Literature and Philosophy/The Good Life: In class, we discussed things needed to employ a good life, such as Maslov's theory of needs, safety, security, money, happiness, and such, however, what the course boiled down to is that the "good" life is subjective. Each individual has a different set of requirements in order to create a "good" life, demonstrated in all of the texts. Autonomy, Wealth, Culture Assimilation, and Anarchism were paramount in the texts and films we watched during the course.
Autonomy: Emma desires autonomy while Antigone demands it. While Emma seemingly desires objects, her constant searching illuminates something more. Emma's suicide speaks to not finding that self-governing in life, but in taking her life. Not only does Flaubert test social taboos with Emma's act of adultery, but also with her suicide, and arguably her reason for suicide.
Madame Bovary: While Gustave Flaubert's text resembles a love story, one might argue that the novel illuminates the struggle for feminine autonomy. Emma Bovary is not in search of love, but the freedom to be self-governing. 
Objectivism: The tendency to place importance on what is external as opposed to ethos, the internal, or more importantly, moral character. which speak to Emma Bovary's insatiable desire for material, as a means of internal comfort.
Antigone: Sophocles', Antigone directly opposes Emma Bovary, as she adheres to an internal moral obligation, which in turn allows her to be self-governing, and while answering to an internal authority doesn't necessarily result in something "good" so to speak, Antigone gives one the impression that it gives one an internal peace, which inadvertently provides one with the "good" life.
Natural law: Unchanging principles regarded as a basis for human conduct, to which Antigone adheres to.
Ethos: Pertaining to moral character, which speak to Antigone's morality, as she stood by her belief in the face of imminent danger.
Culture Assimilation: Historically speaking, African Americans have no choice but to assimilate, as their culture was lost at sea, in the Middle Passage. The aforementioned speaks to the process by which a person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group, typically of the dominant culture. Walter Lee, and the Youngers seek the American Dream, which one might define as culture assimilation, however , there is no other culture for them to look to, but American.
A Raisin in the Sun: in A raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry illuminates culture assimilation and the American Dream. While Walter Lee tries desperately to assimilate, Benetha has successfully done so, as Asigi points out, and while Ruth and Mama don't exhibit any cultural assimilating attributes, one must argue that they too assimilate, as African Americans must take on the dominant culture.
Double-Consciousness: A term coined by W.E.B. Du Bois, which refers to an internal "twoness," originally defined by an African American's experience in the United States has been employed by scholars to address the internal conflict of many minority individuals living within a dominant culture and/or society. Double-consciousness refers to an individual who's identity is divided into several facets. Walter Lee, Jay Gatsby, and Changez are all in search of the American Dream, they are also in conflict with themselves, which speaks to their minority status. How do they thrive in a society as the other? While they each address the aforementioned differently, they each struggle with a sense of "twoness." While it is evident in African American Walter Lee and Pakistani Changez, it is ambiguous within Gatsby, as it is argued that his character is Jewish.
The American Dream: While the dream originates from a heteronormative family structure, that of a man, woman, and 2.5 children (dog), two car garage, and an office job, the American Dream is subjective. For Gatsby, the dream is mostly wealth and the admiration of his peers, for Changez it is an elite education and a White woman, and for Walter Lee, it is thee American Dream, however all of these individuals suffered inner turmoil, leaving holes and questions in the dream.
The Proverbial carrot: When individuals objectify ideas, it becomes elusive, causing a collision between one's inner and external identities, the American Dream is the object of desire in the aforementioned texts, which result inner and arguably, external turmoil.
The Great Gatsby: F Scott Fitzgerald's, Jay Gatsby is arguably Jewish and assimilates in an effort to not just fit in, but to bring the American Dream into fruition, as it may have been denied him otherwise. .
Passing: When an individual portrays themselves or is regarded by others as a member of a social group other than the one he or she belongs to. Scholars have also argued that Gatsby passes as a member of the majority race and/or class, and that the novel is a passing narrative.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist: Mohsin Hamid's, Changez assimilates into the dominant culture and he covers key aspects of his own identity, however, continues to hold on to his heritage, causing an internal crisis, similar to double-consciousness. .
Covering: Sociologically speaking, when the subordinate or minority group makes themselves small, hiding one's authenticity and or culture. Also defined as, "coerced hiding of critical aspects of one's self." -Kenji Yoshino. Changez hides his culture in an effort to immerse himself in the American culture, going as far as offering to take on the identity of Erica's deceased boyfriend.
Orientalism: Exaggerating and distorting the differences between Middle Eastern individuals and European and White American individuals, essentially, the criminalizing of Middle Eastern people and their culture. Due to the West's demonization of Middle Eastern individuals, Changez covers.
Changez is aware of this demonization and covers his identity, by way of his employment, education, and his love interest.
White Supremacy: A Raisin in the Sun, The Great Gatsby, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist all illuminate what it is like to exist in America as the other. Brother repeatedly speaks of what "Mr. Charlie" has, which is a term for White people, that he doesn't have, and Jay Gatsby and Changez are internally conflicted due to the dominance of White culture and their attempts to navigate life amid the aforementioned.
Wealth: Wealth is exhibited in the following texts, however, wealth is illuminated in many ways, as A Small Place highlights a lack of wealth, such as language, religion, culture, and education.
Parasite: A parasite is an organism that feeds on on the host. The low-income family in Bong Joon-ho's film leads one to believe that they are the parasites, however, after a closer look, who is feeding off of whom. Capitalism feeds off of those in poverty. !
Capitalism: an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners. In Parasite this ideal of ownership illuminates the impact, not only of the "owners," but the individuals who are in poverty. The film speaks to capitalism's impact on one's morality, judgement, and philosophical perspective of the world. While the stairs represent an ecomic ascension, the Kim family represent a descension into poverty.
A Small Place: A Small Place, which is directly tied to Life and Debt, hears from an insider, Jamaica Kincaid, while she speaks of Western vacationers, she speaks directly to them, telling them what them of the impact of their forefathers. She speaks of colonialism and slavery, stating that due to the aforementioned, she and islanders are left without culture, religion, and language. This texts speaks to wealth, poverty, colonialism, and slavery.
Colonialism: the practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, which Kincaid references several time in her text A Small Place, which is the direct result of a group of individuals losing their identity.
Slavery: the state of a person who is chattel of another, and/or submitting to a dominating influence. Kincaid references slavery and its lasting impact, regarding the current state of Antigua.
Life and Debt: Stephanie Black examines the dynamics of Western vacationers amongst poor Black inhabitants on the island of Jamaica. She analyzes the 30-year impact of the IMF, while also illuminating the impact of colonialism and how economic dependence on stronger nations continue to drive Jamaica deeper into poverty and thus dependence, as she highlights the vicious cycle of wealth and poverty.
American Tourism: And/or Western tourism seeks to exploit the resources of islands like Jamaica and Antigua. While vacationers lounge, drink, eat, and dance, many, if not all, are not widely aware of what the IMF has done to these islands, are not aware of how potato onion, and carrot imports from the U.S. have put Jamaicans out of work. Again, Western tourism, as shown in the film and the text, speak to wealth, globalization, and classism.
Globalization: the spread of products, investments, and technology across national borders and cultures, which speaks to the closeness yet the divide between western vacationers and Black islanders, and the wealthy and those in poverty.
Classism: prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular class, which speaks to the exploitation of islanders and western vacationers and/or those who benefit from said exploitation.
Poverty: poverty suggests a lack, not just in monetary value, but simply a lack, and one might argue both families in the film Parasite exhibited a sort of internal poverty, which speaks to the violent impact wealth has the potential to have on the "other."
Gluttony: Habitual greed. While the Park family wasn't obviously greedy, what they had acquired and their treatment of the Kim's speaks to gluttony and how violent an offense monetary wealth can be on those who lack said wealth.
Anarchism: Anarchism is the belief in the abolishment of all government and the organization of a society on a voluntary and cooperative basis, however, the Dispossessed illuminates pitfalls in anarchist thought.
The Dispossessed: Ursula Le Guin illuminates the simultaneity of anarchism and socialism, which in turn illuminates the subjectivity of the good life. One who holds the power more than likely lives in a utopian society, while the ruled exists in a dystopian society, however, when the two become fluid, an ambiguous utopian society emerges, such as the texts suggest. While an anarchist society seems ideal, or utopian in nature, the text examines the faults in utopian thinking.
Utopia: The general consensus of a Utopian society, is one that is perfect or ideal. The Dispossessed, while the novel can be hopeful at times, asserts that utopian Annares is built on barren land, which is problematic. How is lack, or non possession (dispossessed) ideal? In one instance Le Guin asserts that the lack of government is ideal, and on the other hand, she asserts that the scarce resources are ideal.
Dystopia: The general consensus of a dystopian society, is one of great suffering. While the individuals on Urras may not show sings of external suffering, as the planet is built on abundance, there may be an internal lacking, as Le Guin has not only redefinned the two societies, she has also focused on the inner beings of individuals on the two planets. While Annares may not be ideal, the beings living on that planet are and while the individuals living on Urras seem ideal, as they possess "things," after a closer look, one finds that this lifestyle is not ideal, at least not internally.
Mutualism: The idea that mutual dependence is necessary, however, Shevek's desires and/or needs are in direct opposition of this idea.
Individualism: Principle of being self-reliant. While Shevek resides on a planet that subscribes to the idea of mutualism, Shevek's need for individuality is highlighted, which further complicate this idea of a utopian society.