Fresh fashions fill Career Closet
Exploring the Past – Pompeii & Amalfi Coast
Program Description
Program Dates: March 12 - 20, 2027
Visiting the ancient city of Pompeii is like a trip into an unknown past: while walking along the ruins, one can discover how the citizens lived, how they sustained themselves, ate, where they slept, even what their evening entertainment looked like (debates, theater, bars, etc.). When the nearby volcano erupted, their lives were frozen in ashes. On our trip we will explore the legacy of Pompeii and the Herculaneum, both located close to the busy city of Naples. We will stay in the more slow-paced city of Sorrento and venture along the Amalfi Coast by ferry. Some of the additional highlights will be the visit of the romantic mountain city of Ravello and a quick tour of the elegant, exclusive island of Capri. We will also learn about sustainable agriculture and some of the products that have been grown at the Amalfi coast for centuries.
Each student will be working on a visual portfolio (video or photography).
AI & Game Studies: Visual Communication in Germany
Program Description
Program Dates: June 11 - 19, 2027
This trip is leading students to the University of Constance in Germany where they will learn about game studies, media studies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in conjunction with German students. The exchange is part of a larger University Exchange between Connecticut and Baden-Württemberg. We will concentrate on projects dealing with AI and Game Studies that will lead to joint bilateral research and exchanges.
Beyond individual figures such as robots, replicants, cyborgs, humanoids, or synthetic companions, we will look at the broader production, circulation, and reception logics of media. A media-theoretical perspective highlights how popular representations do not merely reflect technological developments but actively shape the conditions under which AI is perceived, desired, feared, and integrated into everyday culture.
Students will work on joint visual projects and also be involved in game design in a designated laboratory at the University of Constance. There will also be field trips organized as part of the international experience.
The course will be developed in conjunction with Prof. Dr. Beate Ochsner from the University of Constance, Germany.