Political Science
Burton Atkins, Ph.D., Professor
Emeritus of Political Science at
Florida State University (FSU),
currently teaches Political Science
at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
and is also an instructor at Penn
State University. In his 35-year
career at FSU, Professor Atkins wrote extensively
about constitutional law and American politics and
served as chair of the political science department.
He lived in London from 1992 to 1997, while serving
as the Director of FSU’s London Study Center. From
1997 until his retirement in 2006, he served as
Director of FSU’s International Affairs Program. An
avid supporter of international education, Professor
Atkins has organized and led study semesters abroad
to London, Brussels and Paris for FSU and FAU.
Student Testimonials
- “Brings a unique perspective to film appreciation
through his expertise in political science.”
- “Continually finds interesting topics.”
The Reel 1940s: Using Film to Explore a Pivotal Decade of the 20th Century
In 1940, with much of the world engulfed by what would
become the most destructive war in human history and
the effects of the Great Depression still obvious across the
country, the United States remained detached from the
conflict raging across Europe and Asia. But the “date
which will live in infamy” fundamentally altered
America’s role in the world. Victory in 1945 ended the
“hot” war with the Axis powers, but it also coincided
with the start of a “cold” one with the Soviet Union. Still,
the engine of economic power assembled to fight a global
war transformed the domestic lives of many Americans.
People felt richer. Opportunities seemed abundant. The
engine driving the American economy transformed the
country. The bleak landscape of the Great Depression
receded into the past.
This course will use film clips as visual texts to explore
these and other aspects of American society in the 1940s.
Topics will include the monumental conflict that was
World War II, the important social issues of the decade,
but also how Americans went to the movies to enjoy great
song, dance and entertainment.
The film selection and order of presentation are subject to change.
Eight Lectures
- Two Classics From the 1940s - “Citizen Kane”; “Casablanca”
- Metaphors About Law, Values and Heroes - “Ox-Bow Incident”; “The Devil and Daniel Webster”;
“Sergeant York”
- Europe Plunges Into War - “Dunkirk”; “The Darkest Hour”
- From Pearl Harbor to Normandy - “Tora,Tora,Tora”; “The Longest Day”
- Music and Patriotism - “Holiday Inn”; “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
- The Dawn of the Nuclear Age - “The Day After Trinity”; “Fat Man and Little Boy”
- Post War Issues and Moods - “It’s a Wonderful Life”; “The Red Shoes”; “On the Town”
- Great Issues at Home and Abroad - “The Grapes of Wrath”; “The Great Dictator”
|
| Course # W8W3 — Full 8 Weeks
|
|
| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Wednesdays, January 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 13 2019 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4 PM |
| Fee: | $80 / member; $110 / non-member |
|
|
Register Now
Should We Hold a Second Constitutional Convention?
Written in 1787, The American Constitution was a
novel statement about the theory and practice of
democratic governance. Inevitably, of course, the
institutions and processes built into the Constitution
reflected the world and the thinking of the late
18th century. Over two centuries later, that world has
long disappeared and, yet, with just a few
amendments, the document drafted in the summer of
1787 continues to govern the United States. The issue
inevitably arises whether the Constitution drafted in
1787 can continue to successfully govern the United
States in the 21st century and beyond. Should we, for
example, continue electing our president through
electoral, not popular, votes? Should Supreme Court
justices have life tenure or should they be subject to
fixed terms? Should a state such as Wyoming, with
less than half the population of Palm Beach County,
have equal representation in the Senate along with a
state like California with a population larger than
most countries of the world? Is the Second
Amendment an anachronism left over from the
18th century or is it a vital component of liberty in a
system of limited government?
In short, has our country, and the world we live in,
changed so much since 1787 that we should consider
holding a Second Constitutional Convention to
update our founding document? This will be the
central theme of this lecture devoted to appraising
whether a Constitutional Convention of 2019 is an
idea worth serious consideration.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
|
| Course # W1R1 — One Time Event
|
|
| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, January 17 2019 |
| Time: | 9 - 10:30 AM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
|
|
Register Now
