Liberal Arts Courses

Tribe vs. Nation

Course No. SNS 479  Credits: 3.0

The course is an anthropological examination of the impact of technology and "western" industrial development on indigenous populations worldwide. Assumptions posed in the concepts "progress" and "development" are examined by in-depth review of traditional society and culture change among, for instance, the Balinese, ethnic groups in Mali, West Africa and Native American in the United States. Bali's traditional arts, rituals and water temple system of irrigation, Bambara society in Mali and Native American traditional cultures are juxtaposed against the culture change these groups experience with increased global, commercial interdependence. In the 21st century, humankind continues to experience problems of world hunger, population growth, resource depletion, pollution and war. Films, slides and reading review these issues, and peoples, worldwide, to try to consider potential solutions which acknowledge human cultural diversity within the modernization process. An emphasis in the course is a consideration of technological determinism and social choices.

Jung + Creativity

Course No. SNS 484  Credits: 3.0

This course will combine a theoretical introduction to Jung with experiential participation in a dream workshop/small group. The theoretical component of the course will provide an overview of Jung's understanding of the human psyche with an emphasis on use of symbols and dreams as the "royal road to the unconscious." Work from the dream workshops is intended to inform the artist's work. Students will be expected (in addition to the usual preparatory reading) to bring dreams weekly and to be willing to apply material from those dreams to their own creative process.