Module 1 Questions
For the ANALYSIS section in your Module #1 Learning Portfolio, you can choose two questions from the following list:
– Lesson 1 (Legal Theory Intro) – Watchthis video clip, taken from the filmThey Live.In what way is legal theory in general (and/or specific legal theories in particular) like the sunglasses in the clip? Your answer should make specific references to the Devlin reading, although you may also use other course readings and/or lecture. [Accessibility options: view the script excerpt for this scenehere]
– Lesson 2 (Traditional Theories of Law) – Watchthis video clip, taken from the ancient Greekplay,Antigone. How does this scene exemplify the differences between “natural law” and “legal positivism”? Your answer should make specific references to the Murphy and Coleman reading, although you may also use the Devlin reading and/or lecture. [Accessibility options: view the text for this videohere.]
– Lesson 3 (Marxist Perspectives) – Listen tothis podcast(an episode of NPR’sPlanetMoney). How do the aspects of law examined in this podcast demonstrate the Marxist argument that law benefits the economic ruling class? Your answer should make specific references to William Chambliss’s “A Sociological Analysis of the Law of Vagrancy.” [Note: an accessibility option (i.e. a transcript) is included in the link above]
– Lesson 4 (Feminist Perspectives) – Check out this video fromThe Economist,“#MeToo:how it’s changing the world.”What kinds of feminist theory are evidentin this video? What are some specific examples that illustrate them or the differences between “generations” of feminist theory? Your answer should make specific references to the Chamallas reading, the Cossman reading, and/or lecture. [Accessibility options: captions and a transcript are available on YouTube.]
– Lesson 5 (Critical Legal Studies and Critical Race Theory) – Watchthis video clip, taken from the movieThe HateU Give. How does this clip exemplify elements of Critical Race Theory? Your answer should make specific references to the Aylward reading, the Williams reading, and/or lecture. [Accessibility options: see a transcript of this scenehere]
For the RESEARCH section, you can choose one research question from the following list:
– Lesson 2 (Traditional Theories of Law) – “Natural law” has been around since the time of the ancient Greeks. What do you think: does natural law theory still have a place in law and legal scholarship today? In addition to having a clearly-argued point, your answer should indicate what legal theory in general is, what natural law is, and the way(s) in which it is useful (or not useful) for understanding law today.
– Lesson 5 (Critical Legal Studies and Critical Race Theory) – In light of recent debates about Critical Race Theory, what do you think: should Critical Race Theory be taught in schools? Why or why not? In addition to having a clearly-argued point, your answer should indicate what Critical Race Theory is and what its social and/or educational value is (or is not)
