This abroad emphasizes the vital connections between creativity, critical thought, and responsible citizenship through creative writing, studio art, and the study of modernist and contemporary Czech literature and visual art.
Students will explore the idea that the arts make a difference in the world and are not just entertainment. The program seeks to serve Principia’s unique educational mission. Policy 6 of The Principia states that the institution “shall dedicate its service to the task of training its students to think – and to think clearly, vigorously, fearlessly, tolerantly, and unselfishly.” In “A Word About Words,” the late playwright and former president of the Czech Republic Václav Havel said, “…self-awareness, our ability to generalize and think in concepts, to perceive the world as the world (and not just as our locality)…surely all these are meditated…by words” (acceptance speech for the Peace Prize of the German Booksellers Association, Frankfurt, 1989).
These statements suggest a powerful rationale for Principia College students to study creative writing, studio art, and literature in Prague and surrounding sites in Moravia and Bohemia: it is vital for students to learn to think independently and to have a practical understanding of creative and fearless responses to human difficulties.
This program is open to all students from any major or minor. Prior experience in creative writing or studio art may be useful, but isn’t necessary for success in this program. Dinah and Paul Ryan work well with students at every level of experience, from beginners to advanced students.