This course will unpack the intimate relationship between sex and the arts by engaging with the ideas and works of an eclectic assembly of philosophers, psychologists, poets, and artists. The course is divided into two parts: the first part deals with the history of sex and the arts, organized in chronological order from ancient myths and stories to contemporary theories and forms of cultural expression; the second part deals with controversial themes at the intersection of sex and the arts. Those themes will be the basis for the class debate, a major course activity. This course encourages students to be open-minded and understanding toward ideas that might be new or in opposition to their current sensibilities and worldview. This course welcomes respectful disagreement as it remains hospitable to multiple and conflicting perspectives.

CILO-1: Sufficiently discuss key ideas related to artistic representations of sex and sexuality in representative works selected from a broad historical and cultural corpus. CILO-2: Appreciate and explain types of representation of sexuality in the arts. CILO-3: Convincingly articulate and argue your position on issues related to sex and the arts. CILO-4: Report and write about their appreciation of eros across different historical and cultural contexts.