Overview of Course

Focus: Global Human Rights

The focus of discussions on Human Rights often focuses on the “rights” aspect. In this course, we begin with a discussion of “human.” How has our understanding of what is considered human evolved? How and why did the notion of “rights” develop beyond the horrors of WWII - out which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged. Can there be a common understanding of “rights”? We use the tools of literary analysis to approach these topics. Memoirs, short stories, novels, poetry are read with the goal of honing our skills as a reader and thinker on what human rights mean in differing cultural, historic and religious contexts. As we journey across the seas, the question this course poses: where are we journeying to as individuals and as members of the human species. Select readings include: Wangari Maathai, “Unbowed” (Kenya), Joyce Sikakane, "A Window on Soweto" (South Africa), Leila Lalami “Hope and other dangerous pursuits” (Morocco), Amartya Sen “Development as Freedom” (India and global), Kevin Bale “Disposable People” (global slave trade).The focus of discussions on Human Rights often focuses on the “rights” aspect. In this course, we begin with a discussion of “human.” How has our understanding of what is considered human evolved? How and why did the notion of “rights” develop beyond the horrors of WWII - out which the International Declaration of Human Rights emerged. Can there be a common understanding of “rights”? We use the tools of literary analysis to approach these topics. Memoirs, short stories, novels, poetry are read with the goal of honing our skills as a reader and thinker on what human rights mean in differing cultural, historic and religious contexts. As we journey across the seas, the question this course poses: where are we journeying to as individuals and as members of the human species. Select readings include: Wangari Maathai, “Unbowed” (Kenya), Joyce Sikakane, "A Window on Soweto" (South Africa), Leila Lalami “Hope and other dangerous pursuits” (Morocco), Amartya Sen “Development as Freedom” (India and global), Kevin Bale “Disposable People” (global slave trade).The focus of discussions on Human Rights often focuses on the “rights” aspect. In this course, we begin with a discussion of “human.” How has our understanding of what is considered human evolved? How and why did the notion of “rights” develop beyond the horrors of WWII - out which the International Declaration of Human Rights emerged. Can there be a common understanding of “rights”? We use the tools of literary analysis to approach these topics. Memoirs, short stories, novels, poetry are read with the goal of honing our skills as a reader and thinker on what human rights mean in differing cultural, historic and religious contexts. As we journey across the seas, the question this course poses: where are we journeying to as individuals and as members of the human species. Select readings include: Wangari Maathai, “Unbowed” (Kenya), Joyce Sikakane, "A Window on Soweto" (South Africa), Leila Lalami “Hope and other dangerous pursuits” (Morocco), Amartya Sen “Development as Freedom” (India and global), Kevin Bale “Disposable People” (global slave trade).