ENGL 047 PZ -Longform Journalism Practicum

Institution: Pitzer

Description: The Human Condition: A Longform Journalism Practicum This course explores the meaning of the literary term the ?human condition? and how this applies to a journalistic practice. What qualifies a piece of writing to be perceived as literary are these larger thematic concerns about human nature, human society, and how we live our lives. Long-form journalism is often concerned with the story of people?s lives over time. In this course students will learn the long-form journalistic practice of immersive, in-depth research that is essentially ethnographic. Through site visits to detention centers, hospice, the county morgue, and immigration detention centers, and through interviews with people nearing the end of their lives, people in captivity, people who bear witness to life?s various transitions, students will discuss and formulate their own ideas of human nature, are we naturally evil or good? Are we born with inherited traits, or are we a blank slate? What?s more important for human beings?law and order or freedom? Are we determined by nature or nurture or do we have free will? Are we naturally social beings or are we individuals first? Are we selfish or altruistic?

Prerequisite(s): See the current course schedule for registration restrictions.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal .