Body Talk, Body Politics

3 credits · Undergraduate credit

How do our bodies express, or betray, what we mean when we talk with others? In this introduction to the study of embodied communication, we explore the hidden dimensions of conversation by working closely with video recordings. We look at gesture, gaze, nods, demeanor, and posture; how people manage their bodies in small groups and navigate the built environment. We look at the way small nonverbal behaviors can matter for big social issues like gender politics, everyday racism, socioeconomic class stratification, and religious and cultural difference.