Fall 2021
In this course we will consider historical and contemporary examples of architecture and the visual arts concerned with defining and engaging the spiritual and the sacred. This series of lectures will cover primarily American examples of religious utopian communal settlement, outsider art, alternative, esoteric, and new age spirituality in art, architecture, and cinema, roadside religion, […]
NEW! HSP Deep Dive Seminar The social, economic, religious, and political instability of the Renaissance informed some of the most brilliantly anxious literature in the history of England. As some authors strained to construct coherent identities, hierarchies, and worldviews, others challenged received notions about what is sacred, natural, or true. In the midst of such […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to many legal and sociopolitical debates. This course will review the US Supreme Court’s role in those debates. The course will start off with a review of the Court’s 2020-2021 term. We will then explore in greater detail issues including individual liberties, compulsory vaccinations, COVID regulations and religious objections […]
More than seven million years of evolution led to the dominance of our species over the planet. A long but often scant trail of fossil skeletons tell the tale. But biological evolution is only one part of the equation as behavioral adaptations, or “culture,” both contributed to and accelerated the evolution of our human form. […]
The past is what happened. History is what we write about it. History and memory are not opposed terms; rather, history and memory shape each other through remembering, forgetting and erasure. Historical narratives are always informed by memories of the past that are alive in individuals’ minds, including what we learned about the past through […]
This course provides a historical overview of Latin America through films. Special attention is paid to the different conceptualizations of the political, social and artistic purposes of film. This course takes a cultural studies approach to film; that is, it involves analysis taking into consideration the following: 1. Text (characters, plot, story, etc.); 2. Context […]
Every day we are confronted with paranormal and supernatural beliefs – loosely defined as things that exist or occur outside the natural world – and surveys show that most people in the United States and throughout the world are supernatural/paranormal believers. Such phenomena as UFOs, ghosts, astrology, and ESP (extrasensory perception) clearly defy conventional wisdom […]
Throughout the ages, expressions of passion and commitment have been central to love poets. This course will focus on the medieval foundations of Italian poetry—and by extension, the rebirth of European literature. The movement known as the dolce stil nuovo (sweet new style) redefined love in the late Middle Ages; no longer was love simply […]
Yoga is a ubiquitous presence in the landscape of American fitness culture. For many, it is synonymous with selfcare and holistic healthy living. While yoga is often vaguely connected to Asian traditions, its long history as a philosophical and religious system can be elided with our contemporary focus on the physical and mental benefits of […]
We know that many of the achievements of the Italian Renaissance were founded on a revival of ancient Roman civilization. Less well-known is the variety of ways, moments, and places in which Roman architecture inspired medieval building. On the one hand, Early Christian buildings were modelled on and sometimes built of pieces from ancient buildings […]
Join Professor Soren for a personal online course showing the relationship of Art History and Cinema and featuring films such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur. In addition there will be a special live visit from Rick Polizzi, winner of 3 Emmys and producer and director of The Simpsons discussing how television animation […]