Seminars

This course examines U.S. history during the 20th and 21st centuries through the ever-evolving figure of the monster. Jack Halberstam writes that monsters are “meaning machines” who represent universal fears and anxieties within culturally and temporally specific locations.  Throughout history, they have been symbols of deviance, objects of sympathy, and images of desire.  American monsters are born out of U.S. history.  They emerge out of the central anxieties and tensions that have been a part of the United States from colonial times to the present and from the structures and ideologies where those obsessions found historical expression. Using an interdisciplinary framework, the course analyzes changes over time in representations of monstrosity in folklore, literature, film, television, music videos, graphic novels, and other cultural forms. Ultimately, the course demonstrates that monsters—from King Kong in early American cinema to the mutants of 1950s science fiction to the Mind Flayer of Stranger Things on Netflix—shape and reflect collective social anxieties surrounding religion, science, race, gender, and sexuality during the time periods in which they emerge.

Poetry is a living, breathing animal, and the kind of animal it is varies depending upon who you are and where you are—it is adaptable, topical, and transformative. Poetry helps us see differently; language is the tool or vehicle for the expression of that different sight. My work involves instilling students with a love of language, showing that language has the power to change minds and that it may contribute to self-awareness and transformation. Poetry exemplifies the craft of language that stresses conscious choice for purposeful communication and connection between reader and writer as humans. My goal in this seminar is to articulate and develop with teachers an ongoing dialogue of mutual practice and approaches to reading, writing, and teaching poetry, regarding:

• The art and craft of poetry;
• The relevance of poetry to culture and society;
• The power of language to motivate or provide impetus for change on the personal level, as well as the grand scale;
• The opportunity to promote poetry as a creative art, a learning tool, and an imaginative experience in public schools and community-based programs; and
• Poetry as literature—inventing with language to create windows into worlds and cultures other than one’s own.

The seminar series kicks off with a discussion about what energy is and the various ways that it can be produced and stored. Participants will gain a broad understanding of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. We will delve into some of the historical context, tracing the evolution of energy production and its impact on our environment. In subsequent seminars, we will dive deeper into specific aspects of energy production. For example, “Turbines and Generators” sheds light on the pivotal role these mechanical marvels play in converting energy into electricity. The series continues with an exploration of fossil fuels—our longstanding energy backbone. We will dissect their extraction, processing, and transportation, all while considering their environmental implications. Subsequent seminars will discuss the various forms of renewable energy, where attendees will learn about solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, and geothermal energy, weighing the pros and cons of each. Energy storage technologies, including batteries, pumped hydro storage, and thermal energy storage will be covered, emphasizing their critical role in supporting sustainable energy systems. Finally, we will cover more recent energy developments like fusion energy and hydrogen fuel cells. Throughout, we will incorporate discussions about energy policy and regulations, understanding how government decisions shape our energy landscape.

This survey course aims to introduce students to biological anthropology. This field encompasses four subdisciplines: modern human variation, primatology, human evolution (fossil evidence and genetics), and bioarchaeology. It also has direct implications for forensic and medical anthropology. We will survey the basic tenets of evolutionary theory, genetics, the biological basis of inheritance, living human populations, variation of modern humans, and the (mis)concept of race. We will learn about our closest living relative, the other primates. Towards the middle of the year, we will shift our focus to paleoanthropology, the study of human evolution, and the primary key events that led to our species’ development. We will focus on the main species, the morphological changes during their evolution, and the methods used to study them. Toward the end of the year, we will focus on the applied aspects of biological anthropology and where our species is going from here. The course is very visual, with slides and movies illustrating the lectures and interactive modules to help explain the concepts. However, it also emphasizes concepts, critical thinking, and the development of scientific arguments.