Our dependence on oil has many social, political, economic, and environmental consequences.  In this colloquium students will use basic economic principles to examine the competitive framework of the petroleum industry, the complexity of the international issues related to oil, and the impact that the consumption and production of oil has on the global environment.

Comedy serves a psychological function in providing a necessary human release of pent-up emotions.  Comedy also provides a method of social correction, by pointing out and mocking the various ills of society.   And finally, the structure of comedy, connected to festivals and fertility rituals, celebrates and affirms the life impulse within us.  Philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and cultural critics alike have proposed theories for the nature of comedy, such as Henri Bergson, Sigmund Freud, Northrop Frye, and Susanne Langer.  We will examine their ideas and apply them to the study of various dramatic texts in our quest towards understanding the essence of comedy.

In this seminar we will explore conflicts in different types of interpersonal relationships.  Conflicts such as maternal-fetal conflict over optimal nutrients, sibling rivalry, jealousy in romantic relationships, work-family conflicts, physical aggression, and warfare will be discussed.  We will seek to understand these conflicts using principles from psychology, anthropology biology, and economics.