JINS 386 - Christmas: Culture, Consumerism, and Controversy

This course aims to explore the Christmas holiday, and the events surrounding it, from a variety of perspectives. Few holidays have received the level of scholarly and literary treatment that Christmas has. Students approach the study of this pivotal holiday from the perspectives of the theologian, the historian, the sociologist, the economist, the public relations and marketing specialist, the human resources practitioner, the politician, and the anthropologist, among others. While acknowledging Christmas’ religious significance for many, students approach Christmas first and foremost as the cultural artifact that it is, attempting to better appreciate how it produces, maintains, and transforms aspects of society.

Prerequisite: Junior status.
Credits: 3
NOTE:
* This course fulfills the Junior Interdisciplinary Writing-Enhanced Seminar Interconnecting Perspective of the Liberal Studies Program.
** This course counts toward the 63-credit Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) graduation requirement.
*** This is a writing-enhanced course.