About this course
This course explores the concept of love and invites students to deepen their understanding of love as both a deeply human experience and a socially constructed phenomenon. Through an interdisciplinary lens we will be examining how cultures shape and express love in diverse forms — from romantic and self love to collective and digital forms of affection. Students will engage with themes such as love and media, self love and wellbeing, perceived and performed intimacy and passion, new modes of connection and dating (e.g. situationships), and the creative making of love through art and music. We will also look at what role social scripts of connecting and negative feelings like shame, guilt and fear of rejection or failure play in how we connect with others and ourselves. Learning activities blend research and embodied experience: analyzing ethnographic studies, exploring depictions of love in media (films, podcasts, SoMe), visiting museums and art galleries, singing and songwriting, exploring mindfulness and movement practices like yoga and dance, and producing creative projects that reflect personal and cultural insights into love. Everyone taking this course will have a chance to find their own ways of exploring love.
