Delve Into the World of Fantasy with Fall Term Honors Course

Megan Abrahamson has always been a huge fantasy fan and now she’s excited to teach an entire fantasy course at CNM. 

“I was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ when I was a young, and I’ve been studying fantasy ever since,” she says. “I love being able to share that passion with my students.”

Her first fully-themed fantasy CNM course is called “Monsters, Mermaids, and Magic: Why Fantasy Matters,” and it explores all the fantasy genres. She covers everything from literature to gaming, and students explore how fantasy can transcend the rules of the real world, think about how fantasy might be a window into humanity, and talk about how fantasy is often used as an allegory for real-life issues. 

During the class students will read fantasy classics like “Gilgamesh” and the DC Comic “The Sandman” and explore the genre through more modern mediums like the extremely popular role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. There are also films and graphic novels. 

“As an honors course, students should be prepared for a little more of a challenge than a typical course,” Megan explains. “But they should also be prepared to have lots of fun. I mean playing Dungeons and Dragons is in the syllabus!” 

Even better: the fantasy class fulfills three core CNM Humanities credits and can be easily transferred to the UNM honors program.

Ultimately, Megan hopes this course brings fantasy and non-fantasy lovers together to explore the connection between humanity and the fantastical. 

“There’s something for everyone in this course,” she says. “And it’s important to have all kinds of perspectives in class so we can truly challenge each other and learn how fantasy has been used to make sense of the world throughout history.”

Want to add Monsters, Mermaids, and Magic to your Fall Term schedule? Sign-up today for HNRS 1120-101, which meets on Main Campus in Max Salazar Hall Room 203 every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 - 4:15 p.m.