ENGL 6880: Escapism

Section Description:
Everything you think you know about escapism is probably wrong. Escapism isn’t selfish or a waste of time; it is actually a worldbuilding form of self-care that bolsters our resilience and gives us the energy to imagine and pursue brighter futures. In this class, we will analyze what philosophers have said about the morality of escapism, why escapism has such a bad reputation, and how people have practiced escapism historically and at present. In addition to philosophy and critical theory, we’ll also study media and media theory to understand why some films and TV shows get called “escapist” and how that label reinforces specific ideologies and taste cultures. We’ll approach escapism as personal, subjective, and dynamic, and we’ll experiment with different forms of escapism, including bird-watching, daydreaming, and playing “idle” video games. We will consider escapism’s political potentials and whether and why it can become dangerous. Specific texts we’ll engage include I Saw the TV Glow, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, and Bob’s Burgers as well as books and essays by Tricia Hersey, Audre Lorde, and Yi-Fu Tuan, not to mention Plato, Immanuel Levinas, and Theodor Adorno.