HUM310 War and the Human Experience - Syllabus

This course will begin to examine the effects of war on individuals and societies as well as the root causes within the human psyche and the cultural institution of patriarchy. Narrowly defined as brutal battling between tribal people and other groupings like the modern nation state, war has been found in most societies for most of human history. Broadly defined, it encompasses so much more: gender warfare, the war against children and vulnerable innocents including animals, gang warfare, the war against drugs…the list can go on and one. Through examining the causes and consequences of war, this course attempts to better understand what it means to be human. Attitudes toward war and its consequences have been documented throughout human history in the arts. This course will give students the opportunity to examine war as it has been portrayed in literature, including comics, poetry, theater, the visual arts, and music. The fact that some of our most stunning and amazing art has been created in the midst of war and ugly oppression utterly inspires us to believe in humanity under pressure.