The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science and the Arts has chosen a rather existential question for its Fall 2010 theme semester, called “What Makes Life Worth Living?”

The idea was partly inspired by an Aug. 2 New York Times column by David Brooks entitled, “The Summoned Self” in which he writes that “Life isn’t a project to be completed; it is an unknowable landscape to be explored.”

At a time of increasing academic specialization by students, many educators are worried that the liberal arts are under siege.

Whether its music, or running, or working at the food co-op, theme organizers want students to embrace the things that make their lives worth living - to not let their concerns for making a living dominate their concerns for making a life.

The LSA is promoting the theme through a program of films, exhibits and guest speakers throughout the semester.

Theme semesters have become a unifying force at U-M, said Amy Harris, Director of the Exhibit Museum of Natural History, who is co-chairing the spring theme, called “Water.”

“The University of Michigan is very decentralized, so theme semesters are way to draw people together around a topic for a period of time where many different disciplines and perspectives can be brought to bear on a topic,” she said. “It’s great because you can meet people you otherwise would not meet or gather different perspectives you’ll not otherwise encounter.”

Professors often create or modify classes around the current theme. Sometimes they’ll give credit to students for attending theme events or require attendance. Some events are student-led productions, she said.

The LSA puts out a call for theme topics, and Dean Terrance McDonald makes the final decision.

The college provides the major funding, she says. “But once the ball gets rolling, a lot of other units or schools and colleges around campuses get involved. Others will contribute events.”

A regular lecture series may invite a speaker that connects to the current theme.

“I think we’ve really developed them at Michigan and we’ve done a lot of them and been very successful,” she said. “I think it really works well for the university because it’s so big.”

The fall calendar, as well as discussions, photos and contributions to the theme, are online at: http://wmlwl.com.

Examples of theme-related courses this fall are: “Zoom: A History of Everything” and “Writing World Literature.” Learning communities such as the Health Sciences Scholars Program, the Michigan Research Community and the Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program have selected “summer reads.”

Visiting speakers include a Dec. 2 appearance by Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking,” and 2006 Pulitzer Price winner Robin Givhan, who is fashion editor of the Washington Post.

As part of the theme, the college will participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Pres. John F. Kennedy’s speech on the steps of the Michigan Union in which he proposed what soon became the Peace Corps.

The following is a list of events for the “What Makes Life Worth Living” theme.

* * * Sept. 2 9 a.m., Association of Religious Counselors: Kickoff Event featuring John Greisberger, Michigan Union

Sept. 6 8 p.m., Residential College Film: "The Wizard of Oz," Residential College - Keene Auditorium

Sept. 7 7:30 p.m., Film, "The Wizard of Oz," UM Museum of Art

Sept. 10 8 p.m., Residential College Film: "The Wizard of Oz," Residential College -Keene Auditorium

Sept. 11 1 p.m., Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 12 1 p.m., Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 16 5 p.m., Stamps Lecture: Mihaly and Chris Csikszentmihályi, Michigan Theater

7 p.m., Residential College: On the Road: Can Oz help us think about What Makes Life Worth Living East Quad - 126

Sept. 17 10 a.m., Mihaly Csikszentmihályi: Good Work Discussion, Michigan Union - Parker Room

Sept. 18 1 p.m., Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 18 7 p.m., Dance Event: Ballroom Dance Team, East Hall - Atrium

Sept. 19 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 25 1 p.m., Beauty Makes Life Worth Living: The Art of Thangka Painting, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 25 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 26 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Sept. 29 4 p.m., Gerald F. Else Lecture in the Humanities: Francois Hartog, Michigan Union - Kuenzel Room

Sept. 30 3:30 p.m. GIEU Symposium: Capstone Projects from GIEU experiences, Michigan Union Ballroom

Sept. 30 7 p.m. Residential College: Finding OZ in America: the Author and his Times, East Quad, 126

Oct. 2 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 2 7 p.m., Dance Event: Swing Dance, East Hall, Atrium

Oct. 3 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 5 7:30 p.m., Film at UMMA: "The Big Chill," U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 6 7 p.m., Author's Forum: Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams (A conversation with M.L. Liebler), Hatcher Graduate Library, Room 100

Oct. 7 4 p.m., Tanner Lecture on Human Values: Martin Seligman Rackham Auditorium

5:15 p.m., Zell Visiting Writers Series: Kazim Ali, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 9 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 10 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 11 5:15 p.m., Zell Visiting Writers Series: Adonis at 80, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 13 Peace Corps at the University of Michigan: 50 Years Celebrations, University of Michigan Campus. More information at http://peacecorps.umich.edu/natl-details.html

8:30 a.m., Peace Corps Symposium: The Future of International Service, Ross School of Business, Blau Auditorium

7 p.m., American travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux will discuss the impact of the Peace Corps on his life, Hatcher Graduate Library, Gallery 100

Oct. 13 10 p.m., Peace Corps Student Symposium: Challenges and Opportunities of International Service, Michigan Union

Oct. 14 11 a.m., Peace Corps Second Ceremony on Michigan Union steps, Michigan Union

1:30 p.m., Spending Your Days in Ghana: Responding to JFK's Challenge, Michigan Union, Pendleton Room

7 p.m., Fearless Girls and Other Worlds: Oz in the Land of Children's Literature, Michigan Union, Pendleton Room

8:30 p.m., Tom Hayden: The Importance of Community Organizing & Student Activism in the 1960s and the 2000s, Hatcher Graduate Library

Oct. 15 3 p.m., Peace Corps Authors, Hatcher Graduate Library

Oct. 16 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 17 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 20 5:30 p.m., Idealist.org: Graduate Degree for the Public Good Fair, Michigan Union, Ballroom

Oct. 23 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 24 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 28 4 p.m., Katz-Newcomb Lecture: Dacher Keltner “Born To Be Good: The Evolution of Compassion,” Campus Inn, Terrace Ballroom

Oct. 30 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: The Collector's Eye, U-M Museum of Art

Oct. 31 1 p.m., UMMA Tour: Political and Social Expressions in Art, U-M Museum of Art

Nov. 4 7 p.m., Wallenberg Medal Presentation and Lecture - Dr. Denis Mukwege, Rackham Auditorium

Nov. 13 7 p.m., Dance Event: Cadence, East Hall, Atrium

Nov. 16 7 p.m., Film: "Once in Afghanistan," North Quad

Dec. 2, Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking," Ross School of Business, Blau Auditorium

Dec. 11, 7 p.m., Dance Event: EnCore, East Hall, Atrium