“It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”– On the morning of August 6th, 1945, the people of Earth were introduced to the grandeur and horror of an atomic explosion over the city of Hiroshima.  Suddenly the end of the world had a physical image (the mushroom cloud) and a cause (us).  In this course we will explore the artistic response to both the sense of heightened danger and the perception of impending doom that permeates much of the fifties, sixties, and seventies.  In particular, we will look at the ways in which humor, irony, and satire are often the greatest tools against the darkest times.  Readings will include Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Mao II by Don DeLillo and the film “High Noon”.