Perspectives on Democracy: Literary Visions and Representations

In this election season, explore the ideals, successes, and shortcomings of a democratic form of government from the interdisciplinary perspectives of the humanities. What have been the social and cultural consequences of democracy? How have democratic visions intersected with issues of race, gender, and power? How do democracies accommodate dissent and difference? Is the writer or artist a representative of ordinary people or a person apart from the masses? While the focus will be on the United States, this program will consider such questions across time and place in a lively discussion format led by distinguished University of Rochester faculty members.