Jedi Knights Course Offered By Queen's University Belfast

Starting in November, Queen's University Belfast will offer a course that will use the psychology of the Star Wars Jedi Knights to teach students communication skills and personal development. The university's publicity material reads 'the course "Feel the Force: How to Train in the Jedi Way" teaches the "real-life psychological techniques behind Jedi mind tricks"' and promises to explore 'wider issues behind the Star Wars universe, like balance, destiny, dualism, fatherhood and fascism.' The course is very affordable but the droid fees are outrageous.

Comments

mockery of the education system

[jgarra23]

That is just awful.

Re:mockery of the education system

[caitsith01]

Agree.

Universities might think they are being quirky, hip and clever doing this stuff, but what they are really doing is legitimising the view that anything vaguely humanities-oriented is a waste of time and should not be funded by any government or serious organisation. Unis are already struggling for funds in these areas, so why give the critics actual ammunition to help them?

If they really want to do something useful, they could try to integrate humanities subjects into non-humanities disciplines, to restore the notion of getting a 'well rounded education' and to give students of those disciplines a broader, better developed understanding of their discipline's context in the world. E.g. get mathematicians study the history and psychology of maths; get lawyers to lawyers study criminology and sociology; get engineers to study subjects which encourage a more holistic understanding of the effect of their discipline and the ways in which it can help or damage humanity and the environment.

In fact, fuck it: every single degree should include a component of studying (real) literature and history. The reason why should be self-evident if you take a quick look at Ms Palin's attempted book-banning antics.

Re:mockery of the education system

[flabbergast]

If they really want to do something useful, they could try to integrate science subjects into non-science disciplines, to restore the notion of getting a 'well rounded education' and to give students of those disciplines a broader, better developed understanding of their discipline's context in the world. E.g. get science journalists to study math; get lawyers to lawyers study computer science; get business majors to study subjects which encourage a more holistic understanding of the effect of their discipline and the ways in which it can help or damage the engineers they will soon "manage".

There, I fixed that for you. I knew English majors that were proud of the fact that they never had to take a math class in college. Or anything related to engineering/physics/math. But I also knew engineers who were proud that they never had to read fiction in college. Being well-rounded goes both ways, its not like being a humanities major makes you well rounded.

Re:mockery of the education system

[zangetsu]

Star Wars: a hypothetical universe in which the legislative branch gradually yields more and more power to the executive branch during war time, after which the balance of power is not restored because the executive branch had a hidden agenda to rule without checks and balances

That single aspect of the story merits more than a one day class.

Sci-fi movies tend to focus on special effects more than plot, but many of the books are steeped in political philosophy (I recommend Orson Scott Card)

what crap

[jollyreaper]

I was planning on writing a snarky comment that the students would be better served studying the religions and philosophies that George Lucas ripped off his pop-culture understanding from but the Idle interface has given me something new to bitch about. How long ago did this thing roll out of their collective asses and why does it still look this awful? They should just heel this turd down the shower drain and be done with it.

Re:Shameful pandering

[Anonymous Coward]

You do know that Belfast is in Northern Ireland, right? This is a British college, not an American one.

That said, I don't disagree with you at all.

Re:Shameful pandering

[NoobixCube]

Case in point, when a professional educator didn't realise Belfast was in Ireland (or at least didn't read it thoroughly) :P

great

[Brain Damaged Bogan]

another religion being taught in schools...