Description
[Social Practice minor] As issues of sustainability and environmental impact have become increasingly pressing concerns, scholars and artists alike have sought to interrogate humanity’s complex relationship with nature. Ecocriticism emerged in response to this drive, exploring how different peoples throughout time have understood the role of nature and the value it held within their culture. This course will examine art and architecture from diverse cultures spanning from the Middle Ages to our modern era. The class will investigate the central role that nature has played in spiritual, political, and social concerns throughout history, as well as how artists today use ecocriticism to comment upon environmental problems and humanitarian issues across the globe. We will discuss works from a multitude of locations, including but not limited to, the Middle East, Western Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands.