THA-1105 Expressing Humanity
What role do the arts play in creating and sustaining our humanity? It is not enough to say that the arts are an escape, or a pleasant respite from the rigors of 'real' life. In this course, we will explore the ways that the arts create-and even save-lives. Our approach will be both critical-the impact of the arts in broader histories-and creative. In particular, students will choose a current topic of concern, explore the history of interventions on that topic, and propose an artistic response of their own. Students will see that accessing their own artistic capabilities can enhance their own and
other lives. The core commitment of the course is that the arts can expose and ameliorate damage caused by histories or oppression, especially regarding race, class, gender and sexual
expression.