Splash Biography

When we watch the high action of superheroics, it may not be immediately apparent that there are deeper issues of morality at play. In this course we’ll talk about some of those issues, such as the use and abuse of violence, the ethics of sidekicks, and the purity of a superhero’s motives. Using the original and adapted stories of the most notable superheroes along with the works of great moral philosophers like Aristotle, Kant, and Hume, we’ll learn how to apply these ideas to popular culture and maybe even to our own lives.

Have you ever wanted to study magic as a science class? At one time, you totally could! Granted, that time was the seventeenth century, but at the time, alchemy was a completely respectable science. In fact, the concepts introduced by the study of alchemy influenced today's understanding of chemistry, psychology, and medical science. Learn about the ideas that inspired figures such as Isaac Newton, Mary Shelley, and John Locke.

We all know who Spider-Man is at this point, right? You'd be surprised, actually. We'll take a look at some of the original Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and John Romita comics and see just why Spider-Man is the greatest superhero.