Hot subjects—Integrated Liberal Studies 275: ‘The Art of War’

In search of course materials for this fall, Professor Kristin Hunt rummaged through her brother’s old stack of comic books, watched reruns of M*A*S*H and listened to Green Day albums. She wasn’t studying the pastimes of teenagers; rather, she was researching pop culture art forms for a new integrated liberal studies course offered this semester.

The new course, “ILS 275: The Art of War,” reviews four major world conflicts through the eyes of the artist. Combining a history lesson with the fine art, literature and the popular culture of each era, Hunt presents the wars in a social and artistic context.

“When we talk about war, we generally don’t talk about it from an artistic perspective, rather a political or historical perspective,” Hunt says. She notes that artists and writers played an important role in shaping peoples’ attitudes of war. “Captain America, who fought the Nazis, is a shining example of patriotic, American masculinity.”

Beginning with World War II and the Cold War, Hunt takes her students through short stories, poetry, and visual art, analyzes the protest music of the Vietnam War and arrives at the modern-day art and social commentary of the Iraq War. She includes performance art and political cartoons as well, and encourages her students to respond by producing their own art forms.

“The class is designed to help students interpret the world around them,” Hunt says. Through this course, Hunt wants her students to critically judge of value of the material they’re exposed to without letting their core values wane. She also notes the historical aspect of the curriculum. “I want the students to understand the big questions of each conflict.”

The class convenes weekly in the living room of the Meiklejohn house, with its social, comfy-couch atmosphere — an environment that gives the students a sense of ownership of the class and inspires a collegial atmosphere, Hunt says.

As the class is sure to capture the interest of a broad range of students, Hunt hopes to make the class a regular offering through the ILS department.