Reading and composition courses based upon primary historical documents and secondary historical scholarship. These courses provide an introduction to core issues in the interpretation of historical texts and introduce students to the distinctive ways of reading primary and secondary sources. Courses focus on specific historical topics but address general issues of how historians read and write. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement.

Utopia is the imagination of a highly desirable community or society. As such it has inspired social and political movements and fascinated writers and filmmakers alike. In this seminar we will explore the history and variety of utopian thinking. After clarifying the meaning of utopia, we will discuss classic utopian writers such as Thomas More, Edward Bellamy, and William Morris. We will then look at different visions of utopia, including anarchist, liberal, and socialist, accounts, as well as engage with 19th and 20th century utopian communities. Further topics include the relationship between utopia and technology as well as the role of utopia in popular culture such as science fiction. We will also inquire the history of ecological utopias and end with a discussion of recent publications on Real Utopias and Utopias for Realists. As part of the University’s Reading & Composition requirement, the course will not only familiarize students with the history of utopia, but also practice how to read and understand academic literature and historical sources, as well as how to write academic texts.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills