Intoxications, Altered States and Inspirations

Catalog description

This course takes, as a starting point, the fact that many of the most famous twentieth century American writers and artists were alcoholics. This course aims to explore a possible link between alcoholism and creativity. Students will read texts written by authors with histories of addiction, as well as literary texts about intoxication and addiction; they will explore paintings by artists who used addictive substances as the content of their work, as well as the source of their inspiration. The class will visit New York City museums and recovery facilities, as well as the Pollock-Krasner house on eastern Long Island. Students will use cross-disciplinary writing and research skills, as well as critical thinking, in developing informed aesthetic responses to the writers' and artists' creative endeavors. Some class work and assignments will be online.