SO 310 - Advanced Topics in Sociology / Anthropology: Graphic Memoir

Course Description

"Topics announced prior to each term may include: Alienation and Fragmentation in the Individual; Theories of Love, Sex, and Intimacy; or Postmodern Religion and the Secularization of Society. May be repeated for credit it topics differ."

Summer 2024 Topic:

Section 004 Stories of Transition in the Graphic Memoir

Personal narratives, or an individual’s story, are an effective way to introduce new ideas into people’s lives. They can foster empathy by putting faces and names on experiences that initially appear foreign and unrelatable. Our canvas will be the graphic memoir. We will examine how the genre conveys transitions, such as transitions in everyday life, moving from “ability” to “disability” and from one location to another. Our foundational analysis will be anthropological; specifically, the ethnographic and auto-ethnographic focus on cultural norms and social context and how these help and hinder social change. Concepts that we will use to examine transitions include transnationalism, family, racism, migration, disability, belonging, and others. The course will culminate in a graphic memoir project created by each student. No fancy drawing skills needed!

Requirements

This course is available for undergraduate credit. Students must be enrolled as a Junior or Senior level at a College or University to participate.

Additionally, students must be adults age 18 or older and possess a high school diploma or G.E.D.