College Seminar (105-7-25)

Topic

In Praise of Boredom

Instructors

Elizabeth Lenaghan
847/467-4462
555 Clark St, #241
Office Hours: By appointment

Meeting Info

555 Clark 230: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

What if boredom isn't the enemy we think it is? In our age of constant connectivity and endless stimulation, this college seminar challenges students to reconsider one of our most avoided experiences. Through an eclectic mix of readings, discussions, and hands-on experiments, we'll explore boredom as both cultural phenomenon and personal experience. Topics range from the mundane to the profound: waiting in line, social media scrolling, reality television, meditation traditions, the neuroscience of attention, "boring" art and literature, slow food movements, digital detox culture, and the creative potential of empty time.

In exploring these topics, you will engage with contemporary writers and thinkers alongside classic texts, but more importantly, you will conduct your own investigations—from deliberate disconnection experiments to mindful observation exercises. Through traditional academic writing, creative projects, and reflective practices, you will develop critical thinking skills while learning to sit with discomfort and discover what emerges in the spaces between stimulation. This seminar serves as both intellectual exploration and practical training in the lost art of being present, preparing students for deeper engagement with their academic and personal lives.

Learning Objectives

Through taking this course, you will learn about what to expect from and what you want out of your Northwestern experience. More specifically, we'll be working together to:

-Connect course materials to your own interests and experiences

-Articulate considerate questions and comments in large and small group discussion (both synchronously and asynchronously), as well as in peer review

-Improve your ability to read critically and analyze a variety of genres and media texts

-Advance your argumentative and academic writing skills

Class Materials (Required)

All course materials will be made available to students on Canvas and/or in printed form.

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar
Freshmen Only

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration. Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required