Politics, Pandemics, and Novels (2 cr.)

COLL-X311 — Post-Fall Intensive Session (3 weeks)

Instructor
Sumit Ganguly
Location
Online-Synchronous
Days and Times
Tues., Thurs., Fri. - 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Course Description

Between 1918-19, an influeza pandemic consumed the lives of 50 million across the world and resulted in the deaths of 675,000 Americans. The world is now in the throes of another pandemic for which there is no vaccine yet and therapeutic options are limited at best. While some countries have managed to contain the outbreak a number of major countries including Brazil, India, Russia as well as ours have yet to do so.

This course will examine how governments have historically responded to past pandemics, how politics have shaped those responses, and how societies have reacted to them as depicted in three novels. No prior knowledge of epidemiology is required or expected but an interest in the subject is desirable.

We will study the political ramifications of pandemics as seen through the prism of three novels: Lawrence Wright’s The End of October, Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, and Karen Thompson Walker's The Dreamers.

Interested in this course?

The full details of this course are available on the Office of the Registrar website.

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