This course introduces students to the power of writing as a means of communication and a process of thinking and understanding. As students complete a series of writing assignments, they will engage in a process of reading, drafting, reviewing and revising, working in peer groups and individually with their instructors.
In the context of the opioid crisis, the standard narrative is that addiction is a disease. This is likely in part due to the surgeon general’s explicit attempt to shift public perceptions of addiction from moral failing to diagnosable illness. However, scientific methods for exploring addiction often overlook practical complexities, including experiences of racial, sexual, gender, and class identity. Our research and analytic processes will draw from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Our objects of analysis will include contemporary works of fiction, nonfiction and media representations of addiction.
Brenden O'Donnell