General Description: For many centuries, artists working in several media have dealt with a variety of legal themes. Often, they have used their creative abilities to provide commentary and criticism about lawyers, judges, courts, and many other legal institutions. 

This course will examine selected examples of literature, film, and visual art from many cultures. Throughout the semester, we will examine numerous issues involving the relationships of law and the humanities, focusing in particular on how traditional humanistic source materials can provide powerful intellectual and ethical stimuli for members and prospective members of the legal profession. We will also inquire about our capacity to understand and critically evaluate these works.

 Some of the major objectives include the following: 

 * Exploring the close connections between law and the humanities; 

 * Gauging the effects and limitations of humanistic expression as a means of social change; 

 * Evaluating the similarities and differences between such creative forms as literature, film, and visual art as effective communication agents in dealing with broad legal topics;

 * Gaining a deeper understanding of the motivations of artists who seek to combine artistic technique with a deeper commitment to social change.  

Course Format and Evaluation: The class will be discussion based in order to encourage active learning. 

The primary requirement is a research/reflection paper on any topic related to the broad themes of this class. 

Details about the project will be announced in class. The instructor must approve the topics. 

One-page topic descriptions are due at the end of the fourth week of the semester and final papers are due on the final class day of the semester  

Readings:

Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilych

Franz Kafka, In The Penal Colony

Annie Ernaux Happening,

Alan Sillitoe, Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Please read this Tolstoy selection by the first class if possible  and certainly no later than the second class.