Culture, Literature and the Arts (CLA)
What is culture? How do literature and the visual and performing arts travel across cultures?
CLA addresses these questions by seeking to understand the production and reception of literature, film, and the visual and performing arts through aesthetic, theoretical, historical, and sociological methods. Faculty who teach in CLA draw on a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, including art history, literature, film, environmental studies, creative writing, performance studies, cultural and media studies, disability studies, history, gender and race studies, and philosophy. CLA students learn to appreciate and think critically about how cultural practices vary across diverse social systems, and are strongly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to participate in public and community-based arts projects.
CLA graduates are well equipped to pursue graduate education in a range of programs related to the interdisciplinary arts, humanities, and humanistic social sciences, as well as professional fields such as law, policy, education, and journalism. CLA also provides excellent preparation for careers in publishing, public relations, and public service, especially in the context of community and public arts organizations.
CLA Sample Courses
All Culture Literature and the Arts (CLA) Courses
- BIS 309 History of Dance in Europe & America
- BIS 310 Creative Writing: Poetry
- BIS 318 Performance, Identity, Community and Everyday Life
- BIS 325 Human Rights & Disability
- BIS 360 Literature, Film & Consumer Culture
- BIS 387 Women and American Literature
- BIS 452 Marx, Nietzsche, Freud
- BIS 455 Literature and Sexuality
- BIS 476 Issues in Art History: Impressionism & Post-Impressionism
- BIS 493 Special Topics: Children's Literature & Reader Response Criticism
Culture, Literature and the Arts Core & Affiliate Faculty and Staff
Learning to read complex texts is the cornerstone of CLA. Of all the things I've taken from my education at UW Bothell, learning to look at every thing from every angle is the most valuable. CLA taught me not only how to experience texts of all sorts, but also how to create a richer understanding of the world.Kathryn Afruma Class of 2007
CLA Core & Affiliate Faculty
Constantin Behler, Bruce Burgett, JoLynn Edwards, Mike Gillespie, Michael Goldberg, David Goldstein, Jeanne Heuving, Gray Kochhar-Lindgren, Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, Joe Milutis, Bill Seaburg
CLA Core & Affiliate Staff
Preparation For This Degree Option
While there are no official requirements, students choosing this degree option will find it helpful to be able to write an analytical paper and should have at least two courses in literature, the visual arts, or performance. Historical knowledge and competency in foreign languages is also highly desirable.