Creative writers, performers, and social scientists all engage with deep inquiries into what it's like to be a person and what it means to live within a society that shapes our lives.

In this program, we'll examine the cultural norms that shape our notions of selfhood, the forces that compel individuals to construct their identities and their bodies in certain ways, and the means by which creative activities, including research, can disrupt those norms and the ideologies behind them. We'll do this through specific disciplinary perspectives on the idea of the individual across three disciplines: improvisational performance, sociology, and creative writing.

In the fall, major readings will include sociological studies and theoretical texts and a selection of 20 ^th -century literature emphasizing innovative approaches to character. Active research, creative writing, and essay projects will challenge students to develop their own inquiries in relation to program themes. Regular workshops in field-research methods, creative and critical writing, and improvisation will allow students to build new skills, gain confidence with different modes of learning, and explore their own rich questions across disciplines.

Beginning in winter, students will develop major projects integrating what they've learned in all three disciplines, including sociological research and creative writing, culminating in the development of collaborative performance pieces in spring quarter.