Kimberley Patton (Harvard Divinity School)
First-Year Seminar 66E | 4 Credits (Spring 2025) | CANVAS SITE
Wednesday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
As a child, who did not live in a world of magical creatures? Flying horses, graceful unicorns, wise centaurs, and fire-breathing dragons lived alongside talking animals and family pets — but what about those dinosaurs who towered through our dreams and science projects: real or imaginary? Whether the egg-hiding Easter Bunny or the wisdom-seeking, foolish rabbit Zomo, we lose touch with these beings as we grow older. Or do we? Together we will learn about fantastic beasts, magical creatures, and holy animals in the history of religion, folklore, and mythology. We will ask what they have meant to cultures around the world—and still mean. We will explore them in art in museum settings at Harvard and Boston, as well as discuss how they have appeared in films and music. Some of the questions that will guide us: Why have cultures throughout history needed to feature such creatures? Why has the rich variety of real, existing animals not been “enough” for the human imagination — or should we be thinking differently about the categories “real” and “imaginary”? What is cryptozoology and what is its relationship to “serious” science? As we face the rapidly accelerating extinction of animal species, why do imaginary animals persist? We will be reading, writing, looking, and sharing ideas together, but each student will be also encouraged to learn more about their own favorite fantastic beast, and to find ways creatively to represent it as they learn. You are also welcome to create your own!
NOTE: Depending on local theater company schedules, the seminar may be able to view a local production of Chekhov.