HIST 3305 - Constructing Identities: Self and Other in the Renaissance

Men and women during the Renaissance became acutely aware that identity was a malleable and contested thing. How can one build a personal and professional identity through words, images, and deeds? Can a constructed self also be authentic or does it inevitably involve deceit? Is it even possible to create a truly individual identity against the weight of social norms and expectations? And of course this had a dark side: the very same tools that could be used to construct one's own personal identity could also be used to create fictional identities and negative stereotypes to foist upon less powerful groups. In this course students will study Renaissance writers, artists, political leaders, explorers, and religious reformers to learn how men and women created identities for both themselves and others. 3 credits.