NEH Enduring Questions Course on Freedom

FAIN: AQ-248191-16

Butler University (Indianapolis, IN 46208-3443)
Robin Lanette Turner (Project Director: September 2015 to September 2021)
Antwain K. Hunter (Co Project Director: May 2016 to September 2021)
Ania Spyra (Co Project Director: May 2016 to September 2021)
Lee Garver (Co Project Director: May 2016 to September 2021)

The development and teaching of a new college course for sophomores on freedom.

We propose to develop a new sophomore-level core curriculum course centered on the question, What is Freedom? By engaging students in literary, historical, artistic, and philosophical works from Africa, the Americas, and Europe that span the period from the fourteenth century to the present that present different perspectives on this question, we aim to stimulate fresh reflection on the idea of freedom, to encourage students to formulate their own theories as to its meaning and importance, and to expand our scholarly and pedagogical expertise. The four faculty participants will develop the course in 2016-17 and then teach it individually in 2017-18 and 2018-19, publishing student digital media projects and presenting our experiences at conferences and faculty workshops.