ULEC
2286

Post-Human Nuclear Experience: Environmental Reality, Fantasy, and The Alternatives

University Curriculum: University Curriculum

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Post-Human Nuclear Experience
Fall 2024
Taught By: Christopher Nazzaro
Section: L

CRN: 17384

Credits: 0

What happens after a nuclear disaster? Can we build something better? Is nature best left to heal on its own? No one medium could contain the enormity of nuclear disaster or whatever post-human experiences would result. That is why we are delving into books, films, graphic novels, articles, and the depths of the internet to ponder: what has happened (Chernobyl); what could happen (Nausicaä’s Valley of the Wind); and what we can do (as will be seen in your projects)? Your projects will be focused on history, alternative energy, or utopian thinking, allowing you expansive territory for thought and research. We will collaborate to reflect upon and present the findings of our reading experience, and so in addition to this being a media studies class, this will be a project-based learning (PBL) class, that incorporates many forms, from books, to manga, to comics, to television, to podcasts, and of course, to the animation of Hayao Miyazaki. Project areas could include: media studies, comparative literature, graphic design, web design, architecture, and environmental design. Outside of class, you will research your project related to nuclear-disaster history, nuclear energy alternatives, or utopian thinking (either through invention or historical inquiry). Inside class, we will focus on one question: what could happen when humans destroy their environment so completely that no one can survive? The Chernobyl disaster will give us a real-life, historical example, and then the 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will give us a fantastical, yet entirely possible, vision of the future. We will be engaging in deep inquiry about the ways we use energy and the real, imagined, and alternative environmental consequences. We will tie everything together with useful, creative and productive work centered around history, theory, and environmental action. Students must register for both the lecture and discussion section of this course. [This ULEC is in category 1, Tools for Social Change.]

College: University Curriculum (UL)

Department: University Curriculum (UNIV)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Lecture (L)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 75

Add/Drop Deadline: September 9, 2024 (Monday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 17, 2024 (Sunday)

Seats Available: Yes

* Seats available but reserved for a specific population.

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 9:40am EDT 3/28/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Wednesday
Times: 4:00pm - 5:15pm
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 8/28/2024 - 12/11/2024
Post-Human Nuclear Experience
Spring 2024
Taught By: Christopher Nazzaro
Section: L

CRN: 14323

Credits: 0

What happens after a nuclear disaster? Can we build something better? Is nature best left to heal on its own? No one medium could contain the enormity of nuclear disaster or whatever post-human experiences would result. That is why we are delving into books, films, graphic novels, articles, and the depths of the internet to ponder: what has happened (Chernobyl); what could happen (Nausicaä’s Valley of the Wind); and what we can do (as will be seen in your projects)? Your projects will be focused on history, alternative energy, or utopian thinking, allowing you expansive territory for thought and research. We will collaborate to reflect upon and present the findings of our reading experience, and so in addition to this being a media studies class, this will be a project-based learning (PBL) class, that incorporates many forms, from books, to manga, to comics, to television, to podcasts, and of course, to the animation of Hayao Miyazaki. Project areas could include: media studies, comparative literature, graphic design, web design, architecture, and environmental design. Outside of class, you will research your project related to nuclear-disaster history, nuclear energy alternatives, or utopian thinking (either through invention or historical inquiry). Inside class, we will focus on one question: what could happen when humans destroy their environment so completely that no one can survive? The Chernobyl disaster will give us a real-life, historical example, and then the 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind will give us a fantastical, yet entirely possible, vision of the future. We will be engaging in deep inquiry about the ways we use energy and the real, imagined, and alternative environmental consequences. We will tie everything together with useful, creative and productive work centered around history, theory, and environmental action. Students must register for both the lecture and discussion section of this course. [This ULEC is in category 1, Tools for Social Change.]

College: University Curriculum (UL)

Department: University Curriculum (UNIV)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Lecture (L)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 100

Add/Drop Deadline: February 4, 2024 (Sunday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 16, 2024 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: No

Status: Closed*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 9:40am EDT 3/28/2024

Meeting Info:
Days: Wednesday
Times: 4:00pm - 5:15pm
Building: Johnson/Kaplan 66 West 12th
Room: 407
Date Range: 1/22/2024 - 5/15/2024