Liberation and Ownership

Who is going to own what we all have a part in creating? The history of the Americas, and of all peoples everywhere, is an evolving answer to the question of ownership. Ownership is about the ties that bind and those that separate, the creation of community and the imposition of hierarchies, the dream of home ownership and ecological despoliation, dependency and the slave yearning to breathe free. Of all the issues relevant to democracy, oppression, and economic injustice, ownership is arguably the most important and least understood. Utilizing a variety of disciplinary perspectives, and by focusing on particular global sites, students will assess and refine their views regarding ownership in light of their own social, political, religious, and/or ethical commitments.