This course will introduce students to the study of communicative
processes that function through a wide range of sign systems.  We will
explore communicative forms as they function in specific cultural
contexts, focusing on gender roles as performed in festival and popular
culture and expressed in contemporary forms of the folk tale, the body and
clothing as symbolic vehicles in traditional and contemporary societies,
social and political relations embodied in verbal forms such as
legend/rumor and visual forms such as advertising.  Class discussion will
draw on a combination of sources, including readings, film/video,
small-group projects and personal experience.

Fulfills a COAS Social and Historical Studies, Social Inquiry distribution
requirement.