Topics in Media

Catalog description

Variety of topics offered. See current listings for updated topic/description. SPRING 2026: THE FANTASY AND REALITY OF BRIDGERTON Dearest gentle reader, this course provides a space for a critical exploration into the world of Regency England portrayed in the current hit Netflix TV show Bridgerton. Stories like Bridgerton have romanticized a period of time defined by global colonization, cultural and environmental exploitation, and significant economic disparity by creating worlds for their protagonists steeped in extravagance and chivalry. Using Bridgerton as a case study, each week is split into two parts. On fantasy days, students examine how choices made for Bridgerton (about characters, story structure, etc.) contribute to a common theme of escapist romanticism. On reality days, students dissect the reality of the same theme based on historically accurate accounts, guest lectures from experts, and field trips. Through this shift from fantasy to reality, we seek to answer questions like: What was the reality and global impact of Regency England? Does it matter that this reality existed? Why is this era romanticized and reimagined in books, TV shows, and films? Do we keep coming back to works like Bridgerton to lose ourselves in the fantasy? Is an alternate universe problematic? The course is based around active participation in discussions on assigned readings, videos, lectures, and field trips. Students write weekly discussion posts and lead the discussion on course material once during the semester. During the course of the semester, students are guided through the steps of a research project of a theme of their choice in Bridgerton. The goal of the course is to challenge students to consider the impact of erasing critical historical context in escapist romantic narratives and propose solutions to make these stories more inclusive while also retaining the…