New ‘Post-Pandemic’ Elective Now Launching This Fall
Author: Richmond American University London
For all Richmond undergraduates looking for a new elective to explore your experiences and worldview on the Covid pandemic and lockdowns, Richmond is now launching a course on the post-pandemic world, starting in Fall 21.
Post-apocalyptic Worlds aims to explore central questions in the study of the impact of the pandemic, such as: how have fears of pandemics ‘evolved’ over the decades and now ‘solidified’ in its current state today? What does post-pandemic culture reveal about Western society’s identities, ideologies and global attitude, and how does this compare with non-Western perspectives? What are the significant approaches to examine the post-pandemic world as a new way of critically analysing all forms of media and products, including film, television, comics, games, industry practices, marketing, fashion, politics, economics, psychology, history and more? We will also explore theoretical approaches to the study post-pandemic influences on popular culture, as it becomes an increasingly distinctive ‘genre’ in its own right.
Throughout the course we will explore a wide range of topics to better understand the impact of the pandemic, that include: Storytelling and Aesthetics of the Pandemic in Literature, Film, Television, Graphic Novels, Games, Art, Fashion, Architecture; as well as Historical Contexts, Metaphors and Allegories of Pandemic Catastrophes. We will also cover Activist Issues of: Environmental Disaster; Mental Health and Social Isolation; Global Resources, Globalisation and Consumerism; and the impact this has on Diversity and Inclusion in terms of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality, Ableism, Class, Nationality, and Faith; as well as the ever-present Age of ‘Post-Truth’ Politics influencing how we talk about the pandemic.
Most importantly, registering on the course will offer the opportunity to work on a research paper that can then be presented at our upcoming ‘Undergraduate Symposium: The Post Pandemic World’, a conference taking place in Fall 21. Undergraduate papers will also be published on a dedicated University webpage to help raise your professional profiles in your respective fields.
Although this is a film elective (that may initially appeal to AVC, FLM, PHT and COM degrees) all students across the liberal arts are welcome to register.
Anyone interested in researching any of the discussion topics and critical questions listed above are also potentially eligible to register (i.e. pre-requisites may be waved on a case-by-case basis). Study Abroad and Visiting Students can also take this course (as long as you have existing pre-req equivalents).
For more information, and if you’re interested in registering onto this course during Priority Registration week later this month (the course code is FLM 5420) or if you wish to discuss this further with your advisor, then please do contact: [email protected]
