CHID 390 A: Colloquium in the History of Ideas

Winter 2020
Meeting:
TTh 10:30am - 12:20pm / SMI 105
SLN:
12423
Section Type:
Seminar
Instructor:
"TRASH DIRT FILTH ROT: HOW TO THINK WITH WASTE" IN THIS COURSE WE WILL EXPLORE FOUNDATIONS AND FRAMEWORKS OF WASTE DISCOURSE. MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF WASTE INFLECT OUR SOCIETY-FROM TRASH WE TALK, TO GARBAGE WE TOSS, TO LIVES RENDERED DISPOSABLE AND LIFEWAYS DISCARDED AS WORTHLESS. WHO SAYS WHAT (OR WHO) COUNTS AS WASTE? HOW NASTY IS FILTH, REALLY? HOW DO WHOLE LANDSCAPES AND POPULATIONS BECOME SACRIFICES? WE WILL SCAVENGE THROUGH ARCHIVES OF THEORY, SCI-FI, AND POPULAR CULTURE TO UNBURY JUST WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS GET TRASHED-AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TRASH TALKS BACK.
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

Trash Dirt Filth Rot: How to Think with Waste

In this course we will explore foundations and frameworks of waste discourse. Multiple meanings of waste inflect our society—from trash we talk, to garbage we toss, to lives rendered disposable and lifeways discarded as worthless. Who says what (or who) counts as waste? How nasty is filth, really? How do whole landscapes and populations become sacrifices? We will scavenge through archives of theory, sci-fi, and popular culture to unbury just what happens when people, places, and things get trashed—and what happens when trash talks back.

Catalog Description:
Investigates the theoretical and practical problems of interpretation and knowledge production in a topic chosen by the instructor. Primarily for majors. Prerequisite: CHID 101.
GE Requirements Met:
Social Sciences (SSc)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
March 19, 2024 - 2:41 am