Rasa: the Flavor of Art - 4 Weeks

Tu+Fri, 9-11am ET
4 weeks, March 25- April 18 

In this class we will investigate the Sanskrit aesthetic theory of "rasa"—or, “flavor”— which theorizes how art moves us and generates emotion. We will review the nine rasas—joy, fear, anger, love, courage, grief, wonder, disgust, and peace—and trace how theorists imagine each rasa's function in art and its experience. We will look at these theories in the context of drama, literature, and performance art. Studying rasa offers a rich framework for understanding how art connects with audiences.

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Instructor: Sophia Nasti is an independent scholar and editor who recieved her PhD from Harvard University. Her work lies at the intersection of religion, literature, and history and she is interested in questions of genre, power, and cultural production.