HSEM3089H

War has been part of human history as well as a central subject of ethical inquiries and artistic expression since ancient times. In this course we will explore worlds of conflict through literary and artistic works that respond to acts of war and reflect upon the ethical issues thereby engendered. We will engage ancient epics from India, Greece, Mali, and Japan; first-hand accounts and philosophical debates pertaining to European colonialism, as well as the ever-expanding warring world of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Throughout our journey, we will investigate interrelated notions of ‘just war’, heroic codes, and propaganda, as well as artistic reactions to human suffering or triumph. We will be looking at art, viewing theatre performances and films, and listening to music as a means of engaging with the moral dimensions and tragic consequences of human conflict.

000571