院校趣闻：美国大学的奇异课程

1. The Science of Harry Potter Frostburg State University 《哈利波特》学霜堡州立大学

The course, which examines the magical events in J.K. Rowlings books and explains them through the basic principles of physics, received international attention after an Associated Press writer picked up the story. From there, reports of the FSU class appeared in newspapers and magazines across the nation and throughout Europe, Australia, Indonesia and China.

这门课用物理学原理来进行解释J.K.罗琳的畅销书《哈利波特》中的魔法。该课程被美联社曝光后，在全世界范围内引起轰动。如今关于这门课的报道遍布美国、欧洲、澳大利亚、印度尼西亚甚至中国的各大报刊杂志。

2. Simpsons and Philosophy Cal-Berkeley 《辛普森一家》与哲学加州大学伯克利分校

Youll need to know more than Simpsons trivia. The class takes an in-depth look at how the long-running cartoon depicts social issues such as racism and politics. Passing the class includes writing a 22-minute show for the final exam.

要学习辛普森一家与哲学这门课，你需要更深入地了解这部片子。这门课深入研究该系列动画片如何描述与种族主义、政治等相关的社会问题。要想通过该课程，你需要在期末考时编一个22分钟的表演。

3. Star Trek and Religion Indiana University 《星际迷航》与宗教印第安纳大学

Indiana University lists Star Trek and Religion as one of its course offerings in the Arts and Humanities section. As an introduction to the critical study of religion by way of popular culture, it is possible to find Star Treke episodes whose themes are hostile to religion.

印第安纳大学将《星际迷航》与宗教列为艺术与人文学科的选修课之一。这门课通过大众文化来引入对宗教的批判性研究，这样看来，以对抗宗教为主题的《星际迷航》对于这一研究来说颇为适宜。

4. Elvish, the language of Lord of the Rings University of Wisconsin 精灵语：《指环王》中的语言威斯康星大学

Tolkiens vast created world of invented languages, legends, maps, poetry and creatures invites explication - and debate. The University of Wisconsin has created a mini course on Sindarin.

在托尔金创造的新世界中，语言、神话、地图、物种都是全新的，这是一个值得阐释与讨论的世界。威斯康星大学就专门开出一门研究辛达语（编者注：《魔戒》作者托尔金发明的语言之一）的小型课程。

5. How to Watch Television Montclair State University 看电视的学问蒙特克莱尔州立大学

This course, open to both broadcasting majors and non-majors, is about analyzing television in the ways and to the extent to which it needs to be understood by its audience. The aim is for students to critically evaluate the role and impact of television in their lives as well as in the life of the culture.

这门对播音专业学生和非专业学生同时开放的课程，从观众能如何理解电视节目和观众该在多大程度上理解电视节目两方面对电视节目进行了分析和解读。课程目标是为了让学生学会对电视在他们的生活，以及整个文化中所扮演的角色和产生的影响进行批判。

6. Getting Dressed Princeton University 如何穿衣普林斯顿大学

Seriously, sometimes getting dressed takes a lot more effort than it should. Enter Princetons Getting Dressed class, a freshmen-only course that lets students discuss controversial topics such as jeans, baseball caps, tattoos, flip-flops and Chuck Taylors. Its more complicated than just figuring out what to wear in the morning, though. The class discussed how people use fashion to do everything from study history to assess character.

老实说，有时候穿衣服什么的最花时间了！来上普林斯顿的如何穿衣课吧。该课针对大一新生，让同学们讨论诸如牛仔服、棒球帽、纹身、人字拖、帆布鞋等广受争议的服饰。不过课程的内容远比搞明白每天早上穿什么要复杂的多，比如该课程还讨论人们怎样利用时尚：从用它来学习历史到用它来评估个性等。