HUMANITIES 2: UNPACKING EUROPE

Spring 2004

MWF 10 AM, Jacobs 132

Professor Marianne de Laet

Office hours Th 2:45-4:00 or by appointment

1259 Parsons

7-3812

delaet@hmc.edu
 http://www2.hmc.edu/~delaet/index.htm

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It is tempting to think of Europe as a homogenous place, and to look at Europe as the origin of science, art, and Western cultural identity.

But what is this thing we call Europe? How "European" is Europe? Why do we care about origins? And what does it mean to speak of culture and identity? In this course we will explore elements of the European humanistic tradition (art, philosophy, science, and technology) with an eye on the migration of thoughts and things.

Where do ideas come from? How do technologies travel? Is there such a thing as a cultural identity? We will consider culture as a mixture of influences, and trace "Europe" to the diverse ingredients of which it is made.