HUM

Subject

HUM

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-undergraduate

Source

www.hollins.edu

In French, la joie de vivre is a special type of joy or delight, grounded in everyday pleasures. In this course, we will reevaluate the quotidian, or everyday, aspects of life—the habits, rituals, people, creatures, objects, and places that structure our daily existence. We will study French literature, thought, art, and cinema—from Catholic Books of Hours to Surrealist assemblages— that push us to find pleasure and excitement in our everyday experiences, or to question why this aspect of our life is oppressive and restructure the world around us in a way that better suits our needs. Taught in English. This course is cross listed as ENG 150. Open to first-year students. (INQ)

Subject

HUM

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-undergraduate

Source

www.hollins.edu

Independent study conducted at the advanced level. Application must be made with faculty prior to registration. Offered any term. Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 300

Subject

HUM

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-undergraduate

Source

www.hollins.edu

Application must be made with faculty prior to registration. May be proposed in any term.

Subject

HUM

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-undergraduate

Source

www.hollins.edu

This course combines the study of literature and non-fiction to study the relationship between humans and their environment. Through an interdisciplinary and global lens, we examine interactions between human beings and the complex natural world we inhabit. We will explore a variety of cultural interpretations of nature and the environment. This course has an important interdisciplinary component which brings in material from many disciplines and encourages us to make connections between concepts we might not have associated before. The beauty of the study of nature, besides being a compelling subject, is that it can be connected to art, philosophy, painting, writing, music, sculpture, gardens, agriculture, food, health, and sustainability, to name but a few possible areas of study.

Subject

HUM

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.hollins.edu

How might an exploration of human meaning help us to imagine and navigate potential futures? This course, drawing from philosophy, poetry, fiction, film, and music, explores contemporary and ancient ways of grappling with questions regarding human existence. In particular, the emergent notion of “post humanism” is critically explored in terms of contemporary social, technological, and ecological concerns.

Subject

HUM

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-graduate

Source

www.hollins.edu

It is often said that food is a lens through which we can view the culture and values of any society, and for the French, food and culture are inseparable. Their passion for food is reflected in literary works and in luminous paintings which record an appetite for life, food, and conviviality. Why has the French gastronomic meal been recognized as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage? What do French institutions, policies, and cultural productions reveal about the core values and beliefs of the French? Where did they originate? How have they evolved? What political and economic factors affect both urban and rural French food systems? How do they differ from the institutions, policies, and cultural productions of the United States and other countries? The goal of this course is to develop a cultural perspective on the French connection to food and on the socio-economic conditions that made cuisine French. By examining current food practices in France, we learn that it has become the first country in the world to pass a law banning supermarkets and the food industry from throwing away food, forcing them to donate it to charities and food banks. As we study the evolution of the culinary in France, we delve into the absorbing history of how food products have traveled around the globe, and how migration and globalization have impacted all foodways and all cultures. 53

Subject

HUM

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2025-2026

Source

www.hollins.edu

This course explores the complex intersections of nationalism, territorial borders, and the rise of populist movements in the modern world. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we will examine the historical, political, and cultural foundations of nation-states, focusing on the ways in which borders have shaped identity, citizenship, migration, and perspectives on refugees. Key topics will include the evolution of nationalism, the impact of globalization on national sovereignty, the politics of immigration, and the resurgence of populist movements across different regions with a particular focus on the Americas and Europe. Students will engage with critical theoretical frameworks, literature, journalism, media, and contemporary debates about populism’s role in reshaping national policies and global relations. The experience of this course will develop a deeper understanding of how populism challenges traditional notions of the nation-state, the role borders play in both exclusionary and inclusionary political practices, and issues concerning belonging and marginalization.

Subject

HUM

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027-graduate

Source

www.hollins.edu