LIT4682 In the Extreme: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Human Rights
4 Advanced Liberal Arts Credits
The philosophy of basic human rights originates with the earliest records of humans, and humans have struggled to define and defend these most basic tenets of ethical human conduct and rights ever since. This course will focus upon grave human rights abuses such as torture, genocide, and rape, and will consider the increasingly blurred line between “peacetime” and “wartime” violations. We will begin with philosophical, political, and legal definitions of human rights, then move quickly to specific cases related to the impacts and legacies of imperialism and the resurgence of nationalism and white supremacy. In this context, we will examine challenges to international human rights law from military and technological developments, mass migration, and climate change, paying special attention to the role of art, literature, and film in addressing these challenges.
Prerequisites: Any combination of 2 ILA (HSS, LTA, CSP, LVA, CVA)