American Transcendentalism
This course explores the spiritual, cultural, and philosophical ideas emerging in New England around the middle of the 19th century.  We will be reading expository essays and excerpts from some of the key figures of the movement, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Orestes Brownson, and Margaret Fuller.  We will also be reading Thoreau's "Walden" in its entirety.

Bluesox, Suffragettes, and Femi-Nazis
This course will examine key figures and developments in the struggle for women’s rights in Britian and America from the 18th century to the present day. Historically, female activists who have advocated for women’s educational, legal, political, economic, and reproductive rights have endured ridicule and censure. By examining both the challenges these women faced and the ways in which they attempted to improve the female condition, we gain a greater appreciation for the feminist movement.

Chinese Civilization
Chinese civilization is designed to introduce students to the history, culture, religious thought, arts, literature, philosophy, economics, geography, and politics of premodern China. To that end, we will discuss the foundational period of Chinese history up through the late imperial period, from the time of the earliest human settlement in China through the Yuan dynasty. Topics in this course will include the growth of the Chinese dynastic cycle, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, the concept of Yin Yang, art and architecture in Chinese society, Chinese medicine, the evolution of Chinese literature and the Chinese language, and the evolution of the Chinese political system. This course will provide students with an understanding of a tradition and culture much different from their own.

Comparative Mythology
This course is an in-depth study of the importance of creation myths of destruction and of re-birth, quest myths of the hero, the recurring theme of the theft of fire, the importance of the goddess in earlier myths, and her relative abdication in favor of god(s) in later ones. Diverse peoples the world over seem to dream using similar archetypal images. We will examine what this fact may suggest. Our approach will be comparative and thematic using examples from several diverse cultures.

Comparative Mythology
This course is an in-depth study of the importance of creation myths of destruction and of re-birth, quest myths of the hero, the recurring theme of the theft of fire, the importance of the goddess in earlier myths, and her relative abdication in favor of god(s) in later ones. Diverse peoples the world over seem to dream using similar archetypal images. We will examine what this fact may suggest. Our approach will be comparative and thematic using examples from several diverse cultures.

Crusades
This course will examine the crusading movement and the concept of holy war from the eleventh to the fifteenth century. We will analyze the various manifestations of the crusades, how they contributed to cross-cultural interaction, and how they have continued to have effects on the modern world.

Eastern Thought
Today, health practices such as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, or meditation for reducing stress, have become a common place in Western culture.  The success of these practices rests largely in the wisdom of their philosophical and religious foundations where some of the richest and most intriguing systems of thought and practice can be found.   Beginning with Hinduism, we will trace the development of these traditions in South and East Asia.  Here we will find compelling ideas addressing questions on the nature of reality and the self, the illusion of personal identity, the importance of moral cultivation, the meaning(s) of liberation, enlightenment, and the role of suffering. Perhaps most intriguing is the theory of Mind or Consciousness that evolves from these traditions and the invaluable insight it affords us into our individual and collective psyche. Working with Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist texts, the course will provide students with the opportunity for unique forms of self-reflection and the potential for applying centuries old traditions to contemporary western and global realities and challenges.
This class can count for LAS IV credit.


Embracing Nature’s Heritage: Currier & Ives
The Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission (CNHRPC) is currently charged with overseeing the development of a management plan for a four-town region which includes Henniker. This region encompasses the 30-mile “Currier and Ives Scenic and Cultural Byway”. Originally conceptualized in 1976 as a part of New Hampshire’s “Yankee Trails” network, this byway corridor’s lack of documentation and historic, cultural, and natural resource data inventory contributes to the mystery as to exactly how this scenic and historic corridor was designated as  such. Working with the staff of the Central NH Regional Planning Commission, students in this class will assist the Town of Henniker in identifying the natural, historical, cultural and scenic amenities that contribute to its uniqueness. Students will keep reflective journals of personal experiences, interviews with town citizens (i.e. “stakeholders”), photographs, and other mediums of communication and then document their findings and contribute ideas for displaying their findings to the community. Collectively, these findings and contributions will assist the Town of Henniker in the promotion of its tourism and economic goals.

Epic
This course is an in-depth study of the traditional epic both in the oral tradition and in writing, its development and impact on other genres such as the novel and more recently film, as well as on the history of literature. The epics will be read, analyzed, and discussed comparatively in their historical and cultural contexts. Works may include The Epic of Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The Song of Roland and Paradise Lost.

Existential Literature
Existential literature dramatically illustrates the human being’s confrontation with his/her existence with al its complexities. The emphasis in this course is on well-known existential writers, such as Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Kafka, Beauvoir, Neruda and Camus, but not limited to them. Students will examine how this philosophy has become so closely linked to almost all artistic works of the 20th Century.

Freedom of Speech
This course is a study of the legal and ethical environment in which the media operate. First Amendment rights are examined in the context of legal issues, international regulations, and the ethical responsibilities that go with a free press

History & Criticism of Film
This course surveys the history and development of film and its impact on various aspects of society. Students apply the knowledge and skills gained in this course to specific screenings in order to analyze movies representative of historical types or concepts.

History of Theatre I
An investigation of the development of drama, the physical theatre, and the modes of production from the ancient Greek period to the 18th century.

History of Theatre II
This class is an investigation of the development of drama, the physical theatre, and the modes of productions from the 19th century to the 21st century.

International Literature
This course is an in-depth study of primarily short stories, essays, and poems in translation, belonging to the 20th Century. Students will examine through carefully selected texts the different ways each culture expresses parallel human concerns such as identity, loss, coming of age, death, exile, marriage, etc. that unite us all. The approach is comparative and analytical, with each text, including works from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, placed in its geographic, historic, and cultural context.

Intro to Art and Art History
This course will explore the ways in which social, cultural, religious, political and aesthetic values have been expressed in art and architecture throughout history. A thematic approach will encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of connections, issues and influences across time periods and cultures. While focusing primarily on Western society since antiquity, other cultures and civilizations will be covered as well. Projects and papers assigned will allow students to demonstrate their understanding of these connections, as well as to clearly articulate the characteristics, both culturally and aesthetically of a particular historical time and place. Students will become familiar with the vocabulary and media of art and architecture as well as develop their visual analysis and critical thinking skills.

Keeping it Real in the 21st Century
Virtual reality, artifical intelligence,clones, cyborgs,genetically modified foods, body and mood enhancing drugs medical makeovers, reality t.v., mass produced replications of original objects- -in a world filled with imitations that are results of human manipulation and/or invention,how do we know what's real? Where is the line between real and unreal, natural and unnatural? Is it important to establish the original of an object, the essence or identity of a person? Is it even possible to do so? Perhaps there is no significant difference between the original and a copy or imitation of it. Yet, we pay far greater sums of money for the original work of art. but conversely, Dolly's clones are worth far more than Dolly, the original sheep from which cloned sheep were copied. What does the dollar value tell us about the value or importance of the original? Are Dolly's clones more or less real sheep than Dolly? Is an imitation painting by Picasso more or less real than the original painting bu Picasso? Traditionally metaphysics has delt with what makes things what they are and is an inquiry into the nature of reality. This class will explore the implications for living in a century that continues to challenge and defy our definitions of authenticity, of nature, and of self, in search of "the real thing" in the 21st century.

Lit. as Film/Film as Lit
In this course students will view, analyze, and discuss 12 different films adapted from various plays by William Shakespeare, paying special attention to the manner in which the plays are transposed into the medium of Cinema.  Some are very faithful screen versions, like The Merchant of Venice featuring Al Pacino and Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing. Others, like Akira Kurosawa’s Ran and Billy Morisette’s Scotland, P.A are more imaginative adaptations. A Thousand Acres is a film based upon Jane Smiley’s novel and represents her contemporary American interpretation of King Lear.

Madness in Literature
This course examines how processes of globalization impact indigenous peoples (specifically, the Maasai culture in Kenya) around the world. Far from being a recent phenomenon, corporate globalization is increasingly affecting all aspects of indigenous lives. Whether through intergovernmental organizations, corporate entities, states, and non-governmental organizations, the constraints of geography on economic, political, social and cultural ways of life are quickly diminishing. We will draw on several fields of inquiry to gauge the impacts of globalization on the Maasai culture, while also comparing various strategies that indigenous peoples around the world are implementing to confront the forces of global interdependence. Throughout the course, students will become familiar with some of the key discourses within this field, including corporate citizenship, strategies of resistance, models of nation-rebuilding, gender, sustainability, and livelihoods.

Modern China
This course will be a survey of Chinese History since 1300 and will focus on the political breakdown of the dynastic system, the growth of modern Chinese nationalism, and the growth and restructuring of the Chinese communist state. While emphasis will be put on these political changes, we will also discuss the economic, cultural, social, and intellectual history of China related to these political changes. In our discussions we will begin with the growth of the Yuan dynasty and its inevitable decline. We will then look at the Ming and Qing dynasties and their impact on modernization in China. We will them move on to talk about the growth of Chinese nationalism and the collapse of the Qing dynasty. This will lead us to a discussion of the Chinese revolution that lasted from 1911-1949, when the PRC was established. Finally, we will discuss Mao and then Deng and how state and society changed in the Communist China.

Modern China
This course will be a survey of Chinese History since 1300 and will focus on the political breakdown of the dynastic system, the growth of modern Chinese nationalism, and the growth and restructuring of the Chinese communist state. While emphasis will be put on these political changes, we will also discuss the economic, cultural, social, and intellectual history of China related to these political changes. In our discussions we will begin with the growth of the Yuan dynasty and its inevitable decline. We will then look at the Ming and Qing dynasties and their impact on modernization in China. We will them move on to talk about the growth of Chinese nationalism and the collapse of the Qing dynasty. This will lead us to a discussion of the Chinese revolution that lasted from 1911-1949, when the PRC was established. Finally, we will discuss Mao and then Deng and how state and society changed in the Communist China.

Philosophy of Art
This course is a comparative analysis of the major philosophical attempts to define art and distinguish it from non-art, ranging from the ancient to contemporary periods. Theories to be studied include mimesis, formalism, expression theory and avant – guarde. Philosophers covered include Plato, Aristotle, Leo Tolstoy, R.G. Collingwood and Arthur Danto. Films such as “Max” and excursions to the NEC gallery will also be featured.

Reformation
This course will focus on Reformation and Early Modern Europe. We will analyze the religious, intellectual, political, economic, and social developments during this volatile time, Using primary and secondary sources, we will investigate the interaction of historical factors that contributed to the tremendous changes that occurred in Europe during this era.

Renaissance
In this course we will analyze the Renaissance in Italy and throughout Europe. Using a mix of readings, we will explore the intellectual, political, and cultural developments that contributed to the development of European history during this vibrant time.

Road Not Taken: Highways to Byways
Using the National Scenic Byways Program in New Hampshire as a focal point, students will investigate the challenges and opportunities communities experience when connected with a “scenic byway” through their towns. While on the one hand having a major roadway corridor designated as a “scenic byway” offers exciting opportunities for promoting tourism, economic growth, and greater exposure, on the other hand many of the unique characters that rural towns seek to preserve and protect become threatened. We will be using nearby regional scenic byway designations to learn about these challenges and how rural communities are responding to them. Students will be engage in many civic-based activities to share their discoveries and recommendations with neighboring communities.

Romantic Movement
This course will introduce students to the movement called Romanticism as it examines the major works of British literature of the period. It will branch out to include works by European writers of the same period, such as Goethe, Baudelaire, Rimbaud and Lermontov.

Survey of American Literature
This course surveys the works of major writers of literature and literary movements in America. Beginning with Native American voices, this course will progress through the 18th and 19th Centuries to modern times. Though the course focuses on the major writers and movements, it does not ignore the importance of some unrecognized voices that have shaped American literature.

Victorian Novel
This course is an in depth study in such movements or themes as the Transcendentalists, Victorian Literature, and British Women Writers. Offered every other year and may be repeated for credit in different topics. This course satisfies a period requirement for the English Major.

Voice of Nature
Nature was an articulating presence for earlier storytelling cultures. It is mute in modern industrial times. At the beginning of the 21st century we desperately need to rethink our dominant mythos of progress and growth and the role of technology, living narratives that vivify our links with the natural world. We need creative storytellers and listeners who are rationally critical and yet open to the other-than-human voice and presence. We need to pay attention, deeply, responding, with responsibly action, to what we learn. This course focuses on the interplay among rational, mythic, aesthetic, and spiritual communicative experience. Students will explore their ecological activities. Topics studied will include: Nonverbal cues, listening, and dialogue within an earth context; Native American spirituality; ecopyschology; ecofeminism; Buddhism, and the wilderness effect. This course will be of special interest to students interest in the interconnections among Communication Studies, Environmental Studies, Psychology, Gender Studies, Religious Studies, and Outdoor Leadership.

Western Civilization Since 1500
An introduction to European history since 1500. Topics discussed will include the Reformation, Absolutism, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Industrialization, Romanticism, Nationalism, Imperialism, and global conflicts.

Western Civilization to 1500
An introduction to European history from the earliest time to 1500. Some of the themes include the development of civilizations, Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the development of Europe during the Renaissance.