RELI 184 - Earthly Gods, Heavenly Creatures

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

This course explores the idea of the sacred as manifested in public garden spaces: Eden, The Taj Mahal, Versailles, The Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, Brooklyn public parks, California Japanese-style wedding gardens, and Vassar College. This course stems from a longtime interest in gardens/gardening but more specifically in humans and their interactions and relationships with nature and their own imagination. I am particularly drawn to human attempts (especially by those in power) to display and control nature, imitate paradise through buildings and more ephemeral architecture, and reinforce or even create morals and culture through garden construction. The course begins with an examination of the words sacred and profane as discussed in the history of religious studies and then through our case studies attempts to answer questions about these gardens’ spiritual, religious, and/or secular value to society. We will take one field trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art where there will be a life-size Mughal-style garden on exhibit this fall. Ms. Leeming.

Two 75-minute periods.

Open only to freshmen; satisfies college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.