The Public and the Private Self

Carl Nelson, Rutgers University, Spring 2005

Assignment 1

Examine the relationships between the themes of agonistic training, intellectual pursuit, gender divisions, and today's cultural "alienation." Note how Tannen discusses these issues. How productive do you find Tannen's argument? In what ways does her essay reflect some of the agonistic strategies she hopes to reduce? In what ways does her essay exemplify the transformation she advocates?  

Imagine the traditional academic response/evaluation of Tannen's essay, its similarities as well as differences to assumptions found within this writing assignment, and the ideal reception Tannen would want for her essay. What insights (and conclusions) can you make about Tannen's essay and higher education based upon your exploration of this paper assignment and your experiences as a student trained via an agonistic method?

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Assignment 2

In the previous assignment, I asked you how Tannen's essay would be interpreted within a standard academic community--and how the assumptions behind my initial paper question factored into this scenario. Now, I want you to consider Tannen's observations about adversarial training/education within the context of Faludi's discussion of the Citadel. This task requires more than a simple compare-and-contrast method. Although you will find many elements in Faludi complementing Tannen's claims, Faludi's discussion also significantly complicates Tannen's views.  

Examine the ways communication, debate, and alienation (gender bias) operate in the agonistic environment of the Citadel. To what extent would the incorporation of Tannen's concept of dialogue improve learning and communication at the Citadel? To what degree would these alterations impair conditioning that the Citadel deems necessary? How would a compromise work? Is a compromise possible? What can you conclude about gender discrimination and education in this context?

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Assignment 3

In previous assignments, you have read discussions regarding institutions of higher learning and some of their peculiar conventions. These conventions included behaviors and conceptual approaches marginalizing--or, at times, even outright rejecting--women. In "Honor and Shame," we read about Kamla. Her struggle to become educated represents 'more of the same' while raising other themes worthy of further connection and exploration.     

Examine the examples of formal training and agonistic debating found in Lila Abu-Lughod's essay. Consider, too, the leaping back and forth between public and private identity in Kamla's narrative and how "play" factors into these shifts. Find parallel moments for all these aspects in Tannen and Faludi. Finally, what importance do you assign to "play" (however you choose to define it) when it comes to transforming someone through educational agonistic training and how might "play's" influence shift between the public and private self (or males and females undergoing agonistic training)?

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Assignment 4

In the previous assignment, you read about Bedouin culture--its depiction by Abu-Lughod and a young woman: "Kamla." Kamla describes her attempts to forge a new life after high school and the complex relationships Bedouins form among themselves as well as with outsiders: youths versus tradition-oriented elders, Bedouin tribes versus Egyptians, Bedouins versus Europeans, and so forth.

Examine Abu-Lughod's excerpts from Kamla's essay, popular songs, traditional poems, Egyptian radio programs, etc. Consider how Scott would view these different accounts along with certain non-verbal gestures by the dominant and subordinate groups (in terms of his "transcript" concept). How much has Kamla's 'face grown to fit the mask' created for her through the "public transcript" (as you define it)? What role does her sequestered social space play in forcing her to fit the mask or resist it through a "hidden transcript" (as you describe it)? How does Kamla's use of religious doctrine factor into this complex dance of identity: i.e., use of The Prophet or Piety to validate the "public transcript," "the hidden transcript" or Kamla's switch between both?

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