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  • Consult the table below for an additional description of topics listed above.
  • Note that course topics that end in “Now”  are part of our Boston Now initiative, which involves experiential learning and outside-the-classroom fieldwork.

WR 120 Topics (Spring 2026)

Topic Description Instructor Class
Addiction in Horror Media Though the lived experience of addiction can be horrifying in its own right, writers and filmmakers have often used gothic tropes like vampires, zombies, and demon possession to explore the compulsions and obsessions of addicted people. In this course, we examine these metaphorical addicts alongside more literal treatments of chemical and behavioral addiction in the horror genre. Attending to the cultural work of these texts, we ask: how have horror tropes and storylines shaped public perceptions of addiction and the ongoing overdose crisis? How do categories of gender, race, and sexuality inform representations of uncontrollable consumption? And in what ways do horror texts engender compassion for addicted people and not just fear of them? Bjornson WR 120
American Short Stories In this course, we explore the development of the American short story from its penny magazine origins in the 1800s to the present day. We examine how these stories reflect the country’s moral, political, and societal changes, as well as how the short story format evolved while staying true to the genre. After analyzing how numerous authors employ characterization, conflicts, literary devices, narration, plot, and settings, students compose an original short story. Steinberg WR 120
Bioethics and Identity This course explores the intersections of bioethics, race and gender. Such essential topics raise issues of discrimination, justice, oppression, critical race bioethics, and diverse feminist principles within the values, histories and practices of STEM fields. Who is included or excluded in accessing proper healthcare, along with the advancement of medical and biotechnology? Who or what is highlighted or erased? What are the lived experiences of women and minorities in STEM fields, both historically and today? We draw from social and biological sciences, public health, biotech, medicine and public policy to better examine and understand the racial and gender-specific concerns involved. Lynch WR 120
Boston Waterfront Now Why do Bostonians continue to build on the waterfront, even as it floods? In this class, we explore how Bostonians reshaped the waterfront for centuries. We examine how residents, businessmen, and government officials argued over and defined the right to the tidelands. From making more waterfront land to building luxury condos, we trace how Bostonians turned the waterfront into profitable spaces. Site visits and historical maps reveal the waterfront’s layers, and we scrutinize for whom each layer and space was built. By analyzing how each choice and development project impacts us today, we also consider the waterfront’s future. Kane WR 120
Communicating Science Information changes and evolves as it is communicated to different audiences through different media. This course focuses on how scientific information is presented and interpreted by a general audience that does not have technical knowledge. By examining press releases, news articles, government guidelines, and social media, we explore how scientific information is disseminated to the public and uncover what it takes to be scientifically literate in a twenty-first-century world. Course texts include works by authors such as Michael Pollen and Mariam Nestle and a variety of traditional and multimodal sources, such as blogs, podcasts, and even pop songs. Calandra WR 120
Folk Dance as Resistance This course explores dance as an expression of resistance in various folkdance traditions including Irish, Middle Eastern, West African, South African, Latin American, East European, and aboriginal dance traditions. The course delves into the rich historical context where dance serves as a form of rebellion against cultural oppression, censorship, and the stifling of native languages. Throughout the course, we analyze thematic connections between different dance traditions, and we explore concepts of offense, defense, space, and place in dance, revealing the significance of dance steps in communicating resistance. By comparing dances performed to sung poetry with those set to music alone or beats, we establish the role of dance as a platform for declaring unvoiced messages of defiance. Ward WR 120
Memoir as Art Form This course explores the art of memoir writing, guiding you through the process of crafting your own life stories. Through the study of acclaimed memoirs, we gain insights into various narrative techniques and thematic elements. We also participate in writing short memoirs, allowing us to practice and refine our storytelling skills. By the end of the course, we have a deeper appreciation for the memoir as a literary form and have each developed our own unique voice and style in writing personal narratives. Westhues WR 120
Metaphor and Advertising A picture truly speaks a thousand words. This course delves into the powerful world of visual metaphor, exploring how images are used to persuade and influence consumer behavior. We analyze existing advertisements in a variety of genres, breaking down their visual components and identifying the rhetorical strategies employed. By applying frameworks like Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we understand how advertisers use ethos, pathos, and logos to create compelling messages that promote consumerism. This course equips you with the tools to critically analyze and evaluate visual rhetoric in contemporary culture, while also considering key ethical dimensions. O’Mara WR 120
Paris-New York The 1920s and 1930s were a vibrant period for Black writers, artists and intellectuals in New York and Paris and the Harlem Renaissance of the 20s inspired the Negritude movement of the 30s in Paris. This course tracks writers and artists that were at the center of these related Pan-African movements, the challenges they faced and social issues they sought to change. Students read excerpts of literary works, critical texts and watch documentary films. Through our discussions and in our writing, we learn to craft well-supported and researched arguments about the social and cultural challenges presented in the works explored. Authors and artists include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Josephine Baker, Réné Maran, Léopold Sédar Senghor and Aimé Césaire. Lakin-Schultz WR 120
Perspectives on Gender This course explores the role of women and men in short stories and how the writer’s observations, critique and voice provide diverse ways to question readers’ beliefs and understanding of different gender roles in society. We read stories written in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by a diverse range of writers (such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, Zora Neale Hurston, Nella Larsen, Willa Cather, Kate Chopin, and Sarah Orne Jewett, among others) and discuss their themes, commonalities, and differences. Simpson WR 120
Philosophy Through Science Fic In this class, we utilize science fiction writings, movies, and other media to examine questions found in philosophy. Topics such as consciousness, mind, AI, simulations, space and time, intelligence, aliens and UFOs, free will, cyborgs, ethical and political considerations, and the singularity, guide our investigations. We see how writers and thinkers have dealt with difficult and sometimes terrifying subjects within technology, from the ancient Greeks to Hollywood, and consider our own research and thinking on our dependence on modern technology, its impact on us, on those around us, and on the planet as well. Morazzini WR 120
Queer Kinships, Odd Bonds How do we form meaningful connections beyond family and close friends? What happens when our relationships stretch past the familiar—beyond our neighborhoods, cities, or even species? In this seminar, we explore how people create bonds with humans and other species, particularly during times of environmental and social crisis. Drawing on films and critical texts, we examine the traditional, bloodline-based concept of kinship—a foundational and much-debated topic in anthropology—and consider alternative ways of belonging. Join us as we rethink what it means to connect in a fragile world and explore how unexpected relationships shape our communities and futures. Quispe Coronel WR 120
Queer Pictures How can images reflect, create, and support marginalized identities? In this course, we explore historical and contemporary portraits of queer people, moving from covert prints of the eighteenth century to the fashions of celebrities like Chappell Roan. We talk about why representation matters, and what happens when our identities are censored or hidden. Our class discussions and assignments cover three big questions: What counts as a portrait? What makes an image or the person depicted within “queer”? Where do queer pictures belong—in museums or somewhere else? Armstrong WR 120
The Essay Our class explores the burgeoning of the essay in the last 50 years. We read its usage in magazines, blogs, zines, podcasts, and social media and engage with its appearance in memoirs, journalism, and criticism. We ask questions such as: How has the essay been used to express ourselves, change minds, and promote justice or inequality? We organize our class around a sample of many different essays and encourage students to write creative responses to them. As part of the course, we use generative AI to experiment with how a computer and aggregated data complicate the form. Murphy WR 120
The Graphic Self This seminar focuses on representations of identity in graphic memoirs (memoirs written in the comics form). Through our study of several long- and short-form personal graphic narratives, we engage in important academic conversations about topics such as: visual storytelling & bearing witness, the power of the comics medium to communicate personal experience, the blurry boundary between fiction & nonfiction, and the act of self-reflection & possibilities for closure. Regular drawing & self-writing exercises provide opportunities to develop your own “graphic self,” ultimately leading to the creation of your own short graphic memoir! No prior drawing experience or comics familiarity required! Yoder WR 120
The Language of DNA Humans can now edit their own DNA, changing how we view disease, inheritance, and ourselves. But how did this discovery get from the scientists to doctors, from doctors to patients, from patients to the public? Learn how scientists talk about the genetic revolution with each other and how that discovery gets to the public, through everything from scientific papers to Ted Talks. Analyze how the view of genes and gene editing has changed in both science and pop culture, and through it all, learn how to talk about genes and gene editing with your friends and colleagues! Gibbs WR 120
We Live in a Society In this course, we explore what it means to be in community with one another and how our social relationships affect our identities. We focus on two central aspects of sociality—affinity and conflict. Are we products of the people with whom we surround ourselves? How do we navigate our loyalties when a friend acts against our values? Are we obligated to engage community members with whom we disagree? Throughout the semester, we tackle these questions using social philosophy and your firsthand experience collaborating with a community organization of your choosing. Grippo WR 120

WR 151, WR 152, and WR 153 Topics (Spring 2026)

Topic Description Last Class
1968-1969: Hope and Horror This course examines the social and political upheavals that rocked American society in 1968-1969: protests against the Vietnam War, struggles for gender equality and sexual freedom, and powerful movements for racial justice, framed by the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. in March 1968 and Fred Hampton in December 1969. The first half of the course immerses you in the role of a delegate, protestor, or journalist at the Chicago Democratic National Convention in August 1968. In the second half of our course, we shift our gaze westward and to 1969, tracing the countercultural revolution in California. McDonough WR 151
2008 Financial Crisis This class explores the causes and consequences of the 2008 financial crisis. As a class, we ask: What are some of the factors that led to the crisis? How did policymakers, bankers, and a larger public respond? How has the crash been represented and remembered in films, books, newspaper articles, and political rhetoric? What are the social, political, cultural, and economic consequences of the crisis and recession? Through research and writing in different modes and genres, students in this class  begin to understand this complicated and still-unfolding legacy. Benke WR 152
AI and the Environment This interdisciplinary course provides an introduction to the benefits and disadvantages of generative AI (gAI), focusing especially on its environmental impact. We begin with an overview of gAI’s key terms and functions, including the training of large-language models (LLMs). We critically analyze examples of applications of AI that may contribute to solutions for environmental issues while also considering negative impacts such as energy consumption, threats to vulnerable landscapes, data ethics, and societal inequalities. From the big picture to the personal, we also analyze frameworks for environmentally responsible uses of gAI to develop ethical approaches for individual use. Breen WR 152
AI and the Future of Learning We explore the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on generative AI and its impact on academia and on our lives. As we examine AI’s role in shaping writing and research practices, we discuss the implications of AI on academic integrity, the challenges of AI bias, privacy concerns, and the ethical questions surrounding AI in society. We also conduct research on AI and its role in shaping education and the world more broadly, with the aim of developing a deeper understanding of AI’s role in society and its implications for the future. Kasztalska WR 151
AI Philosophy and Ethics Given recent advances in generative AI software like ChatGPT and machine learning algorithms embedded in medical, financial, and media ecosystems, this course considers the philosophical and ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence. How will AI change the nature of information and the potential to spread or mitigate disinformation? How will AI reshape social attitudes about love, relationships, and free will? How will AI disrupt or change the global economy? How will AI challenge us to redefine what it means to be human, or is the “human” an obsolete category? Finally, what are the ethical implications of AI, and what new ethical dilemmas await us as AI develops further? Students pursue an independent research project to explore the implications of AI for their intended field or major. McVey WR 152
AI-Infused Creations The course explores the dynamic interplay between writing, creativity, digital content creation, and the world of artificial intelligence (AI). As generative models influence human-machine collaboration, understanding their implications, challenges, and opportunities becomes crucial for writers, researchers, and digital content creators. We delve into the historical context, technical foundations, and ethical considerations surrounding Generative AI and writing. We conduct research on Generative AI, assess AI-generated content, and collaborate on digital projects. Key discussions revolve around the history, evolution and ethics of Generative AI as well as its implications for the future. Fassihi WR 152
All Poetry Is Political Poet Amanda Gorman asserts that “all art is political.” It might be argued that the content of a poem is also political, whether that poem is about nature or war. This course explores the work of contemporary poets who directly engage the current moment and draw attention to such issues as citizenship, gender inequality, gun violence, mass incarceration, and racial injustice. Students learn and practice strategies for creativity, explore and analyze a variety of sources and models, and develop a substantial research-based poetry project about a social or political issue of their choice. Bozek WR 153
America’s True Crime Obsession From documentaries such as Making a Murderer and The Gabby Petito Story to podcasts like Serial and My Favorite Murder, Americans have spent the past two decades investigating and re-litigating the crimes of others in public. How are these true events and real people transformed into consumable narratives and compelling characters? What is lost and gained in the process? When do audiences change from simple bystanders watching history to sleuths hunting down hidden truths? In this seminar, we explore the psychological, cultural, and commercial value of truth and identity within the world of popular crime media. Burg WR 152
American Environmental History This interdisciplinary course is grounded in history and examines the reciprocal relationships between nature and culture over the past 400 years in North America. We examine the settlement of the frontier landscape, the disruption of land through natural disasters, and the re-imagination of nature in a final multimodal website project. Fitts WR 152
American Misfits Do you consider yourself a misfit? Someone who falls outside the mainstream of American culture? If so, this may be the class for you. Over the centuries, some of our most important literary figures and social philosophers have focused their stories on those Americans who challenge conventional norms or push beyond traditional categories. This interdisciplinary seminar engages a variety of media to explore such figures who have rejected more traditional ways of thinking or who were somehow out of step with their times. Hodin WR 151
American Poetry In this seminar, we study the major figures of modern and contemporary American poetry, beginning with nineteenth-century precursors Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. We consider how American poetry been informed by the historical, cultural, and political contexts in which it was written, and we learn about various schools and movements of poetry, including the Harlem Renaissance. Tandon WR 153
American Sports and Society How do American professional sports reflect American cultural values? How do college athletics influence campus life? How do athletes and fans create communities? Considering sports as a microcosm of American culture, this seminar considers these questions and others that invite reflection on cultures and communities within and around American sports. White WR 153
Art for Environmental Inquiry Both art and science apply creative thinking to better understand the world. But how do these disciplines actually work together to spark innovation? We examine uses of this art-science synergy in environmental research, considering how creative practices are essential in every step of the scientific process. Then, we implement these creative practices in our own scientific research by observing our local environment, devising an original research question, collecting data, visualizing and interpreting our results, and communicating our findings. Possible methodologies include drawing, painting, photography, audio recording, and writing. No experience required— just curiosity and a willingness to get outside! Tigges WR 153
Attention, Please Why is it so hard to pay attention? How can we reclaim our focus in a society that is constantly distracting us—and what should we focus on? In this class, we start by studying sources of our distraction and their effects on us. We then reengage our attention toward works of art, the physical world, and our fellow humans. Exercises include practices in cultivating close attention, such as mindful movement, nature walks, and conversation. Milanese WR 151
Boston Homelessness Now This course examines the current crisis of homelessness in America, with particular focus on Boston, which has over 1,500 unhoused people, not including the “hidden homeless” staying with friends and family or under-housed or “at risk” of homelessness. We consider how this extreme form of poverty is created through a combination of unstable housing and inadequacies of income, health care, and social supports. We read texts that testify to the experiences of being unhoused and of working and living with those experiencing homelessness, as well as texts that offer potential solutions. We engage with experts and hear about how street outreach, advocacy, home placement, and job training directly impact our communities. We also have the opportunity to volunteer with local organizations and to work in groups to research projects related to multiple aspects of this complex, increasingly dire emergency. Michaud WR 153
Boston Neighborhood Art Neighborhood-specific art, and specifically street art, has a long history of engaging with social issues through its universal, image-based language. We take a rigorous look at key historical and contemporary social issues and how art pushes back against them. Together, we develop a framework to research, understand, and evaluate local neighborhoods from the perspective of artists, activists, and organizations within the greater Boston area. In student-designed projects, we research the sociopolitical climates of those neighborhoods and converse with the artists and activists there. Finally, we collaborate on multimodal projects designed to reflect our experiences in those communities. DiPaolo WR 152
Boston Writers & the City Boston Writers & the City examines the relationship between literature and the city of Boston. We study authors such as Eugene O’Neill, Louisa May Alcott, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, and Robert Lowell in connection with the neighborhoods, historical events, and civic life that shaped their lives and work. The course integrates literary analysis, archival research, and site-based learning. Walking tours, historical maps and public records help us explore how Boston’s physical, cultural, and political landscapes influenced both the writers and their works. Robertson WR 152
Boston’s Natural History Now This course explores Boston’s greener places, where we can read the evidence of its emergence from the hills and marshes of the past and witness the conversation it maintains between human inhabitants and nature. How do the built and natural environments interact? Does wilderness still exist within the cityscape? Along with addressing these questions, we engage with Boston’s landscape with outside-the-classroom adventures on campus and beyond. Blyler WR 152
Boston’s Public Art Now In this course, we explore the dynamic role of art in many of Boston’s shared spaces like public parks, squares, streets, building lobbies, and college campuses. In these sites, we consider how our embodied presence and collective engagement contributes to larger conversations about identity, access, and representation. Reflecting on both prolonged visits and quick everyday encounters, we examine how art interacts with the built and natural environment and how it transforms our understanding of different social issues. Through researching and examining local monuments, murals, linguistically diverse graffiti, and participatory projects, we consider public art’s relationship with power and access. Dalton WR 151
Breaking the Class Ceiling This course is a study of multimedia texts that (re)define class consciousness. We generate intersectional questions about race, gender, region, and sexuality to study how these subject positions collide with and complicate notions of class hierarchies. Studying various scholarly agendas aids in the design and execution of individual research projects that elucidate some aspect of class identity or class culture, with the goal of producing informed, ethical, anti-classist research. Research projects offer new insights into contemporary notions of class cohesion and division using various digital multi-modal/non-linguistic forms (e.g., podcasts, short films, social media content). Miller WR 152
BU and the Culture of College Colleges and universities have been crucial to the development of nations.  Recently, however, higher education has been in crisis, as stakeholders from parents to politicians have questioned the goals, strategies, and value of a traditional four-year experience. This course invites you, the principal stakeholder, to learn more about this system and to conduct original social science research on any aspect that interests you, from how you study, to who your friends are, to what you eat. Readings include journalism and research articles. Methods include online and library searches, as well as your own original surveys, interviews, and observations. Prentice WR 152
Burning Questions Burning Questions asks students to conduct a semester-long research project on a topic of their choosing that culminates in a multi-genre project, with an emphasis on the process of research and how it interacts with a student’s own original ideas. Intended for students who have a particular passion in which they’re ready to gain expertise, this course offers freedom of topic choice, intensive workshops, camaraderie, and the chance to lay the foundation for serious study in a field of interest. Myers WR 151
Case Studies in Fairy Tales We study the history and scholarship of fairy tales, reading world folktales, short stories, and poetry along with multimedia retellings and scholarly criticism from diverse viewpoints. What is the significance of the continual, multimodal revisioning of familiar tales and motifs? You research and write an in-depth case study of a tale of your choice, and create a multimedia podcast project that combines research, creative interpretation, and critical analysis. You focus on the fundamentals of writing clear, persuasive prose, developing awareness of the conventions of multiple genres and their overlap. Authors include Perrault, the Grimms, Nalo Hopkinson, and Angela Carter. Bennett-Zendzian WR 152
Claiming Our Class(room) This course is for first-generation college students only. This course investigates the ways socioeconomic status influences access to education, student experiences, and institutional power structures and hierarchies. Using various digital tools and methods, students will analyze multimedia texts and create digital projects that illuminate and amplify the voices and stories of first-generation college students. Together, we will hone our anti-classist critical thinking and advocacy skills, empowering us to challenge classism in our own academic journeys and beyond. Miller WR 152
Composing the Self The topic of this course is the art of memoir and draws from author Brenda Euland’s assertion that ‘Everyone is talented, original, and has something important to say.’ Unlike a novelist, the writer of memoir casts herself as both character and narrator, finding in her own life situations, stories that express common and uncommon truths about human experience. We read with an eye to the situations that launch authors’ stories and the wisdom they mine from their own lives. Our reading inspires a personal essay—a mini-memoir—conveying an authentic and compelling story that can be told by you alone. Smith WR 153
Controversial Shakespeare Shakespeare’s enduring popularity has occasionally tended to sanitize discomforting and divisive issues in his plays. This seminar explores the complexities of Shakespearean language and stagecraft while attending to representations of controversial topics such as class conflict, religious intolerance, political oppression, and Renaissance debates about race, gender, and sexuality. Likely readings include The Tempest, Measure for Measure, and Coriolanus. Our goal is to contextualize the plays in their original historical moment in order to understand their social impacts, so we also research other primary texts from the English Renaissance—anything from sermons to songs, pamphlets to paintings, depending on your interests. Meyer WR 151
Creating Environmental Justice What creates vulnerability to environmental harm? Is that vulnerability inevitable, or can we create different futures? Can understanding literary and other “texts” and developing our writing contribute to brighter futures? This course begins with students’ curiosity about places we call home, using selected literary and theoretical readings to ground our thinking about environmental abuses and the people they affect most. We expand our grasp of and approaches to environmental problems and their potential solutions. Finally, we each create “texts” of our own, remixing our sustained inquiries on a single issue in our chosen medium, drawing on and supplying much-needed vision. Tall WR 153
Demystify Disciplinary Writing As an advanced undergraduate student, have you ever felt anxious when you were asked to complete a wide variety of writing tasks in your major discipline, especially when the tasks became progressively more demanding? This course is designed to help undergraduate students debunk the myths of discipline-specific writing. We examine writing in the social sciences, the humanities, and STEM and explore how effective writing in these disciplines is achieved. We interview experienced writers (e.g., a more advanced undergraduate student or a faculty member) in our academic discourse communities, we identify and research one common task/issue/problem in our chosen disciplines, and we share our research findings with our peers. Zhao WR 151
Dickinson, Bishop, and Plath We research, write about, and create projects around the writing, lives, and times of three of American poetry’s most important poets, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Sylvia Plath. Revered for their form and originality, the poetry of these Massachusetts writers is often anthologized, but their lives are also compelling enough to have spurred hundreds of creative representations in books, film, television, and art. Through our individual research, we come to new understandings of the difficulty each of these women faced in their lifetimes. Sources include the poets’ poetry, several films, the show Dickinson, critical writings, and podcasts about the writers. Barents, B WR 153
Digital Worlds From the pen to the phone, to the Internet, to AI our lives have been influenced by the changes in technology around us. Through the production of verbal and non-verbal artifacts, we learn how to read various cultural texts and how to produce your own texts in response. The independent and collaborative work that we produce in this class will contribute towards our understanding of the cultural and social importance of language and the impact the technology we use to communicate with each other has on our lives. Shetty WR 153
Disability Across Disciplines Disability is discussed in many fields and disciplines, across the hard and social sciences, humanities, arts, communications, business, education, and more. In this course, we explore questions and concepts related to disability in three very different disciplines in order to learn about the complex dimensions of disability and also about the demands and expectations of distinct and diverse disciplines. Madsen Hardy WR 152
Discovering Boston Now From iconic sites that draw visitors from across the globe to lesser-known locations loved by local communities, we visit some of Boston’s fascinating places. In this course, we each explore a Boston site of our choice beyond our campus, not just by assembling existing research but by making multiple visits to that site. The research projects you create sparked by your site will enable you to connect to other global cities, to engage with local communities, and to discover diverse creative possibilities for reaching different audiences by experimenting with approaches for combining data you gathered directly with existing datasets. Schaaf WR 152
Diverse Voices: Poetry Now This seminar examines the ways diverse contemporary poets engage with the world through poetry. How do poets use the real world as their raw material to investigate social and political issues? We examine the thematic, linguistic, and formal intentions of published poets to appraise the varied ways they depict the complexities of existence. Joy Harjo believes that through writing “we confirm that we are human beings, that we are alive and making and breathing culture.” Through a semester-long poetry project, we use our original research and creative writing to explore what it means to be alive. Bennett WR 153
Drama on the Boston Common In this course, we play historical games to learn about the Boston Common as a site of controversy, punishment and protest and thus gain insight into the political culture of the city and state we live in. Game topics may include the 1721 smallpox epidemic, the Boston Tea Party, the 1915 women’s suffrage parade, and the ramifications of the 1921 capital trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, among others. The class is highly participatory as we research deeply, write in a variety of genres corresponding to the occasions demanded by the games chosen, and argue both passionately and with scholarly detachment. Gapotchenko WR 151
Family Snaps and Stories From the Victorian daguerreotype to the smartphone snapshot, we associate family photographs with personal history. Family photos document children’s maturation as well as relationships among parents, siblings, extended family, and chosen members. Family portrait conventions have a history related to portrait painting and studio photography, contexts that posit various family ideals. This course investigates the stories, assumptions, and expectations we bring to family photographs and offers the opportunity to create a research project involving public and/or personal photographic archives. We present our research to a new audience in a digital photo-narrative and share this work-in-progress in a short presentation. Martinez WR 152
Fiercely Queer Movies In some ways, LGBTQIA+ political life in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries has been a struggle between the impulse to be accepted as “normal” and the belief that, in the face of homophobia, LGBTQIA+ people have figured out a better way of living and should reject the standards of the straight world. Starting in the 90s, filmmakers started making movies reflecting this confrontational version of queer politics. They have continued to do so. In this course, we view, analyze, and conduct research on films that reflect a fierce, anti-“normal” queer viewpoint. Desilets WR 152
Film Odysseys We examine how Homer’s epic poem, written roughly 2700 years ago, has inspired literature and art in the millennia after it was created, focusing especially on film adaptations like The Return and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Creative work will include conceiving of an original film inspired by the poem. Barents, K WR 153
From Athens to Arabia This course explores how interactions between Jews and other cultures in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East helped shape the emergence of new religious movements. We first examine how the encounter between Jews and Greeks in the Eastern Mediterranean created the cultural and intellectual conditions for the rise of Christianity. We then turn to the Jewish presence in South Arabia and its role in the religious landscape that gave rise to Islam. Along the way, we consider questions of translation, power, identity, and how religious innovation emerges at cultural crossroads. Pasto WR 152
Future of Video Game Studies Since the invention of Pong in 1972, video games have become one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment. In recent years, the emerging academic discipline of video game studies has flourished, with peer-reviewed journals examining video games through the lenses of cultural studies, psychology, business, and education. After surveying the landscape of video game studies, our class explores the challenges involved in making video games, using case studies of Boston-based Irrational Games and industry giants like Nintendo and Sega. Our projects explore the future of gaming, gaming culture, and the scholarly discipline of video game studies. Stevens WR 152
Gender, Sex, & Gothic Lit For centuries, Gothic tales have terrified and intrigued readers. In this course, we read classic Gothic texts that center on questions of gender and power. Through stories of madwomen locked in haunted rooms and imperiled heroines outwitting lascivious villains, we investigate how the Gothic can both imprison and empower women. We also explore Gothic texts that give voice to queer sexualities and identities in the years before these experiences could be depicted explicitly. With this knowledge, we then consider how classic Gothic motifs creep into contemporary media, and how historical anxieties around gender and sexuality continue to haunt our present. Barrett WR 151
Global Literature As with any art form, literature is as varied as the people who create it. In this course, we read works, largely in English translation, from around the globe. We learn to read like writers—getting inside the literature to consider how the authors made their art—and explore what kinds of artistic and thematic connections we might make “across borders.” We also do some creative writing of our own. Mattingly WR 153
Hamilton versus Jefferson Many of today’s heated political debates can be traced all the way back to the formation of the United States. Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson served together in George Washington’s first Cabinet, yet they had diametrically opposed visions of what America could or should be. We examine each man’s biography, political philosophy, and influence on the country’s development. Readings cover primary and secondary sources including correspondence, journalism, government documents, biography, and scholarly accounts from the eighteenth-twenty-first centuries. Oller WR 151
Hollywood Contradicts Itself What do we mean when we say “Hollywood,” given that it has gone through so many artistic, technological, political, and institutional changes? We explore several possible understandings of what Hollywood is by accounting for the contradictions that animate it. By looking at movies as diverse as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), A Star is Born (2018), Jaws (1975), and Black Panther (2018), we can see Hollywood as a space of competing tensions, including but not limited to: Art versus entertainment, inclusion v. exclusion, innovation v. stasis, conservative anxieties v. liberal affirmations, and the national v. the international. Vanaria WR 151
How We Write about Online Life TikToks, text messages, groupchats, DMs: literature today seems ill-equipped to keep up with our constant communication. In a world where Juliet can simply message Romeo, “Hey, no need for that poison!”, the Internet could save lives. Miscommunication was so central to plot, but the Internet has made it easier than ever to clarify—and obscure—our meaning. Why then do so few books include it? This class explores how postmodern forms of literature have coevolved with technology to adapt to the innovations of film, TV, computers, and the Internet, tracking also the rise of nuclear energy, mass media, self-obsession and political paranoia in postwar fiction. Finally, we catalog the successors of what is called post-post-modern literature, movements like the New Sincerity, Hysterical Realism, or the New Weird, and how they render our hyperreal times. Texts may include stories and short novels by Don DeLillo, Jennifer Egan, and Zadie Smith. Culler WR 153
I Want to Believe In America, belief in UFOs and Bigfoot often assumes a religious vigor, an obsession that overtakes lives. What are the ancient urges that underpin such fantastical belief? What purposes do these beliefs serve in the lives of devotees? We closely study the mythologies and research, discuss the possibilities, and analyze why many among us believe passionately in what many scientists claim is either unlikely or impossible. We  closely study the mythologies and the research about them across disciplines, including religious, historical, anthropological, scientific, and cultural texts, as well as contemporary journalism in prominent publications (newspapers, magazines, legitimate websites). Giraldi WR 151
Imitating Irish Writers From James Joyce’s shapeshifting stylization in Ulysses to Lisa McGee’s sit-com satire on Derry Girls, the works of Irish writers occasion our appreciation of  and provide perspectives on and insights about Irish history, politics, culture, and art. Some of these poets, novelists, playwrights, songwriters, and screenwriters also serve as models for our own (low-stakes and fun) creative exercises. Barents, K WR 153
Loneliness Across Disciplines Concepts of loneliness can be discussed in any number of fields and disciplines within the hard or social sciences, humanities, communications, and business. Therefore, in this course, students explore ideas and depictions of loneliness in three very different disciplines in order to not only study the complexity of loneliness, but also to examine and explore the demands and expectations of three distinct and diverse disciplines. Panszczyk WR 153
Magical Thinking Magical thinking takes many forms. It’s an idea that might come true or turn into another failed dream. In this course, we examine the power of possibilities imagined in science fiction and fantasy stories, and in real life by people we often think of as visionary inventors and corporate tycoons, like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. When we imagine the future, what ideas from the past are we bringing with us? When authors sit down to create a fantasy world, what cultural beliefs do they rely on? When does magical thinking help society and when does it hurt us? Burg WR 152
Marijuana in American History Marijuana prohibition in America evolved to reflect political trends and social stigmas around immigration, gender and race in the 20th century. Now, the legalization and continued criminalization of cannabis raise important questions about how this country is changing. Why does over 80% of Gen Z support legalization? Why is America open to legalization while other countries are not? What is the best way to ensure the legalized cannabis industry includes marginalized communities most harmed by the War on Drugs? We analyze these questions and more in interactive writing projects to develop solutions for the problems emerging in the legalization era. Blumenthal WR 153
Monsters of the Deep How do people imagine the deep ocean and its myriad of strange creatures? What is the relationship between sea monsters and people’s fears and fascination? This course examines the visual culture of oceanic monstrosity. We dive deep (pun intended) to study representations of sea monsters and their intersections with myth, the unknown, and aquatic anxieties. We study how different media, including maps, paintings, and film, visualize strange beasts of the depths below. Laceste WR 152
Multispecies Minds Now Join us on adventures across continents and into what can seem other worlds—the minds of non-human species. Current scientific research shows that diverse species share with us complex problem-solving abilities, memories, and emotions; recent studies also reveal that non-human animals have minds shaped by abilities we lack. How can comparing minds reveal contrasts between individuals within single species, differences and similarities across species, and unexpected cross-species collaborations? We use scientific data to creatively imagine the thinking of species that fascinate us and observe wildlife on visits to Boston greenspaces to pitch innovative approaches for exploring multispecies minds. Schaaf WR 153
Native American Art History Since first contact, Native American artists have created both traditional arts and works that question settler colonialism, collective identity, and tribal sovereignty through both personal and structural perspectives, utilizing a variety of mediums from ceramics to performance, jewelry to painting. Considering contested representations of Native Americans within the American white imaginary, we research how artists of marginalized Indigenous identities respond to their lived experiences within colonialization, assimilation, self-determination, and contemporary identity politics. Students of all backgrounds are welcome in this course. Bewley WR 152
Oratory in America In difficult, confusing times, we expect speakers to offer inspiration and hope.  In this course, historical speeches from America’s past provide models of how leaders worked to unify audiences, to propel movements for equality and freedom, and to confront injustice. We also examine contemporary means of public speaking (TedTalks, podcasts, protest rallies, debates, etc.) to investigate how language unites and, at times, divides us. To demonstrate the power of rhetoric, students create podcasts based on their research projects. Bizup and Shawn WR 151
People and Place at BU This course invites students to explore Boston University through the lens of stories about students, faculty, and staff. We draw on oral history practices and ethics alongside archival research methods to examine our institution’s history and culture. Through hands-on work with documents, images, and interviews, we create meaningful research-based stories that illuminate BU as a place of learning. Students gain skills in critical analysis, ethical storytelling, and community-engaged scholarship. Breen WR 152
Philosophy and Horror In this course, we study disturbing stories and ask why they speak to us. Why are “rough” or immoral heroes so compelling? What makes “immoral” stories, where bad things happen to good people, so gripping? Throughout the course, we study controversial topics in the philosophy of art such as catharsis, censorship, the meaning of beauty, and the value of art both in our personal lives and in our society today. As we investigate these topics, we independently research disturbing stories in any genre or artform that interests us, such as film, literature, comedy, and drama. Snyder WR 151
Power of Scientific Discovery How do scientists discover new treatments for disease? In our class, we explore the scientific reasoning that illuminates the etiology of a disease’s cause or the mechanism of action for a new therapy. We analyze the language of published papers like the those found in the journal Nature. In case studies, we examine the hurdles in Alzheimer’s drug development and the importance of questioning implicit assumptions like the amyloid hypothesis. Our projects explore a disease of particular interest to each student—to suggest new paths for the discovery of better therapies. Stevens WR 152
Queer Little Love: Gay Stories What makes a story gay? Unlike older queer novels, the gay short story does not have time to be suggestive; instead, it must come out quickly, focusing on gay characters boldly and openly. Since Allan Gurganus’s “Minor Heroism” in 1973, when the first gay character entered the New Yorker fiction section, the short story has only gotten gayer. We look at some of first popular gay stories ever published as case studies of the changing attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people over time. How does such a short form capture the unique lives of characters far removed from our heteronormative world? Culler WR 153
Searching for Utopia From the earliest times of creation stories, culminating in the term “Utopia” in Thomas More’s seminal work in 1516, there have been numerous attempts to create Utopian or improved societies in both actuality and imaginary works. We examine what elements these communities share and investigate why so many have failed. Steinberg WR 151
Second Wave Feminism to Now This course builds our argumentative and analytical writing through feminist texts from the second, third, and fourth waves. We’ll read manifestos, essays, speeches, and criticism; analyze how each wave frames problems (law, labor, body, identity, race, media, tech); and practice turning theory into sharp, evidence-driven prose. Simpson WR 151
Sociology of Code-Switching What image comes to mind when you hear of someone being the “right fit” for college admission? Do you have to look a certain way, talk a certain way, dress a certain way? How do the various identities (race, ethnicity, social class, gender, etc) we all hold shape our access to fulfilling the “right fit”? In sociology, we talk about “code-switching” as part of the cultural toolkit that individuals employ to navigate diverse settings such as home, school, and work. In this course, we examine what code-switching is in a sociological context, how code-switching shapes access to social mobility, and what the consequences of code-switching look like for individuals and society. Bowman WR 151
Speaking Out for Change In our fast-growing world, a lot of voices are being drowned out and so many injustices are taking place. In this course, we discuss themes such as community building, social justice, civic empowerment, and antiracism and respect for difference. We explore how language can be used as a tool for problem solving. As members of collaborative writing teams, we identify problems in our communities and take steps to resolve them through research, writing, and oral presentation. Through research-based oral presentations, we compose artefacts such as oral briefings, needs assessments, progress reports, and formal proposals. Issah WR 151
Street Corner Society A social study of Boston’s Italian North End in the context of William Foote Whyte’s ethnography. Pasto WR 152
The Coens and Genres of Film From their first film, Blood Simple, the Coen brothers secured their cult status, but Fargo would establish the duo as iconic auteurs, peculiarly American, pushing the limits of classic film genres, riding up just to the edge of the grotesque. Through period-driven works of the 90s to raw adaptations of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men and Charles Portis’ satirical western, True Grit, we repeatedly view Coens’ films in close detail. We contextualize them through readings in genre studies, historical texts, and adapted novels. Note: films include R-rated content including graphic violence, sexual content, sexual assault, and explicit language. Degener WR 152
The Ethical Imagination Philosophical and creative readings and student writing focus on the role of the imagination in determining global ethics. Allenberg WR 153
The Horror of Hermes In this course, we look at the influence of the Western Esoteric Tradition, often called “the occult,” on horror literature. The genre of horror is filled with vivid examples of the occult, but how serious authors are about the subject is rarely considered. Our class inquires why “occult” practices appear so prominently in many works of horror, and how these dense symbol systems and arcane practices speak to the fear of technology and science. The occult continues to be a driving force in literature, movies, and video games, as well as alternative religions, spirituality, and politics. Morazzini WR 151
Theater Now We read, write, and talk about topics related to live theatrical productions that we attend as a class, applying individual research to both scholarly and creative projects. This course is unique each spring. Recent semesters have focused on dystopian environmental parables, on jukebox musicals and civil rights, and on adaptations of The Odyssey. Barents, K; Krishnan; and Westhues WR 153
Thick: Creating FatSpace This course is for students who identify as fat (or thick, heavy, etc.). Can students learn (be well, play, live) in an environment not built to accommodate their bodies? What would it take to make school(ing) fit you, instead of you having to contort yourself to “fit”? In this course, using fat literature as both springboard and model, we learn how to conduct research by examining lived experiences on this campus and beyond, gathering our own “data” to inform our arguments. Finally, we remix formal research projects into creative “texts” in our chosen medium. Kent WR 153
Thick: Creating FatSpace This course is for students who identify as fat (or thick, heavy, etc.). Can students learn (be well, play, live) in an environment not built to accommodate their bodies? What would it take to make school(ing) fit you, instead of you having to contort yourself to “fit”? In this course, using fat literature as both springboard and model, we learn how to conduct research by examining lived experiences on this campus and beyond, gathering our own “data” to inform our arguments. Finally, we remix formal research projects into creative “texts” in our chosen medium. Tall WR 153
Transformative Visual Media From the printing press to social media reels, we explore how innovative technology disrupts mass media. As we now live in a time when images can be modified more and more convincingly, this course considers the ethical and social consequences of manipulated media, and ultimately, its power as a narrative tool. Sarkisian WR 152
Twenty-First Century Terrors In the 60s and 70s, Vietnam and civil unrest gave birth to a golden age of horror movies. In our new century, we have been forced to confront tragedy on an even greater level. This course examines the horror genre in both film and television as a powerful meditation on the fears of a new and uncertain century, including terrorism, chemical and biological warfare, pandemic, authoritarianism, and nuclear Armageddon. Attention is given to works made in the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia to consider the genre in a global, cross-cultural context. Vahamikos WR 152
When the Body Becomes Property This course is for women of color interested in exploring embodied writing and research.  The course is focused on the herstories of women of color, in particular when it comes to property rights, intergenerational trauma, and intersectionality.   The course requires a commitment to daily embodied practices and writing (100 days), a significant narrative research project, and exploring readings, films, and fieldwork. Rani WR 153
Witches, Wizards and Magic In this course, we explore the concept of magic, including the figures of the witch and wizard, throughout history, folklore, literature and film. Hansen WR 153
Writing About Film In this section, we learn about the history and conventions of written film commentary, including short analyses of scenes; academic, research-based projects; and more journalistic approaches. We learn the craft of research and work on producing strongly argued, polished writing, as well as on conveying ideas clearly through well-prepared oral presentations. Walsh WR 151
Writing More Than Human Worlds We humans are deeply enmeshed with the nonhumans that surround us—animals, plants, microbes, bots, AI assistants just to name a few! But for centuries, colonial legacies have shaped the way we relate to these entities. In this course, we decolonize our imaginations and develop a new language for thinking and writing about the more-than-human world. Reading scientists, anthropologists, fiction writers, we ask how this new approach can equip us to better understand issues like global pandemics, climate change, environmental pollution, commercial robotics, and artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies amongst others. Krishnan WR 153