The Pastoral Plate

The pastoral tradition depicts an idealized version of rural life, often emphasizing harmony with nature and the simplicity of country living. This class adopts a comparative and interdisciplinary method to explore how the pastoral landscape, beyond its façade of rustic beauty, is a site in which issues about farming and food intertwine with a wide arrow of socio-economic questions. We will read a mix of classical and modern texts, and watch a selection of films, to analyze how the pastoral tradition shapes our understanding of culture and the environment.