LITERATURE AND ANIMAL STUDIES
How does literature help us understand animals and our relation to them? We address this question by exploring two types of representation: representation as depiction (the attempt to describe animals in literature) and representation as a legal or political act (the attempt to speak or act on behalf of animals). Organized around familiar animal categories - dogs, cats, horses, apes, birds, insects - we examine the representation of animals in modern literature as a way to give an account of the cultural history of human-animal relations and, in doing so, to make us reflect upon the social, political, and environmental consequences of this history at a time when animal species are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Literature Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: Yes, unlimited number of completions Last Taught: Spring 2021 Learning Outcomes: 1. Discern and integrate divergent and contradictory perspectives, identify and question assumptions, and assess evidence and methods (Critical Thinking). Audience: Undergraduate 2. Write original, coherent, and compelling arguments that push beyond summary to analysis and independent and critical thinking in clear prose that meets expectations for grammatical correctness (Critical Writing). Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Discern and integrate divergent and contradictory perspectives, identify and question assumptions, and assess evidence and methods (Critical Thinking). Audience: Undergraduate 2. Write original, coherent, and compelling arguments that push beyond summary to analysis and independent and critical thinking in clear prose that meets expectations for grammatical correctness (Critical Writing). Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027