Few innovations have done more to change human consciousness and society than the invention of writing. In this course, we will explore the evolution of the writing systems, including the development of alphabets and syllabaries, and the ways they compare and contrast to ideographic forms such as Chinese characters and Mayan hieroglyphic writing systems. Using the works of Walter Ong, Jack Goody, and others we will investigate the contrast between orality and literacy as modes of consciousness and communication, the impact of literacy on diverse social and cultural institutions. We will also explore writing as art and ritual, examining the calligraphic art and the worlds of ritual scribes. Format: lecture/seminar. Requirements: several short essays; term paper. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 15).