ENVS1058A-W25
Reading the Arctic
Reading the Arctic
Through a close reading of Barry Lopez’s landmark book Arctic Dreams, students will examine cultural representations of the far north from the “age of exploration” to the present. In this course we will challenge depictions of the region as an unchanging, sterile landscape and at the same time interrogate why such perceptions have been so persistent. Special attention will be paid to how resource extraction and economic development have shaped our ideas about the Arctic. Students will engage with works by Bathsheba Demuth, Tom Kizzia, and Thomas Berger. Films, photographs, and contemporary television series set in the Arctic will also be discussed as students, through short writings and group projects, gain a deeper understanding of this rich and varied landscape.
Through a close reading of Barry Lopez’s landmark book Arctic Dreams, students will examine cultural representations of the far north from the “age of exploration” to the present. In this course we will challenge depictions of the region as an unchanging, sterile landscape and at the same time interrogate why such perceptions have been so persistent. Special attention will be paid to how resource extraction and economic development have shaped our ideas about the Arctic. Students will engage with works by Bathsheba Demuth, Tom Kizzia, and Thomas Berger. Films, photographs, and contemporary television series set in the Arctic will also be discussed as students, through short writings and group projects, gain a deeper understanding of this rich and varied landscape.
- Term:
- Winter 2025
- Location:
- Axinn Center 219(AXN 219)
- Schedule:
- 10:30am-12:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Jan 6, 2025 to Jan 31, 2025)
- Type:
- Lecture
- Course Modality:
- In-Person
- Instructors:
- Subject:
- Environmental Studies
- Department:
- Prog in Environmental Studies
- Division:
- Interdisciplinary
- Requirements Fulfilled:
- WTR
- Levels:
- Undergraduate
- Availability:
- View availability, prerequisites, and other requirements.
- Course Reference Number (CRN):
- 11591
- Subject Code:
- ENVS
- Course Number:
- 1058
- Section Identifier:
- A