(Un)Plugging Childhood

How does creating meaning together differ from consuming meaning created by others, and what might those differences mean for individuals and communities?

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How do sound, voice, and collective creative expression shape the ways people understand themselves and one another?

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In what ways can listening function as a civic and democratic practice?

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How do social and cultural systems shape who gets heard, who participates, and whose voices are valued?

What is happening to the ways people connect, communicate, and create meaning together?

Does childhood feel different today than it did fifteen years ago? What about compared to twenty-five, fifty, or over a hundred years ago? In this Humanities Lab, students will investigate what kinds of childhood we are creating by examining how families, schools, communities, technology, and public policies shape children’s lives across generations. Drawing on historical inquiry, interviews, arts-based research, qualitative coding, and other research methods, student teams will develop their own research into the issues that matter to them. This research will culminate in public-facing projects that help others imagine and cultivate the conditions children need to thrive in a changing world.

Collaborations

Collaborators TBA

Impact Outcomes

Students will share their findings with the general public in a format of their choosing. Check this page at the end of the semester for updates!