Literature and the Environment

Catalog description

This course introduces students to works of literature that speak to the interaction between the "human" and the "non-human" environment. We will analyze imaginative and non-fiction works about nature and the environment from different cultures and historical eras as we consider how and why humans came to see "nature" as a category apart from humanity; how and to what extent science, industry, and the structures of capitalism and inequality have contributed to the current climate crisis; and what role authors and readers might play in addressing the "wicked" problem of climate change. Topics and themes will include the history of nature writing, the idea of wilderness, science and technology, ecology, and ecocriticism. Prerequisite Course(s): Prerequisite: Take one course in each group: Group 1 (FCWR 101 or FCWR 111 or WRIT 101 or WRIT 111) and Group 2 (FCWR 151 or FCWR 161 or WRIT 151 or WRIT 161) Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3