Smith College's Moodle

Is White Supremacy a permanent feature of race and gender politics in contemporary U.S. society? How does one appropriately respond to its ideology and political power in the Age of Trumpism, also known as Neo-fascism, understanding that Trumpism may last beyond any presidential election? This course will analyze the history, prevalence, and current manifestations of the white supremacist movement by examining ideological components, tactics and strategies, and its relationship to mainstream politics. We will also research and discuss the relationship between white supremacy and white privilege through liberal and conservative writers and explore how to build a human rights movement (including reproductive justice) to counter the white supremacist movement in the U.S. Students will develop analytical writing and research skills, while engaging in multiple cultural perspectives. By focusing on Native American and African American experiences of white supremacy, the course will be interdisciplinary, covering social sciences, anthropology, history, geography, philosophy, political science, economics, and feminist theory. This class is an entry-level overview of the white supremacist movement in the U.S. Further study is necessary to develop more expertise. The overall goal is to develop the capacity to understand the range of possible responses to white supremacy, both its legal and extralegal forms.

Welcome! "Introduction to Sound Design" introduces students to the theory and practice of theatrical sound design, with additional relevance to sound design for dance and for film and television. The course cultivates sensitivity towards the expressiveness of sound, and the relationship between time, sound, actors, visuals, and narrative. Through script analysis and design projects, students learn the power of sound and music in enhancing stage presentations, acquire skills in creating sound worlds, and apply those skills to collaboration with the production team. Through hands-on exercises in the lab and in the theaters, students also become familiar with recording, editing, organizing, and playback of sound.