Art and Media 1001 - Your World in Color

Color shapes how we see, interpret, and interact with the world, from the pigments in plant leaves and animal signals to the emotional and narrative power of color on screen. Co-taught by faculty in biology and film, this introductory course explores color as both a biological phenomenon and a cultural, artistic, and emotional tool. From a biological perspective, students will examine the chemical and physical basis of color, including pigments, photosynthesis, nutrition, aposematic signaling, and the evolutionary roles of color in plants and animals. We will ask questions of why some flowers are pink, leaves turn red, and mold is blue. Topics will include how organisms produce color, why color matters for survival and communication, and the evolution behind it all. From a film and media perspective, the course introduces color theory and examines how color influences perception, emotion, and meaning from a cultural standpoint. Students will explore historical and contemporary uses of color in cinema, the effects of color grading, and the technical foundations of digital color. Films and artworks will be analyzed through close color-based readings to understand how visual choices shape storytelling and audience response. Bringing these threads together, the course culminates in an exploration of natural dye practices, linking biological sources of color with historical, cultural, and creative applications. Through lectures, screenings, discussions, and hands-on activities, students will develop a multidisciplinary understanding of color as a bridge between science, art, and lived experience. Keywords:Color