Course description
Representations of HIV/AIDS
This class engages students in a transdisciplinary conversation about representations of HIV/AIDS: in scientific articles, journalism, visual art, literature, drama, and popular culture. You will join us in studying widely varying representations of HIV/AIDS from the perspective of the kinds of academics we are: a literary critic and a scientist. We believe that scientists and literary/cultural critics can learn valuable lessons from one another, even as they create their own responses to HIV/AIDS. Today, over 30 years since the first scientific reports of HIV/AIDS, the pandemic remains a major health concern throughout the world. But, rays of hope have led to speculation that an AIDS-free generation may be possible. In such a timely moment, it is essential for us to connect across the "two cultures" as we consider the social and scientific implications of HIV/AIDS.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Prerequisites:
None
Outcome / Qualification etc.
What you'll learn
You will learn the following:
- How to do a basic analysis of literary and scientific texts.
- How scientists and artists create knowledge, and what they have in common as they do so.
- A general understanding of the scientific and artistic history of HIV/AIDS.
- How language, both scientific and artistic, shapes our ideas about HIV/AIDS.
- How visual representation in the arts and sciences is critical for advancing important ideas about HIV/AIDS.
- How the individual experience of living with HIV/AIDS has changed over the last three decades, and why understanding HIV/AIDS through personal stories is important.
- Current debates and developments in HIV/AIDS.
- How to interpret what we call "cultural artifacts"--i.e., widely-available representations of HIV/AIDS.
- How the arts and sciences can more generally inform each other in responding to global problems like the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Course delivery details
This course is offered through Davidson Next, a partner institute of EdX.
1 hours per week
Expenses
- Verified Track -$49.99
- Audit Track - Free