FIYS 107: College Access and Completion (Professor Dawn-Abt Perkins)

(Public Policy: College Access and Completion.) This course explores key issues surrounding the accessibility of college in the United States, including questions about college debt, college funding formulas, and the impact these policies have on the ability of students from various identity groups to afford and attend college. Furthermore, the course considers factors that impact students’ ability to complete their college degrees, as well as policies that might help close the "graduation gaps" that exist between different populations of students and increase college completion rates. Finally, the course works to quantify the economic "worth" of a college diploma in the United States and the implications that graduation gaps (racial, socioeconomic, etc.) have on societal outcomes.

FIYS 109: From Tie-Dye to AI: Psychedelics, Cannabis, and the Quest for Enhanced Consciousness (Professor Davis Schneiderman)

This course explores the significant cultural, technological, and societal impact of cannabis and psychedelics from the 1960s to the present. By integrating historical contexts, contemporary issues, and future perspectives by linking these substances to Silicon Valley-based visions of Artificial Intelligence, the course provides students with a compelling understanding of the subject matter and the cultural history of its representational evolution. Students will examine this journey from countercultural resistance to mainstream acceptance, exploring key movements from the Merry Pranksters to modern machine intelligence. Special attention will be paid to how these substances have influenced creativity and innovation, shaped discussions around consciousness expansion, and contributed to current developments in AI and human potential.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 111: Dark Age Jesus  (Professor Noah Blan)

Roman law established the traditional orthodox (small ‘o’) view of Jesus Christ as a unique human individual who was believed to be (forever and always) both God and Man. One God, One Emperor, One Church was a prescription meant to shore up a fracturing empire’s political and social stability. Just as the Roman imperial version of Jesus buttressed Roman imperial needs, in the aftermath of that empire’s transformation into various successor states a multivalent Christ served the needs of early medieval rulers, missionaries, and clerics, among others. This course explores early medieval (c. 500-1000 CE) thought surrounding the figure of Jesus Christ. Students examine a variety of texts, art, and things from a period in which Jesus could appear as an abstracted compass on a map, a victorious warrior, a glowing pink sunset, or even a crying tree.

FIYS 115: Climate Change Across Disciplines (Professor Todd Beer)

This course explores arguably the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. While we examine the fundamental physical science of global warming, the focus is on the social, cultural, political, economic, ethical, and psychological perspectives of climate change. Through this variety of disciplinary lenses, we critically examine the predicted and current consequences of climate change and how it impacts groups of people here and around the world. Our analysis includes the global, national, and local political efforts made to address and, for some, deny the problem. We also explore both the consequences of AI's growing impact on our energy sector and AI's potential to help us solve the climate crisis. The class examines how our society is generating the problem and if technological advancement is enough to solve it or if greater social/political change is necessary.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 116: Reimagining the Stage: AI and the Performing Arts. (Professor Bob Knuth)

This course explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and the performing arts. Students examine the potential of AI as a creative tool, analyzing its applications in areas such as playwriting, design, marketing and virtual reality performances. The course delves into the ethical implications of AI, including its impact on human creativity and the future of the industry. Through a combination of conceptual analysis, practical experimentation, and critical discussion, students develop a nuanced understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in the performing arts.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 121: Photographic Modernism and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Understandings of History (Professor Maggie Hazard)

This course focuses on the histories and theories of photography from roughly 1890 to 1945 (the modernist period). Using primary and secondary sources class discussions, exercises, and writing assignments the course considers the innovations of the photographic medium as well as the ways in which photography intersects with cultural and social ideas and technologies of the period. Through the work of modernist photographers from Alfred Stieglitz to Henri Cartier-Bresson, we explore the social and cultural impact of photography and the many ways in which photographic material frames and helps us to understand the world historically and today. This course interrogates issues surrounding the development of AI technology relative to historic photographs, including the ethics of photographic production, manipulation, and dissemination using AI. AI specific discussions might include the use of AI technology on photographs, the practice of manipulating historic photographs with AI technology, and creating AI images that purport to be from time periods well before this technology existed.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 125: The Truth About Lies: Misinformation, Fake News, and BS (Professor Krista Miller)

Ever wonder why people believe some of the outlandish things they see online? This course dives into the psychology of misinformation, fake news, and BS, showing how and why we’re all so easily fooled. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we explore how and why false or misleading information spreads, as well as the cognitive and social/personality factors that make individuals more or less susceptible to believing it. We also address various individual and societal interventions aimed at counteracting the spread of misinformation and improving everyday decision-making in an information-saturated world. This course is designed to sharpen your critical thinking skills and help you learn to spot BS wherever it shows up – whether in the media, politics, or your own social media feed.

FIYS 126: Becoming Human in the Age of AI (Professor Aaron Greenberg)

As artificial intelligence advances, the boundaries between human and machine blur, challenging our understanding of what it means to be human. This course explores cultural, ethical, and philosophical questions around AI, drawing on Western, Indigenous, African, Asian, and other perspectives to examine human identity, creativity, work, and the environment in an AI-driven world. Through global case studies and ethical frameworks, students investigate how diverse cultural traditions shape approaches to AI’s impact on privacy, intellectual property, and sustainability. Engaging with AI’s real-world applications in various cultural settings—such as Confucianism, Ubuntu, Indigenous movements for data sovereignty, and Japan’s AI-driven elder care—students gain a deeper, global perspective on humanity’s evolving relationship with intelligent technology. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 130: The Science of Cooking (Professor Elizabeth Fischer)

Since 1992, the term molecular gastronomy has become part of understanding the world’s cuisine. This course examines the chemistry and physics of cooking, and the physiology of taste and flavor. We explore such questions as what is the science behind making a foam or gel; how do you prevent food bacteria from forming; and what does it mean to temper chocolate? The science of cooking includes the important works of Hervé This, Heston Blumenthal, Ferran Adria, José Andrés, and Grant Achatz, among others. We read their work and not only become familiar with the latest materials and methods of the world’s most innovative cuisine, but also learn how these methods may be part of the solution to ending world hunger. We work with a chef to perform experiments to elucidate the theory we will be studying. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 146: BFFs: Besties and Female Friendship (Professor Katy Reedy)

(BFFs: "Besties" and Female Friendship.) "Besties" are found everywhere in contemporary fiction, television, and film. Usually placed behind romantic relationships, female friendship is now understood to be a powerful and even transformative dynamic, one that is central to female identity. Men and lovers take a back seat: A "Coldplay song plays in my heart" whenever Hannah Horvath sees her two closest friends in "Girls." Are BFFs taking over the usual unions of romantic or erotic love? How much are girlfriends the focus of these stories? In this course, we examine these contemporary representations of female friendship, from television programs such as "Girls" to the erotic and dangerous "besties" of Emma Cline's The Girls. Throughout, we discover the many sides of this complex, and contradictory, relationship. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 152: The Politics of Population (Professor Danielle Cohen)

When you were born, you joined about 6 billion other humans on this planet, but by 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion. What are we going to do with everyone? In this course, we explore the intersections between population growth and its impact on security, economics, and the environment. We explore a range of national efforts to manage population growth, from China’s infamous "One Child Policy" to measures implemented in Japan and Singapore to encourage childbearing. We investigate how the international community shifted from a population control approach to one that prioritizes reproductive health, with accompanying debates surrounding reproductive choice; whether imbalanced sex ratios in a society lead to increased violence, including sex trafficking; and how sustainable development goals inform demographic policies, with particular attention to the impact on both women worldwide and on citizens of the Global South. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 161: Narrative and Knowledge Production: Storytelling, Identity, and the Rhetorical Impact of Artificial Intelligence (Professor Daniel Henke)

Telling stories is a fundamental part of being human. We share stories of our families, friends, and experiences. We examine religious texts, myths, folklore, and the media for insight into ourselves and others. We create, share, and explore internal narratives to better make sense of the world. We engage with chatbots to conceptualize ontological concepts. However, the significance of storytelling is often undervalued in the world of academic knowledge production. In this class, we examine narrative and how it is used to offer legitimacy for our actions and beliefs. Moreover, we look closely at narrative’s relationship to knowledge production and how narrative is interwoven with facets of identity, such as race, gender, sexuality, social class, ability, and artificial intelligence. We read critical, feminist, working class, and queer theory and examine how writers from nondominant identities use narrative to articulate their own complex position in relation to education and culture. We examine artificial intelligence rhetoric and how advanced machines mimic and complicate the stories we tell ourselves and others. This course demonstrates that stories are both ubiquitous and integral in knowledge production and that they can both subvert and reinforce the status quo.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 165: Theater in Chicago (Professor Richard Pettengill)

Chicago’s rich and dynamic theater scene is renowned for its diversity, innovation, and historical significance. Chicago is the birthplace of improvisational theater, with pioneers like Del Close, Viola Spolin, and others creating the foundations for modern improvisation. The city's improv theaters—Second City, iO, and The Annoyance—have trained many famous comedians and actors, making improv a hallmark of Chicago's theater identity. Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater are all nationally recognized and offer a range of productions from classic plays to contemporary works, along with innovative new writing and experimental productions. With hundreds of theaters around the city, including storefront theaters, black box venues, and experimental spaces, Chicago is known for its diverse range of productions—from large-scale musicals and dramas to cutting-edge experimental works and intimate performances. This course will include reading, discussion, and experiential learning, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of Chicago’s theatrical landscape. Students not only delve into the history of Chicago theater, but also get a chance to see productions firsthand and engage with the vibrant performance culture of the city. This course requires participation in some evening and/or weekend field trips or events, so consider your other commitments (such as off-campus employment or a fall/winter sports participation) as you identify courses of interest to you.

FIYS 179: Bob Dylan: Music and Text (Professor Nicholas Wallin)

Musician, Poet, Social Activist, Reluctant Celebrity, Nobel Prize Winner – these are just some of the roles that Bob Dylan has played over the past 60 years. During that time, he has exerted an outsized influence on popular culture. This course explores Bob Dylan’s songs with a detailed look at their musical and lyrical content. We examine his musical influences, especially his relationship to Woody Guthrie, and his poetic inspiration, including Rimbaud, Petrarch, and Whitman. We also examine the numerous cover versions of his songs by musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Adele, The Byrds, Garth Brooks, and others. No previous musical experience is required, only a desire to both listen and read critically.

FIYS 180: Philosophy of Humans and Animals (Professor Janet McCracken)

Western philosophers since Aristotle - at least - have claimed that human beings, as a species and alone among species, are capable of complex reasoning. The seventeenth-century French philosopher Descartes, famously, denied that non-human animals have minds or could think, claiming that they are essentially robots. From these kinds of premises, philosophers have inferred a wide range of ethical and religious claims, e.g., it is ethically permissible to eat non-human animals. Alternative claims, however, have just as long a history. In this course, we will read and discuss an array of philosophical opinions on the similarities and differences between humans and other animals, and the practices of industrial farming, training animals to work or entertain, building and patronizing zoos, animal experimentation, and other controversial topics. This course requires participation in some evening and/or weekend field trips or events, so consider your other commitments (such as off-campus employment or a fall/winter sports participation) as you identify courses of interest to you. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 183: Law, Literature and Logic (Professor Chad McCracken)

A lawyer arguing a case tries to shape that case into a coherent, persuasive story: a dry recitation of facts and law is not enough. So, law is a literary - a story-telling - enterprise. And a dramatic one: fiction writers and filmmakers use crimes, investigations, court proceedings, and punishments to generate interest in their works. And yet, we still tend to think of literary flourishes as deceptive - after all, one meaning of “to tell a story” is “to tell a lie.” Legal reasoning, moreover, often seems arcane or merely manipulative, aimed more at obscuring the truth than revealing it. In this course we look into the complex and often bewildering interplay among law, literature, and logic, with the hope of illuminating all three - and with the hope of improving your writing skills, your reasoning skills, your rhetorical skills, and your argumentative skills. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 185: Graphic Medicine (Professor Dustin Mengelkoch)

This course examines the visual aspects of the practice of medicine by focusing on medical comics and graphic novels collectively known as graphic medicine. During our semester, we study how visuals support medical diagnoses, assist in communication between doctor and patient, and record experiences of illness via medical staff, patients, and caregivers. To have the clearest understanding of what is at stake in our study, we also make our own visuals and comics that respond to and use both primary and secondary sources. All told, we gain insight into some of the most important themes in contemporary graphic medicine. (Great artistic ability is not required in this course, but a commitment to sketching, drawing, and doodling is.)

FIYS 189: Digital Dawn: Hum, Cyberspace & AI (Professor Justin Kee)

(Digital Dawn: Humanity, Cyberspace, and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence) This course explores the development of cyberspace, the migration of human activity to its digital platforms, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the “first intelligent creations” that reside entirely in a digital space. We will explore new and pressing questions about human identity and the necessary responses caused by AI's rapid advancement. The course will tackle the complexities arising from AI’s growing influence in the real world, including a range of emerging issues, regulatory concerns, and policy-making challenges. We will trace the historical trajectory of generative AI, from its science fiction roots to its connections to remix culture and social media. We will explore everything from advanced deep learning technologies to the creation of AI-generated content and the development of AI as a potential companion for humans. We will highlight the ethical challenges posed by these technologies, with emphasis on equal access to computational resources and inherent biases in AI datasets. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 190: Social Media Effects (Professor David Noskin)

Facebook and Tumblr were all the rage in the mid 2010s. Today, it’s TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. Tomorrow, who knows? Just as fast as internet and social media platforms change, so too does our relationship with this technology. Are you as dependent on it as you were in high school? Can your mood change for the better after two minutes on your smartphone? In this course, we will examine our social media use from a psychological, social, and ethical perspective. After a brief study of the rise of social media in the 2000s, we study its effects on teenagers and young adults of intersecting identities, and how we carry those impacts into adulthood. We consider how the introduction of AI – chatbots and algorithms – has made social media more powerful in the past decade. We explore how AI has transformed social media platforms, as algorithms use our data to personalize content but contribute to misinformation and increasing polarization. And we analyze how AI impacts issues of race and social class.

This course is part of HUMAN, Lake Forest College’s initiative about artificial intelligence and the humanities.

FIYS 195: Governing the Global Climate (Professor Jim Marquardt)

(Public Policy: Governing the Global Climate.) In this seminar, students investigate the politics and policy making of on-going efforts to establish and manage a system of global climate governance. The emission of greenhouse gases associated with industrialization has steadily increased global temperatures over the past 150 years. If emissions are not reduced dramatically over the next decade or so, climate scientists have concluded that the environment will experience major and irreversible damage that threatens life on earth as we know it. For decades, countries and other international actors have been striving to build a governance system for the global climate, one that allows for the adaptation to climate change and the mitigation of its effects - and that urgently steers the world toward a post-carbon, renewable energy future. Students use concepts and models drawn from the academic disciplines of political science, economics, and public policy to study the polycentric system of global climate governance that has emerged since the late 1980s. As a major contributor to climate change and a leading global actor, the United States has a critical role to play in determining the development and effectiveness of global climate governance. Consequently, students also study how American domestic politics has shaped the United States' climate policy at home and abroad. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)

FIYS 196: American Playwrights in Chicago (Professor Ben Goluboff)

Chicago is home to a vivid and diverse theater scene that includes everything from tiny stages in the back rooms of bars to glitzy Broadway-style productions. This course examines a selection of American-authored plays from the Chicago season as the materials for an introduction to literary studies. As such, the course considers the plays we see and read as an occasion to develop skills in critical thinking, research, and writing. A secondary objective is to connect the various plays to particular moments or themes in American history and culture. We proceed from the acquisition of a simple critical vocabulary for describing a play’s form and content, through character study, to more complex questions of the director’s decisions in taking a play from the page to the stage. (Under the Forester Fundamental Curriculum, this course meets the First Year Studies requirement.)