A Revolution in Culture

The object of this course seemed to be to investigate anything and everything about London in the 1700's. While we did learn some things about the way people lived and their institutions (very important vocab), a lot of the information became a defunct muddle. The novels were readable, but the articles and writings of historians and eighteenth-century scholars were usually the source of the trouble. These latter texts came from the infamous readers that we were periodically forced to buy or copy. The ideas and concepts that Professor Wennerlind seemed to expect us to glean from these writings were completely lost on most to all of the class. Frequently the readings would be followed by a crash course in some facet of economics- a lesson that would have been helpful before the reading was assigned, perhaps, and the content of which remained incomrephensible to many of us. Most of the classes were student-led, which seemed more like a way out of finding ways to make the material interesting than anything else. There were some isolated, interesting moments and a couple of fulfilling classes knowledge-wise, but nothing managed to justify the way I dreaded going to this class.

This class seemed normal enough when i was picking it...but i knew it was all downhill the first class. I have no idea what the class was actually about because the reading was incomprehensible and when you could decode the meaning excrusiatingly boring. The discussions were student-led, which is a code word for disorganzied and filled with frequent awkward silences. The papers were graded completely arbitrarily, so it doesn't make any sense to spend any actual time working on them...he'll probably hate it either way. The only way to suceed is to mercilessly kiss ass...its what he responds to best. he makes you buy three course readers at random points throughout the semester-
the readings are horrible and only one person will actually do them so don't waste your money and let that one sucker in the class answer his inane questions. He'll ask for feedback during the last class but don't be fouled..he'll cut you down for any minor criticism. In a class of about 12 at least 5 people burst into tears due to his insensitivity and general assholishness. Avoid this class like the plague-which may have been the topic of some of the reading if i'd actually done it

I decided to give myself the entire summer to recover from this class in order to write a rational review. I myself was one of the poor, unsuspecting souls who read the class description and said to myself, "swell looking class." I'm going to make a wild guess that this course will not be offered again...hopefully ever ever ever.. Nice guy though...if you're making small talk after class or passing on the street. He jogs a lot.

Not. Good.
Failed attempt at an inter-disciplinary course. Mangled love-child of english and economics looks a lot like Carl, and Carl's biases, and Carl's uncompromising squint, and… It may have looked good on paper, but was awesomely-bad when worn, er…as a class.

Typical class involved a student leading the discussion, having been coached by Carl beforehand, which means a lot of heavy silences when the discussion was not going Carl's, I mean. The Right. direction.

You're smart so you know where this is going. 3 6-page papers. If you want a good grade. Just do it: Carl's Way.
He likes class participation because without it, it would just be 1:25 min of awkwardness. Oh wait. Even with intelligent, funny comments this class was Dark Dark Torture, which also goes by the title of A Conspiracy of Papers by David Liss.

My advice if you decide not to stick it to the Man. Take notes on skills of grade-grubbing classmate #1, 2, and 3 rather than on mispronounced big words during lecture.

Also. Please protest Carl's lack of environmental awareness and apparent disregard for the low-budget of students. He makes you buy 3 readers. Courseworks 101, Carl.