Species Matters: Animals in Literature, Film, and Theory

Nonhuman animals constitute the limit against which humans define themselves; at the same time, they challenge such boundaries. Thinking about animals, then, always also means exploring our own humanity. In this course, we will draw on the vast archive of literature, philosophy, and art that engages animals in order to reconsider what and how these representations mean. Considering our complex relationships with other animals, we will address questions of ontology, aesthetics, and ethics: What makes an animal? Can animals be represented? How should animal suffering affect us?