Thoreau famously wrote that he started his little experiment near Walden Pond (he called it "liv[ing] deliberately") in order to "front the essential facts of life." In some ways, that's the project of this class -- fronting essential, unavoidable, and in some cases frightening facts about the world, both in the present moment and in the near future. The thing is, we probably don't have the luxury of holing up in a little shack in the woods as we do it. And it certainly seems like we don't have much time for extended deliberation.
The "21st Century Challenges" we identify and consider in this class are not the only challenges you and the generations that follow you will face. Nor are they necessarily, at the core, new. What is, perhaps, new about the challenges we "cover" in this class is the pace and volume (both in terms of amount and noise) at which we're encountering them. One of the hypotheses I'm starting out with is this: in the 21st Century, more stuff is happening faster (and louder). Or at least it seems that way, and perception often poses as reality.
In particular, I'm interested in looking at the cultural forces at play in the 21st Century. For starters, what is "culture"? Is there -- or will there be -- such a thing as a global culture? How are 21st Century commerce, communications, and connectivity shaping culture -- and vice versa? Maybe most important, what role do these cultural forces play in the various challenges we face, and can they be better utilized to find sustainable solutions?
Practically speaking, when it's my turn to take the reins, we'll engage these questions day-to-day in class by reading, writing, and talking about them.
I really like the historical context you are bringing to the opening day.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty darn exciting...an idea that came up in conversation post-graduation in the spring of 2007 is finally becoming a reality. I can't wait to see what you bring to the table, and I can't wait to see how the students respond to this material.