Seminar, three hours. Examination of how slavery, war, psychiatric institutionalization, and child sexual abuse shaped singular artistic visions. Depictions of severe trauma can be expressed in several ways--external event (e.g., war), internal psychological process (e.g., depression), or symbolic unfolding (e.g., disintegration of individual). Manner in which trauma is embedded in brain and stored in memory is also critical. Exploration of research on memory and trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and how severe trauma impacts brain. Studio component in form of individual and group projects to offer more tangible insight into process of art and trauma. P/NP or letter grading.