Document Type

Syllabus

Publication Date

Spring 2024

Course Description

Canadian journalist Terry Glavin made a statement on a recent episode of the podcast, “Honestly,” that has been plaguing me: “what I find more troubling than the fact that the truth doesn't seem to matter [with regards to media] is that it doesn't seem to matter that the truth doesn't matter.” I find this troubling, too. How can the truth not matter? And yet, in so many spheres--politics, education, media--truth often seems to be subjugated to confirmation bias. My first impulse in creating this class led to the title “The (dangerous and outdated?) art of truth-telling and truth-seeking.” I don’t like that title anymore. It feels glib and cynical. Upon further reflection, I don’t think the art is outdated in any capacity. Everywhere I look, I see evidence of people—artists, musicians, writers, comedians, activists, journalists, chefs, kids, teachers, students, my very best friends (!)—speaking truth to power, who courageously enact the conviction that they have something to say that the world needs to hear, who earnestly believe that hearing this truth will make the world a better place. I kept “dangerous,” but took the question mark away, because there’s no question that, in today’s climate (and maybe from the beginning of time), it is dangerous to speak truths that people don’t want to hear. I have two main hopes for this class: 1) that we’ll explore the wide terrain of truth-telling/truth-seeking, in the efforts of identifying voices/styles/approaches that resonate (and/or don’t) and identifying patterns in texts (broadly defined) that claim (or seem to claim) to be telling the truth, and 2) that, by the end of the semester, we’ll have a set of products (broadly defined), collectively and independently created by everyone, that we can share with a general audience. The mission: to nail down slices of truth(s) that we think desperately need to be brought into the world, packaged in a way that people will really hear and contemplate what we’re saying. The second half of the semester will include planning and implementing an event that will invite an audience into this space of truth-telling/hearing.

Student Outcomes

The set of assignments I propose are rooted in several goals: 1) that you will have the chance to work closely, shape and wrestle with the course material, 2) that you will have the chance to pursue independent projects (in media determined by you, in consultation with me) that are tailored to the truth(s) you feel most compelled to tell and 3) that you will have the chance to find connections between your independent projects that will create the framework for the culminating collaborative event.

Download

Share

COinS