Overwhelmed by the endless options on DukeHub as you try to finalize your schedule? Look no further.
The Chronicle has you covered with a guide to five captivating courses being offered next semester.
Roman Spectacle
Taught by Sheila Dillon, Smith Warehouse Bay 10 A266, MW 10:05-11:20 a.m.
Course credits: ARTHIST 334, CLST 354, VMS 334 (CCI, EI, ALP, CZ)
If you actually watched “Gladiator II” for the plot, this is the class for you. Dillon’s course examines the role of the spectacle in ancient Roman life, analyzing visual and literary accounts of events ranging from the amphitheater to the circus. With “wild beast hunts, elaborately staged executions of condemned criminals and chariot racing” galore, this class is sure to never be a bore. Unfortunately, guest lectures from Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal are unlikely.
The National Parks in American Life
Taught by Anne Mitchell Whisnant, Biological Sciences 154, Th 1:40-4:10 p.m.
Course credits: ENVIRON 317, HISTORY 317 (CZ)
Explore the rich history behind the nation’s most treasured landscapes in Whisnant’s course tracing the evolution of the U.S. National Park system — from its 19th century roots to today’s diverse collection of natural, cultural and historic sites. You’ll examine the origins of conservation, the impact of Indigenous displacement, the creation of the National Park Service and the role parks play in shaping American identity. Take the opportunity to dive deep into the story of a park of your choice to uncover how these iconic spaces reflect the nation’s past and future.
From the Art of the Pleasure Quarters to Tokyo Pop
Taught by Gennifer Weisenfeld, Classroom Building 101, MW 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Course credits: AMES 452S, ARTHIST 432S, VMS 432S (CCI, EI, R, ALP, CZ)
Fulfill your seminar requirement in a fun way next semester with this class, whose syllabus spans centuries of evolving Japanese pop culture. Explore the dynamic worlds of sumo wrestling, kabuki theater and Tokyo’s red-light district through the lens of Japanese printmaking, using the art form as a means to discuss complex themes of “sexuality, censorship, spectacle, satire, tourism, the supernatural and the Asian experience of modernity.”
From Stalin to Putin: The Art of Dictatorship
Taught by Anna Krylova, Classroom Building 137, TuTh 1:25-2:40 p.m.
Course credits: HISTORY 138, RUSSIAN 224 (CCI, CZ)
Those seeking to review global histories of autocratic rule may enjoy this entry-level history class focused on Russia’s development over the 20th century. The course opens with Joseph Stalin’s rise to power and traces the Soviet Union’s formation and subsequent collapse before moving to contemporary Russian politics. It also draws on Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to develop students’ understanding of how dictatorships develop and “how such completely ordinary individuals managed to amass the kind of power that is best described dictatorial.”
Sports and American Culture
Taught by Steven Marston, Perkins 217, TuTh 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.
Course credits: HISTORY 320 (CZ)
Sports are more than just a game. From stadium chants to Super Bowl ads, they have shaped American identity for over a century. This course takes you beyond the scoreboard to explore how race, gender, nationalism, capitalism and global influence collide on the field. Using a cultural studies lens, you’ll analyze how power, politics and pop culture flow through sports — and why what happens on the court often echoes far beyond it.
Zoe Kolenovsky is a Trinity junior and news editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Ava Littman is a Trinity sophomore and an associate news editor for the news department.