CVSP 204 Final, Spring 2000

Civilization Sequence 204 Final Examination Time: Two. hours June 5, 2000 Prof. M. Amyuni NAME: eeeeeene-=-- Student No:--------------- I. Required question (60%) The French poet Paul Valery wrote the following in 1944: “Here we are facing a universal disorder of images and questions. There is deep discontent in the world.” which seems to apply to our whole course (C.S. 204) and to our present moment in 2000. Consider this “disorder of images and questions” in relation to at least two (2) of our Western authors and two (2) of our Arab authors. What are, in each author, those images and questions which provoke. “deep discontent” and how are they handled in each of the works you’re discussing? - Finally, in your conclusion take a personal, sincere stand and express where you find yourself or situate yourself within this context. ; II. Choose Qne of the following questions (40%). / 1. Simone de Beauvoir writes in The Second Sex NY To emancipate Woman is to refuse to confine her to the relations she bears to man, not to deny then to her; let her have her independent existence and she will continue none the less to exist for him also: mutually recognizing each other as subject, each will yet remain for the other an other. The reciprocity of their relations will not do away with the miracles - desire, possession, love, dream, adventure - worked by the division of human beings into two separate categories; and the words that move us - giving, conquering, uniting - will not lose their meaning. On the contrary when we abolish the slavery of half of humanity, then the “division” of humanity will reveal its genuine significance and the human couple will find its true form.” 1. Discuss it in the light of S. de Beauvoir. 2. Discuss it in relation to May, Valérie, Hamida and Hosna. 3. In your conclusion, take a personal stand. . 2. On Imprisonment We have met many characters in C.S. 204 who seem to be imprisoned for various reasons: political, traditional, existential, economic, a heavy past,....etc. Select at least FOUR such characters from the Western and the Arabic Units. Describe the context in which they are created, their plight, their action, their vision of society, of life....etc. Underline in your conclusion the ethos of each of the writers who have created them and the message beyond them. (Avoid overlapping your essay on the required topic). OR 3. Darwin, Hawking, Popper and/or Nietzsche, each one from his own discipline and with its relevant arguments, has contributed to free modern man from “the established order” of things. What was the core of their contributions. how do they compare? A piece of advice: Your essays should be relative to the time you have (2 hours). Focus well, write clearly with examples from our texts.