Deborah is the best. It is a class about memory and commemoration (UVa does not have many classes on this fascinating topic!) . Lots of reading every week (but it's normal for graduates, I think?); we start from the classical Paul Connerton and Halbwachs, proceeds to read Nora, Jennifer Cole, Paul Ricoeur,Lisa Yoneyama,Rosalind Shaw,David Graeber,Michael Lambek,Michelle Hanks,Katherine Verdery,Elizabeth Behnke, and so many others. The readings are ranging from ethnographic ones to more philosophical/theoretical ones(such as Ricoeur), containing different aspects of memories and different examples of commemorations.
The assignments are: 2 presentations about assigned readings, 2 short papers(very short, 3-5 pages double spaced), one longer term paper (15-20 pages), and its proposal. We spent some time peer reviewing others' drafts and it's really helpful.
A very enjoyable and valuable class. Love it. And Deborah is also a cynical (in a weirdly gentle way) and cool and intelligent person.
Btw Ricoeur is very, very hard...........
She is teaching a class on writing ethnography. I'm looking forward to that class as well.