The success of the seminar depends on the participant’s thorough preparation and willingness to engage in open and respectful discussion grounded in a thoughtful engagement of ideas in the texts/presentations. Through participation in seminar discussion, each person refines her/his/their own understanding of the material, helps others think issues through, and practices valuable analytic and communication skills. Our goal in the classroom is collaboration and the exchange of ideas. To achieve this, come to each class prepared with what you believe are the central arguments, concepts and ideas of each reading, how they relate to the others and to your own work, and how they relate to the overall themes of the class.  You may wish to organize your thoughts in response to questions posed for each week in the syllabus and by reading one another’s comments.

The course is structured as a workshop-seminar combining: a) weekly critical discussions of the readings; b) presentations; c) instructor lead discussions/activities based on weekly topics and, d) lectures/presentations by expert guest speakers that will facilitate an interdisciplinary and multiregional and transborder perspectives on the key themes of the course (these lectures are open to the public)

Learning objectives:

At the end of the course, each student will hold a deeper understanding of the following questions:

1. How do we work with difficult knowledge associated with histories and experiences of oppression and political violence?
2. How do we engage with communities who endure pain and silence? With those responsible for it? Who is community?
3. How do we listen to pain or loss? To the justifications for it?
4. What is our responsibility to stories of atrocity, suffering and resistance?
5. How can researchers and practitioners work with this knowledge for social justice?

Respectful listening
This course examines difficult questions and contentious themes that require a deep awareness of our social location and worldviews. We will have differences of opinion and varying ways of learning and engaging with the material. We ask that we listen to and learn with each other respectfully, and we can come to an agreement the first class on how. Please refrain from using social media during class. All phones must be turned off and put away.

Student well being
The materials and discussions in class may be difficult for some of you, and at some point, you may feel you need extra support in working through it. UBC Student Assistance Program is a 24/7 wellness resource https://students.ubc.ca/health/ubc-student-assistance-program-sap. UBC student services can be reached during the day through http://students.ubc.ca/livewell/services/student-health-service. For after-hours crisis support, students should contact community resources: https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/crisis-support#after-hours-support