Betwixt and Between: Liminality in Individual and Collective Experience

(4 Credits)

"Liminality" is a concept from mid-20th century anthropology used to explain the "betwixt and between" state an individual experiences during a rite of passage. More recently, "liminality" has been taken up in discussions about intersectionality of identity, as well as collective consciousness (think gender fluidity, transnationality, pandemic studies, virtual worlds). How can exploring the contours of liminality serve us in helping us give shape and substance to intersections that may provide hope for our futures? In this class, we will read narratives that explore liminal states written by social scientists, activists, religious teachers, psychologists, and creative writers.