and Medieval
Biography:
Hello, Hello! My name is Raymond Rosales or Ray for short. I am a third year History major with a wide range of interests from literature and language to cooking, wood working, hiking, skateboarding, and video games. You can find me skating around campus, hiking in OC’s beautiful trails, or online in some form or another where I’ll usually be playing a game, listening to a podcast, and reading at the same time. I look forward to discussing the weird and wonderful world of Medieval afterlife visions and sharing my terrible jokes.
Course Description:
Now more than ever, we desire to travel. As we cannot physically travel though, our only recourse is to travel through literature. This seminar will look at tales of travel to the underworld from the late classical period through the early medieval period. In these tales we will encounter a pagan world on the frontiers of change, heroes on the frontier of life and death, and an unrefined and mystical Christianity on the far frontiers of Europe. We will be joining a series of heroes as they travel across seas, into dreams, ethereal gateways, and the whole of the afterlife to gain knowledge of the world and themselves. We will follow alongside them, acting as co-traveler through Hell, Heaven, and sometimes Purgatory to see what insight we can gain ourselves!
Enrollment Information:
Time: TBC
Place: Online
Course Code: 87633
Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Allen