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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 (Fall 2026)

Topic Topic Description Instructor Class
Asians Are People of Color “Asians Are People of Color” explores race relations and identity politics through different genres of learning and writing. Structural and interpersonal oppression are explored through documentaries, the text Minor Feelings with Cathy Park Hong, and stand up comedy focused on Asian comedians. You produce two essays, a comedy sketch, and engage in many smaller writing process activities. Rani WR 120
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 120
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 120
American Environmental History “American Environmental History” examines the exciting and complex relationships between nature and culture over the past 400 years of North American History. This interdisciplinary course draws on literature, history, ethics, and contemporary environmental challenges to assess the impact of the reciprocal relationship between people and the environment around them. Fitts WR 120
American Manifesto From Benjamin Franklin to Beyoncé, Americans have struggled to define what it means to be an American and what makes American culture unique or exceptional. Taking a broad definition of the term manifesto, this interdisciplinary seminar examines the various ways artists have challenged us to re-imagine our nation and our collective identity. This seminar confronts the persistent mythology of the American dream and the possibility of social mobility that has been a hallmark of American culture and the promise of democracy in a nation that often has seen a gap between its expressed ideals and its social practice. Hodin WR 120
American Short Stories How has the American short story genre evolved? What can short stories teach us about ourselves? In this class, we explore American short stories chronologically, from their origins in the nineteenth century, and focus on the diverse voices of recent decades. For the alternative genre project, students compose their own short stories. Steinberg WR 120
Anthropology of Religion This course examines religion as a social and cultural phenomenon across diverse societies. Drawing on ethnographic research and comparative case studies, students explore how humans understand and engage with the supernatural, including beliefs about spirits, gods, ancestors, and unseen forces. The course focuses on core religious concepts such as death, the afterlife, karma, rebirth, and salvation, asking how these ideas shape moral systems, social order, ritual practice, and everyday life. Rather than evaluating religious truth claims, the course approaches religion anthropologically—as a set of meanings, practices, and institutions embedded in historical and cultural contexts. Pasto WR 120
Art and Social Change We explore the ways in which art can transform societal constrictions into new opportunities. Davidoff WR 120
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. Bozek WR 120
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 120
Beyond Night: Elie Wiesel Elie Wiesel published over 60 books during his lifetime. Because Night, his 1960 memoir, often serves as the centerpiece of most Holocaust and genocide education programs, it has been read by millions of people worldwide; yet, this text is only the beginning of Wiesel’s offerings. In this course, we will NOT read Night. Instead, we explore some of Wiesel’s essays, plays, biblical commentaries, lectures, and Hasidic tales, thereby examining Wiesel’s significant—and often overlooked—contributions to literature, philosophical ethics, political discourse, and contemporary Jewish thought and practice. Anderson 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
Body Horror and Art “Body horror” is a literary and visual genre characterized by a living being’s loss of bodily autonomy and violent physical transformation. Paradoxically, representations of the grotesque body both unsettle and entertain us. Though body horror is generally discussed in relation to film and literature, the term can also be applied to artworks. Artists have long blended their imagination and skill to visualize body horror in paintings, sculpture, and other media. By studying horror theory and a range of artworks, this course explores the aesthetics of and fascination with bodily disfigurement. Laceste WR 120
Boston Films Now How do we define a city? Boston’s many names attest to its complex identity: The City on a Hill, The Athens of America, The Hub, Beantown. In this course, we question the nature and identity of the city we inhabit and ask how its portrayal in films helps us define and understand the “real” Boston. We think and write about the ways in which films have depicted Boston’s present and past, from the busing of the 1970s to the present. As a Boston Now offering, this course connects you to events and activities in the city. Barents, B WR 120
Boston Jazz Now We explore Jazz music, with a focus on Boston as a leading center for Jazz in the US. Topics include: the evolution and history of Jazz; its spread to different regions of the country; its major subgenres and styles; great Jazz musicians, bandleaders, and critics; connections between Jazz and other musical genres; and the development of Jazz in Boston, with special attention to Boston’s musicians, musical styles, schools, and clubs, both past and present. We attend live concerts in person at venues such as Berklee College of Music, the New England Conservatory, and BU’s College of Fine Arts. Oller WR 120
Boston Sports Now Why are so many Bostonians so utterly obsessed with sports? How does the viewing public identify with teams, players, and places? What are the lasting impacts of sports on Boston’s cityscape? Considering Boston sports culture and social history, we reflect on our own engagement with sports and Boston sports venues, teams, media, monuments, and fans. Identifying and experiencing real and imagined neighborhoods and communities, we visit sites of contemporary and historical significance including Fenway Park and the Boston Marathon finish line. We also consider the historical and contemporary influence of BU sports on Boston’s broader sports culture. White WR 120
Boston Wildlife Now Wildlife in Boston? Even as you read this, wild animals hop, swim, scurry, fly, forage, and stalk prey not far from Fenway. By observing wildlife, how can we discern how dynamic, dangerous urban habitats reshape animal minds? How are Boston wild animals’ senses, communication, and use of natural and built structures similar to and different from other animals? To what extent do Boston species adapt their behavior to distinctive human activities at greenspaces like the Charles River Esplanade, Boston Common and Hall’s Pond? We explore scientific articles, creative nonfiction, maps, and adventure outside the classroom to meet Boston’s wildlife. Schaaf WR 120
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. Readings include John Hanson Mitchell’s The Paradise of All These Parts, Jane Holtz Kay’s Lost Boston, and selections from local Boston sources. Blyler WR 120
Business in US Culture This class examines the compelled relationship between business and American culture from the late nineteenth century to the present. Benke WR 120
China’s Influence Abroad This course explores varied reactions to China’s expanded presence abroad. We look at China’s role in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, contrasting with engagement by Western nations. Is China’s influence unique? Is the reaction to China’s growing presence unique? We build on recent works by Jonathan Hillman to examine imagined threats and imagined communities in investors’ engagement with locals. Sklar 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
Conformity and Rebellion In this seminar, we examine questions of conformity and rebellion, examining how various authors imagined and confronted social, scientific and political boundaries, and consider such questions as:  What are the conditions of conformity?  What circumstances generate rebellion?  How do the definitions of each change with time or location? Hanselman WR 120
Contemporary Art in Boston In this course, we visit and examine contemporary artworks, museums, installations, and public works located in our city. We consider dialogue about contemporary art’s relationship with broader social and ethical concerns. We ask questions about art’s interrogation of power, access, and inclusion: who and what determines the works we see? How might art challenge messages from other forms of media? To what extent do artworks and institutions around us represent and engage local communities? How might art call us to examine ourselves and our relationship to each other? Our projects consider intersections between art, social justice, reform, and advocacy. Dalton WR 120
Ecology of Global Englishes We use language every day, but how often do we stop to think about what exactly language is? Yes, we produce sounds and/or signs and movements which come together to create sequences which carry meaning. Similarly, we write—putting together letters, words, and sentences. But how is meaning attached to sounds, signs, and letters? How does a language come to be in the first place? And what ideologies are placed onto language and language users? In this class, we explore these questions by examining the history of and relationship between power and language with a specific focus on Englishes. Sun Han Chang WR 120
Education and Work We study the changing purpose of American public education from the beginning of the twentieth century until today and its complex link with the eventual working lives of graduates. We consider educational goals and their relationship to employment and the economy from historical, sociological, and educational theory perspectives. Myers WR 120
Ethical AI & Creativity This course focuses on the ethical dimensions of AI in creative content creation. We explore the historical context, technical foundations, and ethical considerations surrounding AI technologies. Through hands-on projects, we use a wide range of AI tools to create digital content. The course emphasizes critical thinking and ethical analysis, examining the evolution and future implications of generative AI. We gain essential skills in AI literacy and ethical decision-making, preparing us to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. The class draws upon an array of sources, including scholarly research articles, newspaper articles, blog entries, websites, videos, podcasts, etc. Fassihi WR 120
Ethical Missteps/Public Health We examine medical and public health challenges from their origins to ongoing racial and gender disparities. Smith WR 120
Family Snaps and Stories From the Victorian daguerreotype to the smartphone snapshot, we commonly associate family photographs with personal history. Family photos document childhood and maturation as well as relationships among parents, siblings, extended family, and chosen members. Family portrait conventions, often taken for granted when we use a camera, have a history related to portrait painting and studio photography, contexts that posit various ideals of the family. This course investigates the kinds of stories, assumptions, and expectations that we bring to family photographs and offers the opportunity to create a research project involving public and/or personal photographic archives. We learn to present our research to a new audience in a digital photo-narrative and share this work-in-progress in a short presentation. Martinez WR 120
Flash of Light: Flash Fiction Flash Fiction (short fiction less than 1000 words) is a popular genre of writing. The flash fiction genre pushes writers to write economically while conveying meaning. In this class, we work on examining flash fiction pieces in terms of craft and work on writing and presenting flash fiction in different formats. Students taking the class will be interested in reading creative work, discussing craft elements, and working on their own flash writing. Shetty WR 120
Food and Cultural Identity The course examines how food culture is subject to identity, gender, environmental changes, acculturation, and the impact of social media. The culinary traditions and habits of a community or group will be discussed in terms of social identity. Drepanos WR 120
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 120
Ghosts and the Undead This course discusses Undead figures, such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies in literature, film, myth and folklore. Students study and write about the ways in which ghostly and undead figures have developed throughout history and in the context of literary concepts such as the Gothic, hauntology, and the uncanny. Hansen WR 120
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 120
Global Tragic Drama Since its development in ancient Greece, tragic drama remains a vibrant cultural touchstone throughout the world. This course begins with an introduction to the classical tragedy of Sophocles, but then analyzes modern plays that put the tragic genre in conversation with other cultural traditions and regions (likely including India, Iraq, the Caribbean, and more). We study how theater attempts to understand and possibly ease human suffering, and also discuss dramatic representations of cultural hybridity and transnational identities, colonial and post-colonial conflicts, globalization and economic injustices, and related topics. Meyer WR 120
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 120
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 120
(In)visible Labor This social-justice focused course explores how systems of class, race, gender, and power shape whose work is seen, valued, and compensated. By engaging distinctions between white-, blue-, and pink-collar labor, we examine professional, industrial, and care-based work alongside examples of emotional and reproductive labor, which are often excluded from traditional measures of productivity and prestige. Through a study of contemporary literature, film, television, and critical theory, we analyze how labor is represented, regulated, and stratified, developing arguments about exploitation, resistance, and dignity, and critically exploring the shifting meanings of work in our globalized, unequal economy. Miller WR 120
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 120
Imagining Vietnam In this course, students write about the Vietnam War’s polarizing influence on American culture and vice versa. Including examples of literature, music, memorials and film, “Imagining the Vietnam War” charts how this devastating conflict challenged the way Americans’ viewed themselves. Beginning with America’s first involvement during the height of its power in the 1950s and continuing through to the present, students trace diverse perspectives of the Vietnam War that considers women, soldiers, veterans, protestors, and supporters. The class emphasizes popular culture and integrate reviews of films, songs, books, and memorials as readings. In addition, students develop and present their own reviews of recent depictions and representations of Vietnam for the final project. Blumenthal WR 120
Improvisation Now This course looks at the role of improvisation in the creation of a variety of works of art. We have an early focus on “Zen and the Art of Improv Comedy,” looking at examples of both short-form and long-form improvisational comedy, including a live performance at Improv Asylum in Boston’s North End. We then look at other examples of improvised creations in other media, such as film, dance, music, visual art, and games. Barents, K WR 120
Intertwining Curious Minds Now Through field trips, we use Boston places to explore curiosity as a uniquely individual yet also collaborative adventure between humans and other species. How can different types of curiosity and approaches from diverse disciplines shape what we create on our own and with others? How do processes examined in psychology and neuroscience such as neural synchrony/coupling (the correlation of brain activity between people) shape curiosity in shared experiences and draw us into others’ stories? Come to class curious to see how sharing your distinctive interests and intertwining them with what fascinates your classmates can transform our collective curiosity. Schaaf WR 120
Italian Americans This course explores Italian American culture through literature and film, examining migration, identity, ethnicity, and continuity. We consider why Italians left a newly unified Italy for the often-harsh conditions of industrial America, their interactions with other groups in the US and with Italy itself, and the evolving forms of Italian American identity. The course also addresses stereotypes, associations with the mafia, racialization, gender and sexual stereotypes, and the role of language and education, with attention to the history of Italians in the Boston area. Students may optionally participate in the annual Italian American Studies Association conference at Tufts University in November. Pasto WR 120
Lincoln & His Legacies Many are taught from childhood the story of Abraham Lincoln: From log cabin origins to rail-splitting leader, Lincoln emancipated the slaves and saved the union during the American Civil War. To some, however, this heroic tale is more fairytale than fact. As the iconic American president, against whom all others are measured, how and why should Lincoln be remembered? Students consider Lincoln’s life, words, and deeds both before and during his presidency; then we examine Lincoln’s legacy as expressed in poems, memorials, films, and other cultural artifacts. Readings include Lincoln’s speeches and letters, as well as scholarly and creative expressions about Lincoln. Shawn WR 120
Linguistic Justice via Ubuntu The African philosophy of Ubuntu states that “a person is a person through other persons.” Ubuntu asks people to consider several interrelated issues: restorative justice, interconnectedness, civic engagement, social justice, linguistic justice, empathy, respect for difference, shared values and inclusion. As a rhetorical practice, the adoption of Ubuntu in the composition classroom fosters the bonds of cooperation and respectful collaboration between us. Through the African concept of Ubuntu, we explore questions about the self and its relationship to others. We consider how we communicate across differences through our diverse languages/dialects. Issah WR 120
Literary Gender & Sexuality In this course, we read diverse nineteenth-century texts to explore how contemporary debates about gender and sexuality are informed by beliefs that emerged over two hundred years ago. We also examine how Americans have always understood gender and sexuality alongside race, class, and other identities. With this knowledge, we seek to better understand why we view some bodies, desires, and experiences as normal, and why our culture erases or stigmatizes others. We also contemplate to what extent we have overcome the anxieties about gender and sexuality that people felt in the past, and to what extent they still persist today. Barrett WR 120
Meaning and the Modern Self How do we create meaning and purpose in our lives? What does it mean to live authentically, and how do our choices, work, and relationships shape who we become? In this course, we explore these questions through literature, film, and philosophy associated with existentialism. We examine characters who confront freedom, responsibility, alienation, and the tension between individual values and social expectations. Through discussion and writing, we consider how meaning is created through action, ethical choice, and our encounters with others—and what it means to take responsibility for one’s life in an uncertain world. Tandon WR 120
Memoir as Art Form This course offers an engaging exploration into the art of memoir writing, guiding you through the process of crafting your own life stories. Through the study of acclaimed memoirs such as I Would Meet You Anywhere by Susan Kiyo Ito, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, and I Wonder as I Wander by Langston Hughes, you gain insights into various narrative techniques and thematic elements. You also participate in writing short memoirs, allowing them to practice and refine their storytelling skills. The course also includes two analytical papers, where students critically examine the memoirs studied, and a presentation to develop their public speaking and interpretive skills. Additionally, an alternative assignment challenge you to compose your own memoir, providing a comprehensive understanding of the memoir genre. Westhues WR 120
Performing Class This course explores how social class, like gender, is performative. We examine literature and popular culture to ask: How do we consciously or unconsciously perform our class identities? How does the performance of class determine choices we make (e.g., where we go to college, the kind of food we eat, what we post on social media)? How do these performances intersect with other facets of our identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender)? Together, we interrogate the (in)stability of class identity in contemporary culture in order to offer new insights into complicated notions of class cohesion and/or division. Miller 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 & Science Fiction 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
Philosophy in Times of Crisis We live in an age of crisis. Threatened by collapsing political ecosystems, the prospects of environmental devastation, and the challenges posed by technological revolutions, we are uncertain of our place in the world. And yet, we are not alone. In this course, we explore philosophical theories that have promised to show us how to live well, even during times of crisis. As we do so, we consider influential theories that represent diverse cultures and time periods, including Ancient Greek, Buddhist, Confucian, and Existentialist philosophy. We also consider the legacies of these movements in popular psychology and the contemporary self-help industry. Snyder WR 120
Plato’s Republic The Republic, by the Greek philosopher Plato, explores what it means to be human, whether some of our highest ideals exist, and how we can and perhaps should organize ourselves politically. It’s a beautiful work of art, a window onto an ancient city state that served as a model for the US, and a lens for examining our own psyches and societies. It’s a difficult, important book—the kind you should try to read in college. In addition to the Republic, readings include excerpts from other ancient Greek texts, contemporary scholarship, and popular media that engage with similar topics. Prentice WR 120
Postapocalyptic Fiction and Film This class explores post-apocalyptic fiction, whose narratives about the end of world simultaneously examine what it means to be human. Whether contaminated by outside forces (zombies, aliens), destroyed by our own inventions (robots and androids), or threatened by natural disasters, these stories ask a range of philosophical questions: are humans inherently good or evil? Does society corrupt us, or do social and political institutions save us from our natural tendencies toward violence and evil? Readings include Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and Max Brooks’ World War Z, and films such as Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. McVey WR 120
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 120
Public Art Works of art in outdoor accessible spaces exist at the intersection of community, identity, and history. In the second half of the twentieth century, the creation of federal and state funding programs, like the National Endowment for the Arts, raised questions about who selects visual art for a community, who is included in that community, and who pays for the work’s creation and maintenance. We explore newspaper articles, exhibition reviews, and artist statements surrounding controversial publicly funded exhibitions and sculptures, including new monuments raised in the city of Boston. Discussions focus on historic works relating to the American Civil War and more recent American artists such as Maya Lin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Hank Willis Thomas, and Kara Walker. Bewley WR 120
Race, Identity, Short Story This class explores how American fiction reveals and critiques issues of race, identity, and social injustice. Through close reading and analytical writing, we will consider how literature reflects or shapes society. What can stories teach us about the time and culture in which they were written? How do authors use language, style, and structure to explore complex themes? We will engage with powerful short stories by American writers as a foundation for developing clear, thoughtful essays that examine the connections between storytelling, culture, and critical perspectives on identity and justice. Shuckra WR 120
Reimagining Fairy Tales We examine classic and modern fairy tales, beginning with “Red Riding Hood,” with critical essays by scholars working from literary-critical, feminist, and social justice viewpoints. We ask questions such as: why do certain tales persist in popular culture, what cultural work are they doing, and what is the significance of the continual revisioning of familiar tales and motifs? How do these pervasive stories shape our cultural understanding of romance, sexuality, race, class, religion, and disability, and how can telling the tales in new ways change those understandings? Authors include the Grimms, Andersen, Nalo Hopkinson, Trung Le Nguyen, and Emma Donoghue. Bennett-Zendzian WR 120
Reimagining Happiness What does it mean to be happy? Can you become happier? If so, how? What factors are most correlated with happiness: physical attractiveness, high income levels, well-respected jobs, healthy social relationships or a strong sense of purpose? How much of your happiness is under your control? We explore these questions by reading academic and nonacademic sources written by psychologists, sociologists, economists etc. We watch Ted Talks and discuss how happiness is defined in cross-cultural contexts. We keep a journal to record happy moments, look for gaps in our understanding of happiness, and develop our own theory of happiness. Zhao WR 120
Rhetorics of Disability In this seminar, we examine how disability becomes meaningful through rhetoric—how words, images, and recurring stories shape what counts as “normal,” independent, worthy, or at risk. We identify and question familiar narratives of disability (inspiration, tragedy, problem to be fixed) and consider what they encourage audiences to believe, feel, and do. Finally, we apply what we learned by crafting arguments about belonging and access on campus in genres aimed at a specific BU audiences. Madsen Hardy WR 120
Role Immersion for Democracy This course focuses on the principles and conflicts intrinsic to democratic practice. Why democracy? How should decision-making work? What is the role of persuasion, deliberation, and individual judgment? What to do if one is excluded? We probe such questions through role-immersive historical games in a variety of settings, for example, ancient Athens, the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and New Orleans during Radical Reconstruction. This highly participatory class requires you to read deeply; to write and speak in a variety of genres, academic and creative; and to argue both passionately and with scholarly detachment. Gapotchenko WR 120
Science Communication This course examines the kinds of writing involved in scientific discoveries from grant proposals, through research notes, to publication, and finally public dissemination. We look at a few high-profile studies such as the research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in NFL players and the public discourse on these findings. Students write about the differing presentations of information for different audiences and purposes. We also explore how error and misunderstanding regarding scientific discovery can develop. Kinraide WR 120
Sociology of Code Switching Students explore code switching from a sociological perspective. Beyond just language, code-switching can be expressed via behaviors, dress, body language, and slang depending on the context. Students learn how societal structures and individual identities intersect to shape our varied code-switching experiences. Bowman WR 120
The Addict in American Culture This seminar explores the topic of addiction in American culture. Pairing autobiography with film, music, and anti-drug propaganda, we examine how the category of the “addict” has been shaped and contested for well over a century. Along the way, we discuss competing theories of addiction and reflect upon America’s War on Drugs and the ongoing overdose crisis. As we work towards a more complex understanding of addiction, we focus on the unique power of the arts to convey the lived experience of addicted people and to counter stigma. Bjornson WR 120
The Charles River Now As the Charles River (indigenous Massachusett: *Quinobequin*, “meandering”) wanders through Boston and past our campus, this course takes you on a tour outside the classroom to explore the green spaces along the Charles’ bank and the multispecies communities connected by its waters. Be prepared to read the Charles as a living text and spend time getting to know the river and its inhabitants! Readings include Rawson’s Eden on the Charles, Mitchell’s The Paradise of All These Parts: A Natural History of Boston, and an interdisciplinary collection of local sources on the city of Boston, the region, and the river. Blyler WR 120
The Graphic Memoir Graphic memoirs are nonfiction graphic novels that tell the true stories of their author’s lives through a combination of text and image. In styles ranging from cartoons to fine art, graphic memoirs tackle a wide range of serious subjects. Our literary and theoretical readings participate in overlapping conversations about identity, racism, family dysfunction, illness and disability. At the end of the semester, we showcase all we have learned by creating graphic texts of our own. Kent WR 120
The Journey: Our World in Film Do you dream of adventure? Venturing over the next unknown horizon? We look at films from a wide array of cultures and eras from around the world that embark on a journey. However, journeys do not solely unfold in the outward geography of the world, but within our lives as well, as we progress through personal passages and transformations. Thus, we also share tales of our own journeys, literal and metaphorical. In addition to the films, there are also some short readings. Degener 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
The Language of Identity “The Language of Identity” is an exploration of self through writing about culture, race, gender, and class. We explore how language shapes identity—our own and the diverse communities around us. With writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Gabriel Mac, June Jordan, Gloria Anzaldua, and many more, we see how the perception of our language shapes how others judge or view our identity—fairly or unfairly. Ultimately, we learn how to craft an argument in the public discourse, and in doing so, notice how the engagement of our language within any discourse informs our identity. DiPaolo WR 120
These Films Are So Gay We study films that have been perceived as “gay” in one way or another, even when their subject matter is ostensibly “straight.” Because homophobia is so pervasive, gay audiences have learned to read even homophobic films as gay. Note: most of these films evoke the “gay” experience in coded ways. People looking for uplifting affirmations of queer experience may be disappointed, and one of the points of this course is to talk about the strange formations that occur when films want to say something and not to say it at the same time. Desilets WR 120
Thrive: Connect, Act, Reflect This interdisciplinary course pursues a key question: How do we thrive during times of transition and uncertainty? In this writing course, we explore how personal well-being, resilience, and reflection are not just topics to write about, but also intentional practices to help us navigate change. We explore how shared experiences and small actions—such as time in nature, acts of kindness, and movement—can strengthen our sense of purpose and belonging in our academic and personal communities. Together, we practice writing and thinking skills
that will strengthen our ability to thrive amidst change.		 Breen WR 120
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 120
Translation and Adaptation Which was better—the film or the book? What do hygge and treppenwitz mean anyway? In this course, we explore what happens when we convert an original source into another language or genre, through translation or adaptation. What’s lost? What’s gained? Does a successful transformation require literal fidelity or a more nuanced touch? Students investigate these questions across various genres and linguistic experiences. After establishing some theoretical groundwork, we critique several adaptations and translations of texts and students have the opportunity to create their own as well. Hanselman WR 120
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 120
Women Poets Now Audre Lorde argues, “Poetry is not a luxury… it lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.” This seminar examines the ways diverse women poets engage with the world through their writing. Using creative and critical writing, we explore poetry’s essential role in investigating social and political issues. As a final class project, we contribute to this larger poetic conversation by creating an online poetry journal of the class’s writing. Bennett WR 120
Writing about Music Someone asserted that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” The line might be read as a provocation: if the effort is pointless, why do people talk, read, and write endlessly about music? In this course, we listen to and discuss music. We think about it in terms of genres, artists, songs, technologies, politics, cultural histories, performances, and industry business. Most of all, we practice writing about music in an array of genres, including reviews, analysis, personal essays, artist profiles, and introductions to fan scenes and subcultures. Experience reading music not required; passion for music essential! Coffman WR 120
Writing More-than-Human Worlds We humans are deeply enmeshed with the nonhumans that surround us—animals, plants, microbes, bots, and 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 such as global pandemics, climate change, environmental pollution, commercial robotics, and artificial intelligence, surveillance technologies among others. Krishnan WR 120
Writing Race & the Environment What makes people vulnerable to environmental harm? Who benefits from that harm? Literature raises these and other critical questions and offers thoughtful answers. It also provides much-needed vision and hope. In this course, written and film texts ground our thinking and writing about environmental abuses and the people they impact most. We examine how contemporary texts illuminate environmental racism and consumption. We also ask: How can each of us participate as change agents in enacting environmental justice? The authors guiding our investigation may include Octavia Butler, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Robert Bullard, Janice Mirikitani, Vandana Shiva, Simon Ortiz, and Rita Wong. Tall WR 120
Zionism and the Jewish State This course examines the intellectual and political history of Zionism in its many iterations and trace the development of its various streams during the pre-state and post-state periods. We explore many of the challenges inherent to the creation and maintenance of a modern state grounded in ethnic nationalism and established in territory previously inhabited by people of multiple religious, ethnic, and national identities. We also examine the sources and evolution of Palestinian nationalism and pan-Arabism and their impact on Zionist and post-Zionist ideas. Course materials include political tracts, maps, film, and primary source materials relevant to our course of study. Anderson WR 120

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

Topic Topic Description Instructor Class
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
Analog Adolescence What can we learn from pre-internet adolescence and young adulthood that can inform and enrich our lives today? We look at fictional and nonfictional narratives of analog youth experiences from the twentieth century and study adolescence and young adulthood from a psychological and child development perspective. We link that research with our own “coming of age” stories, with a focus on the role that interactions with technology have played; we then write our own narrative nonfiction pieces incorporating this research. Myers WR 151
Attention/Distraction From industrialization and automation to the rise of the “attention economy,” how have cultural shifts and new technologies impacted our sense of focus, and what we pay attention to? Looking primarily at life in the United States from an interdisciplinary perspective, this course explores various conversations surrounding the rise of new technologies and new tempos from the late nineteenth century to today, with an eye on the way these cultural and technological shifts have impacted the ways we experience place, community, work, and everyday life. What can various panics over our perceived shifting attentions reveal about cultural ideals and cultural anxieties? Kolberg WR 151
Boston Theatre/Community Now What happens when a citywide collaboration of professional theatre companies and high school and youth arts groups mount a two-year, nine-play cycle? How can theatres diversify their audience with respect to age, race, and class? We research these and other questions, working closely with the Huntington Theatre and community groups in Boston to document the effects of the Ufot Cycle by Mfoniso Udofia on various stakeholder communities, including Nigerian and other immigrant diasporas; create educational resources on the plays for teens; and explore the effects of the plays’ themes (including immigration, family, queerness, and more) on community members. Michaud WR 153
Debating Hollywood In 1915, Hollywood produced the massively popular white supremacist film The Birth of a Nation. A century later, Hollywood produced the massively popular Black Panther (2018). What factors motivated this supposedly radical change? How and why are these films different, artistically or politically? What makes them similar? Moreover, what do we even mean when we say “Hollywood,” given that it has gone through so many artistic, technological, political, and institutional changes? We examine these concerns and more by studying the conversations film scholars have had about Hollywood, and by conducting research of our own to understand how Hollywood is animated by 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. Some of the films that will inform our conversations are The Jazz Singer (1927), Dirty Dancing (1987), and The Shape of Water (2017). Vanaria WR 151
Family Snaps and Stories From the Victorian daguerreotype to the smartphone snapshot, we commonly associate family photographs with personal history. Family photos document childhood and maturation as well as relationships among parents, siblings, extended family, and chosen members. Family portrait conventions, often taken for granted when we use a camera, have a history related to portrait painting and studio photography, contexts that posit various ideals of the family. This course investigates the kinds of stories, assumptions, and expectations that we bring to family photographs and offers the opportunity to create a research project involving public and/or personal photographic archives. We learn to 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
Literature of the Occult 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 as to why “Occult” practices appear so prominently in many works of horror, 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, video games, as well as alternative religions, spirituality, and politics. Morazzini WR 151
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
Marijuana in American History In this course, students write about marijuana’s polarizing influence in recent American history. Marijuana prohibition in America has evolved to reflect political, social, economic, and scientific trends in twentieth century US history. This course questions the role of science and morality in drug enforcement policy and evaluates the recent push for decriminalization during three periods: the prohibition years in the first half of the century; the countercultural period after the 1950s and the backlash it created; and the legalized marijuana era that followed the 1980s. Blumenthal WR 153
Medical Debates Medical advances and increased public health have often come at the price of deliberately inflicting harm. In this class, we examine some of the historical debates about when and whether intentional harm to animals, individuals, or groups outweighs the benefits of medical progress. Vivisection exposes the issue of cruelty versus advances in medical research; vaccination weighs the relative risks and benefits of dangerous medical procedures to a particular individual; and the case of Typhoid Mary is representative of the problem of personal liberty versus public health. Kinraide WR 152
Migration Culture How does human migration affect culture, and what new cultures are created as people are displaced and migrate? In this course, we study how migration—in particular, forced displacement—is represented in culture, both globally and locally: in what we read and watch, in the ways we communicate, in how we think about space and place, and in the art and music we create and consume. We delve into the culture of migration with our research and explorations outside the classroom, working in academic and multimedia genres, and connecting with migration culture in Boston through museum exhibits, public art, and local events. Kordonowy 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
Research Like an Engineer No engineering experience required! In this course, we examine how knowledge is produced, tested, and communicated in engineering spaces. We learn to write academically by working with real engineering and design questions: how problems are defined, what counts as evidence, and how solutions are generated and communicated. We read and analyze engineering research, case studies, and technical arguments; we then practice turning complex ideas into clear academic writing. Across the semester, we identify an engineering or design problem and investigate its context, limitations, and end users. We conduct research, draft proposals, and produce reports that we can then submit to interested companies. Ward WR 153
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
The Ethical Imagination Philosophical and creative readings focus on the imagination’s role in determining the moral compass of the world, and ultimately, the role art plays in raising questions about equity, freedom, justice, diversity, war, hatred, abuse, and intolerance. Writing assignments, whether non-fiction or fiction, focus on both analytical and creative skills. Allenberg WR 153
Writing with a Sense of Taste Do certain foods conjure memories or stir powerful feelings for you? Have you ever been homesick and found a familiar dish to be the perfect remedy? Through reflection, writing, and a bit of tasting, we will analyze essays from M.F.K. Fisher’s The Art of Eating, Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour, and other notable food writers as we explore the struggles encountered and the satisfaction gained by writing with all our senses. Together, we also consider the cultural significance of food and the anthropological lessons gastronomy offers about identity, community, and the stories we share. Robertson WR 153

WR 320 Topic (Fall 2026)

Topic Topic Description Instructor Class
Community: Senior Center This small experiential learning seminar explores community, belonging, storytelling, and creativity by writing in partnership with a local organization. Typically, learning service in higher education has prioritized the university, which has more money and power, but this course stresses community-building and reciprocity with our partner, the Brookline Senior Center. We gain insight into various voices and perspectives not usually encountered in a college classroom, and we work as leaders by facilitating experiences, including writing groups, sharing circles, revision workshops, and a public performance. Bozek WR 320