Artsy courses offered this spring semester
Another course registration period has come upon us, but no worries: To help you consider your options, the Thresher has compiled a list of new, unique courses offered this spring semester.
COLL 157: Explicable Fanomena: An Examination of Fandom with Sarah Motteler
From The Beatles to Genshin Impact, COLL 157 raises the question, “How does analyzing fandom enhance one’s engagement with these communities?” Students will explore the emerging field of fandom studies and examine how fan communities can be both positive and inflammatory. The course will culminate in producing a fan work informed by discussions of “fanomena,” or fandom phenomena.
COLL 157 will be offered from 8 to 8:50 p.m. on Thursdays.
ARTS 238; 002: Poetics of Science with Ella Rosenblatt
ARTS 238; 002 is an interdisciplinary course that places the seemingly disparate fields of art and science in direct conversation. Students will explore how creative practices can be informed by science, through creative writing, language art, digital media and beyond.
ARTS 238 002 fulfills a Science and Technology Studies minor credit and will be offered from 4 to 5:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
AAAS/HIST 349: Black Life Behind the Iron Curtain with Nana Osei-Opare
For centuries, Black people have been a part of Central and Eastern European societies, with figures like Alexander Pushkin — widely regarded as Russia’s greatest poet — tracing their roots to African ancestry. AAAS/HIST 349 examines the lives and experiences of Black communities behind the “Iron Curtain,” exploring why they migrated to this region, their contributions within these societies and the challenges they faced.
AAAS/HIST 349 will be offered from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
JAPA 238: Japanese Voices on the Margins: Japanese Language in Community, Media, and Art with Mamiko Suzuki
Who belongs and who does not? Language often holds an answer. JAPA 238 examines how practices of inclusion and exclusion are shaped by the Japanese language. Students will explore how language reflects and reshapes social boundaries, creating in-groups and out-groups.
JAPA 238 will be offered from 4 to 5:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
ASIA/MDHM 216: Quacks and Wonder Drugs: A History of Medicine in China with Chang Xu
From herbal remedies and acupuncture to quackery and ritual healing, ASIA/MDHM 216 examines how diverse healing practices have shaped China’s medical landscape throughout history. Students will learn to think outside the pill bottle as they reconsider “medicine.”
ASIA/MDHM 216 fulfills a Distribution I and Medical Humanities minor credit and will be offered from 1 to 1:50 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
ANTH 350: Bad Language and Semiotic Crimes with Ilana Gershon
Words can offend, break laws and even lead to war — why? In ANTH 350, students will explore why certain ways of speaking are considered “bad language,” from insults to obscenities to slang. Through a cross-cultural lens, students will examine the ways in which these “semiotic crimes” emerge and are policed.
ANTH 350 fulfills a Distribution II credit and will be offered from 10:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
More from The Rice Thresher
Local Foods launches in newly renovated Brochstein space
Local Foods Market opened at Brochstein Pavilion Nov. 19, replacing comfort food concept Little Kitchen HTX. The opening, previously scheduled for the end of September, also features interior renovations to Brochstein. Local Foods is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Scan, swipe — sorry
Students may need to swipe their Rice IDs through scanners before entering future public parties, said dean of undergraduates Bridget Gorman. This possible policy change is not finalized, but in discussion among student activities and crisis management teams.
Energy summit talks the policy behind power
The 16th annual Rice Energy Finance Summit was held at Jones Business School Nov. 15. Speakers from the energy industry discussed topics including renewable energy, the Texas power grid and the future of energy policy under a second Trump administration.
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