Current Courses
Spring 2024
A studio class investigating many modes of movement that bring us together across linguistic, cultural, generational, and national borders. We explore the concept of the body as a culture-bearer and its movement as a mode of connection with the otherwise "other." We study techniques to foster empathy and understanding as well as develop our own. This is an excellent complimentary course to studies in peace, restorative justice, international politics, and cross cultural relations.
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Time: Monday 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Taught by Professor Emma Jaster, Associate Director of the Lab
This course will explore the changing relationship between different kinds of "hard
power" (coercion by military or economic might) - and the power of arts and culture to
shape identity, to unite, inspire and lead, to prevent and recover from conflict, and to
counter extremism and authoritarianism. As the 24-hour news cycle, social media, and
citizen journalism upend traditional power structures, cultural diplomacy and “soft
power” play increasingly important roles in diplomacy and foreign policy.
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Time: Monday 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Taught by Professor Cynthia Schneider, Co-Director of The Lab
This course offers a critical exploration of practices, theories, and examples of comedy across a wide variety of forms and genres - with a particular emphasis on political comedy as it manifests in a range of cultural contexts. We will explore the psychological, philosophical, political, cross-cultural and performative/aesthetic roots of comedy, investigating why and how we laugh, as well as the deep roots of our varied forms of laughter.
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Time: Monday 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Taught by Professor Derek Goldman, Artistic and Executive Director/ Co-founder of The Lab
Outside of White-Gravenor Hall sits an iconic statue honoring Holocaust witness, Polish World War II hero, spy, and Georgetown professor Jan Karski. This course explores Karski’s story and its resonance today by centering on Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski, an original theatrical production by the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics. Starting with the performance, this class explores how arts and witnessing can change the way we see the world. Students will meet artists from the Remember This team and attend optional field trips off campus.
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Time: Wednesday 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Taught by Professor Ijeoma Njaka, Senior Learning Designer for
Transformational and Inclusive Initiatives at The Lab
Past Courses
Public diplomacy is an instrument used by states and non-state actors to
understand others' cultures, attitudes, and behavior; build and manage
relationships; and influence thoughts and actions to advance their interests and values. Drawing on the experiences of diplomats and a growing body of literature, we will explore what this means for the changing actors, issues, methods, and environments of diplomacy in the 21st century.
How might the Georgetown campus or experience change when we engage across silos and divides? This course will focus on facilitating the IYS experience between students, faculty, and staff on our campus.
Encounters in Global Performance, offered in Spring 2020, was a course produced in partnership with the Kennedy Center. Co-taught by Derek Goldman and Ijeoma Njaka, this course gave students the opportunity to watch and discuss performances at the intersection of politics and performance.
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