EXP 1103 - Art, Imagination and the Pursuit of Creative Thinking

Credits: 3

Explorations Courses focus on enduring questions. Enduring questions do not have easy answers; instead, they encourage examination of complex issues from multiple perspectives, introspection, evidence-based arguments, and learning how to respectfully discuss controversial and difficult topics. The focus for this course is art and the roles it plays in our lives and learning processes. Broadly conceived, art (literature, painting, sculpture, music/lyrics, photography, etc.) is sometimes moved to the margins of traditional valuations of higher education. “Art is for fun; college is for education,” a critic might say. In this course we will take art seriously, as a medium for conveying truths about our lived experiences, a vehicle for inspiring social change, and a critical component to the learning process in all academic disciplines. Students will also examine the Merrimack Connections curriculum.