LARTS 351 — Nature in New York City

3 credits
Spring
Priya Chandrasekaran

If you asked someone about where to find nature in New York City, they might answer, “Central Park.” This common response has in part to do with how nature often gets depicted as the opposite of urbanization and an entity that stands apart from politics and “civilization.” In this course, we’ll unpack and challenge that assumption. Through social analyses, films, and ethnographic experiences, we will (re)consider what “nature” means and look for “nature” in unexpected places. We’ll discuss how this complicates and changes our views of urban life, society, and being human, as well as what that means for race, social inequity, and conflicts over space in the city. Assignments will be both analytical and creative.