Course Descriptions

Course Catalog for DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND CULTURE STUDIES
ARAB 101
Intensive Elementary Arabic I
Designed to develop fundamental skill in both spoken and written Arabic. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic grammatical structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour per week. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.50 units, Lecture
CHIN 101
Intensive Elementary Chinese I
Designed to develop fundamental skill in both spoken and written Mandarin. About 300 characters will be learned. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. Students with previous training and background in Chinese should consult the instructor for proper placement. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.50 units, Lecture
FREN 101
Intensive Elementary French I
Designed to develop a basic ability to read, write, understand, and speak French. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. Other than beginning students must have the explicit permission of the instructor.--Sabich
1.50 units, Lecture
GRMN 101
Intensive Elementary German I
This is a basic four-skills (understanding, speaking, reading, and writing) course with emphasis on developing facility in reading and speaking German within a cultural and historical context. Other than beginning students must obtain the permission of the instructor. Students taking this course should also plan to take German 102 in order to complete the study of essential vocabulary and grammar and to gain practice in speaking and in reading original texts.
1.50 units, Lecture
HEBR 101
Elementary Modern Hebrew I
A comprehensive introduction to the basic vocabulary and grammatical rules of Modern Hebrew will be systematically presented and reviewed. Designed to develop a basic ability to read, write, understand, and speak modern Hebrew, this course will also include exposure to appropriate cultural materials. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 101
Intensive Elementary Spanish I
Designed to develop a basic ability to read, write, understand, and speak Spanish. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. Placement by exam if previous Spanish experience. Generally for students with minimal or no previous experience studying Spanish. Students with 3 or more years of pre-college Spanish study will not be allowed to enroll in this course. Any request for exceptions should be addressed to the coordinator of Hispanic Studies. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.50 units, Lecture
ITAL 101
Intensive Elementary Italian I
Designed to develop a basic ability to read, write, understand, and speak Italian. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. Other than beginning students must have the permission of the instructor.
1.50 units, Lecture
JAPN 101
Intensive Elementary Japanese I
Designed to develop fundamental skill in both spoken and written modern Japanese. About 200 characters will be learned. Since all linguistic skills cannot be fully developed in 101 alone, stress will be placed on the acquisition of basic structures, which it will be the function of 102 to develop and reinforce. Students who wish to acquire significant proficiency should therefore plan to take both 101 and 102 in sequence. Four hours of classwork, plus one required drill hour. Students with prior background in Japanese must have the permission of the instructor. (Also offered under the Asian studies program.)
1.50 units, Lecture
LING 101
Introduction to Linguistics
A general introduction to the study of language. First we will study the fundamental components of language (sounds, words, sentences). We will then examine the crucial question of how words and sentences manage to mean anything. The latter part of the course will be devoted to theoretical approaches to the nature of language, to how and why languages change over time, and to the ways language determines and reflects the structures of society.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 101
Elementary Russian I
This course for beginners emphasizes active command of Russian through speaking, listening, reading, and writing. A web component enhances knowledge of the living language and illustrates cultural differences. This class meets three hours a week and carries one credit.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 102
Intensive Elementary Arabic II
Designed to develop basic language skills learned in Arabic 101. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour per week. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Arabic 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
CHIN 102
Intensive Elementary Chinese II
Continuation of Chinese 101, with increased emphasis on conversational practice. An additional 300 characters will be learned. Students are expected to master most of the spoken patterns by the end of the semester. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Chinese 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
FREN 102
Intensive Elementary French II
Continuation of 101, emphasizing oral practice, consolidation of basic grammar skills, compositions and reading comprehension. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour.
Prerequisite: French 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
GRMN 102
Intensive Elementary German II
Continuation of German 101, with completion of the study of essential grammar, further vocabulary building through oral and written practice, practice in reading, and discussions of cultural contexts.
Prerequisite: German 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
HEBR 102
Elementary Modern Hebrew II
A continuation of Hebrew 101 with emphasis on increasing vocabulary, understanding, writing and speaking skills with widening exposure to appropriate cultural materials. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
Prerequisite: Hebrew 101 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 102
Intensive Elementary Spanish II
Continuation of 101, emphasizing oral practice, consolidation of basic grammar skills, compositions, and reading comprehension. Four hours of classwork, plus one required drill hour. Generally for students with 2-3 years or equivalent of high school Spanish. Students with 4 or more years of pre-college Spanish study will not be allowed to enroll in this course. Any request for exceptions should be addressed to the coordinator of Hispanic Studies. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
ITAL 102
Intensive Elementary Italian II
Continuation of 101, emphasizing oral practice, consolidation of basic grammar skills, compositions and reading comprehension. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour.
Prerequisite: Italian 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
JAPN 102
Intensive Elementary Japanese II
Continuation of Japanese 101, with increased emphasis on conversational practice. An additional 120 characters will be learned. Students are expected to master most of the spoken patterns by the end of the semester. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. (Also offered under the Asian studies program.)
Prerequisite: Japanese 101 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
RUSS 102
Elementary Russian II
A continuation of Russian 101. Students increase their speaking, reading and writing ability through vocabulary building and learning further grammar structures. This class meets three hours a week and carries one credit.
Prerequisite: Russian 101 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 110
Art and Music of Russia
This course is an optional supplement to Russian 101, and is open only to students concurrently enrolled in Russian 101 or another Russian language course. We will discover Russian music and painting and through them, learn about cultural institutions and historical events that have shaped Russian cultural attitudes. Icon painting of the Orthodox Church, genre scenes that fed the revolutionary movement, and experimental artworks, along with diverse musical forms featuring native instruments like the balalaika, the nationalist music of the Might Five, and protest songs of the bards will reveal the conservative, liberal, and radical elements in Russian thought.
PR:Concurrent enrollment in Russian 101 or another Russian language course.
0.25 units, Lecture
GRMN 150
German for Reading Knowledge
This course is intended for students who have no prior knowledge of German. Students will be introduced to basic structures of the German language, become familiar with high-frequency vocabulary, and work with the German language reference tools. They will develop reading skills through a variety of essays and newspaper articles chosen from the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. (Also offered under History, Music, Political Science, and Fine Arts – Art History.)
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 201
Intermediate Arabic I
Continuation of Arabic 102, with an introduction to Arabic composition as well as further grammatical study and conversation practice. Required lab work. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Arabic 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 201
Intensive Intermediate Chinese I
This course emphasizes the continued development of skill in spoken and written Mandarin. Students will read more advanced texts, practice conversation, and be introduced to additional characters. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 201 and 202 in sequence. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. (Also listed the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Chinese 102 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
FREN 201
Intermediate French I
Review of basic grammatical concepts and development of fundamental language skills, with increasing emphasis on written expression and spoken accuracy. Use is made of video-based presentations. Since significant linguistic progress cannot be achieved in 201 alone, students wishing to acquire proficiency should plan to take both 201 and 202 in sequence.
Prerequisite: French 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 201
Intermediate German I
This course will aim for intermediate-level proficiency in understanding, speaking, and writing contemporary idiomatic German with emphasis on conversation. Essential grammar review, exercises, and oral reports will be based on the reading and discussion of such materials as edited TV broadcasts, letter-writing, and short essays. Since significant linguistic progress cannot be achieved in 201 alone, students wishing to acquire proficiency should plan to take both 201 and 202 in sequence.
Prerequisite: German 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HEBR 201
Intermediate Modern Hebrew I
This course continues the development of skills in conversation, composition, and reading. Advanced grammar and syntax are introduced, as well as expanded readings from Israeli newspapers and literature. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
Prerequisite: Hebrew 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 201
Intermediate Spanish I
An intermediate course for those who have had at least three years of secondary school Spanish or one year of college Spanish. A thorough review of grammar combined with oral practice. In addition, there is a strong cultural component and an introduction to reading literary texts. Generally for students with 3-4 years or equivalent of high school Spanish. Students with 5 or more years of pre-college Spanish study will not be allowed to enroll in this course. Any request for exceptions should be addressed to the coordinator of Hispanic Studies. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean sStudies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 201
Intermediate Italian I: Conversation and Composition
A review of basic grammar learned in the first-year intensive Italian courses (101 and 102) is integrated with oral and writing practice on topics intended to introduce students to contemporary Italian culture. There will be readings of short stories, newspaper, and magazine articles, viewings of film and video presentations, and weekly compositions and other writing assignments. In order to achieve competence in Italian, students should plan to take 201 and 202 in sequence.
Prerequisite: Italian 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 201
Intensive Intermediate Japanese I
This course emphasizes the continued development of skill in spoken and written Japanese. Students will read more advanced texts, practice conversation, and be introduced to additional characters. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 201 and 202 in sequence. Four hours of classwork, plus one required drill hour. (Also offered under the Asian studies program.)
Prerequisite: Japanese 102 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
RUSS 201
Intermediate Russian I
In this course students will gain intermediate proficiency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Russian. They will learn how to express themselves in Russian through regular conversation practice on topics such as the world of Russian emotions, love and marriage, music and entertainment, and other practical subjects. They will read real Russian literary texts and learn to write about their thoughts and opinions. They will learn about Russian culture by direct experience, including working with the Russian Internet. Students who take this and the next course in the series, Russian 202, will be ready to go on a study abroad program in Russia. Conducted in Russian. (Also listed under the Russian and Eurasian studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Russian 102 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 202
Intermediate Arabic II
Continuation of Arabic 201, leading to a completion of essential basic grammatical constructions as well as further conversational practice. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Arabic 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 202
Intensive Intermediate Chinese II
Continuation of Chinese 201, with further emphasis on written and spoken development of the current idiom. Four hours of class work, plus one required drill hour. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Chinese 201 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
FREN 202
Intermediate French II
Further reinforcement of written and spoken skills, with continuing practice in the use of complex grammatical structures and greater emphasis on the mastery of contemporary usage through extensive class discussion, reading, and writing.
Prerequisite: French 201 or equivalent, or instructor consent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 202
Intermediate German II
Continuation of German 201, with the addition of expository material on German life and culture for discussion and writing practice.
Prerequisite: German 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HEBR 202
Intermediate Modern Hebrew II
A continuation of Hebrew 201 with more advanced grammar and increased emphasis on composition and speaking as well as exposure to appropriate cultural materials. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
Prerequisite: Hebrew 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 202
Intermediate Spanish II
The review of grammar begun in Spanish 201 will be completed. In addition, there will be readings and discussion of contemporary Spanish and Spanish American literature, treating varied literary and cultural selections with a view to vocabulary-building and the reinforcement of the principles of grammar and syntax. Emphasis is placed on the development of competence in oral and written expression. Generally for students with 4 years or equivalent of high school Spanish. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 202
Intermediate Italian II: Composition and Literature
The review of grammar begun in Italian 201 will be completed in this course. Students’ oral and writing skills will be enhanced by further exploration of aspects of Italian culture, through a variety of texts and media. While emphasizing students’ communication skills, this course aims to provide them with the basis for linguistic competence in Italian.
Prerequisite: Italian 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 202
Intensive Intermediate Japanese II
Continuation of Japanese 201, with further emphasis on written and spoken development of the current idiom. Four hours of classwork, plus one required drill hour. (Also offered under the Asian studies program.)
Prerequisite: Japanese 201 or equivalent.
1.50 units, Lecture
RUSS 202
Intermediate Russian II
A continuation of Russian 201 in which students will develop a proficiency in Russian that will be adequate for most practical purposes. They will continue to develop their ability to converse on topics such as computers and work, dating, talking about nature, and others. They will start reading and discussing more complex literary and journalistic texts, including works by classic Russian authors. Regular writing assignments will help reinforce what they are learning. Students will continue their examination of the many sides of Russian culture, including Russian etiquette, gesture, music, television, film, etc. Successful completion of this course gives students the Russian they need in order to go to Russia for work or study. Conducted in Russian. (Also listed under the Russian and Eurasian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Russian 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 210
Advanced Russian Conversation
This course will provide training in Russian oral communication and self-expression. Students will lead and participate in class discussions and debates, prepare oral reports, as well as listen to and watch Russian radio and television broadcasts. All work will be oral. The topics of conversations will include family problems and divorce, elections in the U.S. and in Russia, youth music and fashion in Russia, environmental issues, Russian beliefs in the world beyond (UFOs, ESP, etc.) and other current issues. By the end of the course, students will be able to converse in Russian on an advanced level on the ACTFL scale. (Also listed under the Russian and Eurasian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Russian 202 or permission of instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 215
Topics in Russian Grammar
A review and a deepening of the basics of Russian grammar for students of all levels of Russian. Topics will include: the cases, the single-stem verb system, verbs of motion, participles and verbal adverbs as well as other topics that need review. The forms will be reinforced through conversation in class and written home exercises.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 221
Advanced Grammar and Composition
Emphasis on composition work, in conjunction with a review of grammar, especially of the more difficult and subtle aspects, together with a consideration of stylistics. The writings of selected modern Hispanic authors will serve as models. Generally for students with 5+ years or equivalent of high school Spanish. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 221
Advanced Russian I: Russia through Russian Prose
Students improve conversational and compositional skills through close reading, analysis and discussion of Russian historical and journalistic texts. Conducted in Russian. (Also listed under the Russian and Eurasian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Russian 202 or permission of instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 222
Advanced Russian II: Literary Readings
Close readings from some major aspect of Russian literature. Emphasis will be on discussion of ideas and stylistic analysis. Conducted in Russian.
Prerequisite: Russian 221 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 224
Spanish for Heritage Students
A comprehensive course for bilingual students who demonstrate spoken ability in Spanish but whose formal education has been in English. The course will cover all basic language skills while targeting the particular needs of bilingual students, including accentuation, homonyms, and usage of complex sentence structure. Special emphasis will be placed on reading and writing. Permission of the instructor is required. Admits to Hispanic Studies 221 or more advanced Hispanic studies course. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 225
Iberian and Latin American Music and Conversation
In this class, we will explore contemporary Hispanic culture through the textual and contextual analysis of music produced by Iberian and Latin American artists in the period between 1960 and 1990. Special emphasis will be given to understanding the role of the artist and his or her works as agents of social change during the period. Much of the material for the course will be gathered from online resources such as YouTube and Google Video.
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 226
Iberian and Latin American Film and Conversation
In this course students will analyze landmarks of Spanish/Latin American cinema in terms of social, historical, and cultural questions they raise, as well as in terms of ideological, aesthetic, and cinematographic movements to which they belong. The discussion of films will be conducted in Spanish and will provide an academic forum for the exchange of ideas, interpretations, and critique. Hertiage speakers, students who have studied in a Spanish speaking country, or students who have taken a course at a higher level (HISP 261 or above) are not eligible to enroll
Prerequisite: Hispanic 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 227
Intensive, Full Immersion Spanish Language and Culture in Montevideo
This is a four-week-long intensive, full immersion Spanish language and culture course designed for Trinity students residing in the city of Montevideo on their way to our global learning site in Santiago. It provides an overall grammar review and practice of Spanish language (reading, writing, listening comprehension, and oral expression) in connection with a series of co-curricular and extra-curricular social and cultural activities including guided tours to specific places, music concerts, conferences, sports events, plays, film festivals, student gatherings, etc. In addition, students live with local families, and engage with local media (newspapers, radio, music, TV, etc.) as part of the course assignments and activities. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 227
Intensive Language and Culture in Barcelona
This course is designed to improve the grammatical and conversational skills of students who have taken a least one year of college Spanish or the equivalent. Class activities will center on the analysis of contemporary Spanish Cinema.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 228
Introduction to Cultural Analysis
This course serves as a transition to advanced courses in Spanish language, culture, and literature. Students will develop analytical skills through an intense exploration of cultural production in the Hispanic world and through an examination of diverse literary genres, film, and current events. The focus will be on improving the necessary linguistic and critical thinking skills that are the fundamental foundation for literary and cultural analysis in advanced Spanish study.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 228
Italian Language and Society
This course will examine the relationship between language and society in contemporary Italy and in countries with high levels of Italian migration, while also developing students’ linguistic skills. Topics include: geographical, class, and generational differences in language, the effects of mass media on language, and the Italian of immigrants to the United States. As part of their coursework, students will conduct interviews with Italian Americans in the Hartford area.
Prerequisite: Italian 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 233
Contemporary Arabic Novel: Continuity and Change
This course offers a general survey of 20th century Arabic literature in translation, mainly the novel. It examines a variety of cultural aspects of Egyptian and Levantine societies with reference to gender issues and the status of women in these societies as reflected in the writings of Najib Mahfuz, Ala Al Aswani, Nawal El Saadawi, and Ghadah al Samman. The works of these prominent contemporary writers will be examined against the background of the major historical political and social events in the modern Middle East and supported by a number of films and documentaries.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 233
Introduction to Arab and Middle Eastern Cinemas
This course offers an overview of the social and artistic role of cinema in the Arab world. It presents a historical outlook on the rise and development of cinema in the broader Middle East and North Africa through an investigation of this genre and the use of critical and cultural theory. It examines the artistic and cultural relationship of cinema to the societies it represents by utilizing a variety of structured thematic viewpoints such as the configuration of society and community, children in times of war, feminist discourse, and homosexuality, in order to explore cinema as an integral part of Arabic popular culture. The lectures will be organized around weekly screening of films in addition to related critical readings. No previous knowledge of Arabic language is required. This course is also listed under the African studies concentration and Middle Eastern studies concentration of the International Studies program and under the Women, Gender, and Sexuality program.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 233
Post-Colonial Island Cultures in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and West Indies (Antilles)
When the indigenous islanders of the Pacific, Indian Ocean and West Indies began to question English and French colonization during the 20th century, they discovered that their national, social, and individual identities had been fundamentally altered by the experience. The course will examine the literary and cultural themes unique to the island cultures in these former and current colonies. In particular, there will be a special emphasis on the common questions of race, otherness, imperialism and postcolonialism found in the islands.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 233
The 18th Century in Literature/Film/Music
From Libertinism to the Revolution : Screening the French 18th Century. The French 18th century has never been so popular with film-makers. In this course, we will study a selection of films whose subject is the history and cultural life of 18th-century France and examine the relevance of 18th-century issues for the contemporary world. Attention will be paid to literary texts and other documents upon which the films are based and to questions of historical interpretation and film technique. The films studied include Que la fête commence by Bertrand Tavernier, La Religieuse by Jacques Rivette, Les Amants by Louis Malle, Dangerous Liaisons by Stephen Frears, The Affair of the Necklace by Charles Shyer, Ridicule by Patrice Leconte, and L’Anglaise et le duc by Éric Roemer.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 233
Women & War: World War I and World War II
This course will bring to light the lesser known and diverse story of women in war as active participants in combat, as ambulance drivers at the front, as members of resistance groups, in espionage for or against their own country, as munition workers, and in laboring positions previously denied them because of their gender. Some women collaborated with the enemy and were subject to execution or imprisonment after the wars while others stayed at the "home front" and involved themselves in volunteer work to contribute to the war effort. Through readings of novels, plays, poetry, short stories, diaries, memoirs, and history books, and through viewings of art, documentary, and feature films, we will study the experiences of European women during World War I and World War II; and consider the social and political changes these events brought to their lives. (Listed both as Modern Languages 233-77 and French 233-09; and under the History Deparment, and the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 233
France Today
This course focuses on French Culture in the period from post-1945 to the present as represented by selected texts in translation. Part of the course involves viewing and discussing films from the Nouvelle Vague to Popular Culture.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 233
African Cinema
Although the image of Africa has been a major subject and a racist misconception of Western cinema since its inception, African cinema itself appeared on the world screen with the independence of the continent in the 1960s. This course will introduce students to the images that Africans have of themselves and their societies, past and present. As we study the evolution of African cinema using a wide array of films that portray the many cultural facets of the continent and the diverse political agendas of the directors, we will explore the issue of cinema as a nation-building endeavor as each African society defines its own modern identity while reconsidering its past. We will see that this modern identity is anchored for the most part in the redefinition of the family and the status of women. The films studied will be mostly from West and North Africa, and women directors will be represented as much as possible: although, as in the West, they are still less numerous than male directors. (Listed as both LACS 233-32 and FREN 233-03. This course is also offered under the African studies concentration of the International Studies Program and the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
Franz Kafka
In this course we will read short stories, novels, and letters of Kafka with an eye to the artistic and literary trends of his time (expressionism, surrealism, art nouveau), the uniqueness of Kafka’s writing, and his influence upon later writers. Readings include The Judgment, Metamorphosis, and The Trial; we will examine themes such as unappeasable authority, inescapable guilt, and the individual marooned in an incomprehensible and perhaps merciless world. (Listed as both LACS 233-54 and GRMN 233-10.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
Marx, Nietzsche, Freud
This survey of German intellectual history from 1848 to the present will acquaint students with writings of Marx, Freud, Nietzsche and the many others who shaped subsequent western culture and thought. Drawing upon close readings of excerpts from pivotal works, we will examine the relevance of such works in the matrix of artistic trends and historical circumstances from which they emerge. Short literary pieces (Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann) will be included.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
Berlin, Vienna, Prague
In this course we will peek into the urban souls of Berlin, Vienna, and Prague as we become familiar with some of the many writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers who have called these cities home. Berlin comes alive in expressionist films and cityscapes, the Berlin literary avant-garde, and the many artistic responses to the Cold War and its most visible reminder: the Berlin Wall. We'll approach Vienna through Sigmund Freud and Arthur Schnitzler, study Secessionist art by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and accompany modern writers on their wanderings through the city. In Prague we will study Art Nouveau and Art Deco and become acquainted with the city's most famous writers, Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera. This course is taught in English and is listed as GRMN 233 and LACS 233. It meets the Writing Part II requirement for German Studies majors.
1.00 units, Seminar
GRMN 233
The Modern German Novel
An introduction to the major German novels of the 19th and 20th centuries in their historical and cultural context. Topics include: the Industrial Revolution, existentialism and the "Death of God," modernism and the cult of Nietzsche, the Great War, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, and World War II, exile, and postwar life in divided Germany. Among the authors are: Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Hermann Hesse, Christa Wolf, and Günter Grass. (Listed as both LACS 233-91 and GRMN 233-17.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
New German Cinema
This course will examine the rich and varied cinema produced in the Federal Republic of Germany between 1960 and the mid-1980s, otherwise known as New German cinema. Concurrent with screenings of films by directors such as Wim Wenders, Rainer Werner Fasbinder, and Dorris Dorrie, we will consider the political and historical events that influenced the film financing, distribution and exhibition in post-World War II West Germany. The themes examined will include, but are not limited to, the relationship between public and private, past and present, history and gender, and the "German" and the other, and the search for a national identity. (Listed as both LACS 233-96 and GRMN 233-19.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
Burnt Books: Literature and Nazi Germany
In an effort to cleanse the nation’s soul of un-German influences, the National Socialists ceremoniously burnt works by hundreds of so called “degenerate” writers, among them such celebrated authors as Heinrich Heine, Erich Maria Remarque, Heinrich Mann, and Bertolt Brecht. This course explores major works of German literature forbidden during the Third Reich and examines the rationale for their exclusion from the Nazi canon. The course furthermore studies Nazi-endorsed writings, as well as literary responses to the Third Reich by anti-Nazi writers such as Anna Seghers, Klaus Mann, and Stefan Zweig. (Listed as both LACS 233-92 and GRMN 233-18.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 233
Exile from Nazi Germany
In the 1930s, thousands of writers, scientists, filmmakers, philosophers, historians, musicians, architects, and artists were driven into exile by the Nazi regime. The majority of émigrés, many of whom were Jewish, settled in the United States and went on to make significant contributions to the country's intellectual and cultural life. The purpose of this course is threefold: to introduce the concept of exile; to study the particular circumstances and stories of exile from Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe; to become familiar with the accomplishments of exiles in the fields of literature, film, music, and culture studies. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of German and Austrian filmmakers in Hollywood and on the stamp of exiles on the U.S. academic world.
1.00 units, Seminar
GRMN 233
German History Through Literature and Film
This course examines German history from 1871 to the present through major works of German literature and film. Special emphasis will be placed on the historical context within which each work was written: the Wilhelmine Empire, World War I, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East/West Germany and the Cold War, and Reunification. The objective of the course is twofold: to become familiar with some of the most powerful narratives of modern German literature and film; and to analyze literature and film as windows on social, cultural, and historical processes.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 233
Prisms of Modernity: Inquiry, Discovery, Possession
A study of the birth of the modern age (14th-18th centuries) focused on the emergence of five distinct forms of inquiry, discovery, and possession: juridical interrogation, geographical exploration, military conquest, mystical speculation, and scientific experimentation. Through careful analyses of the figure of the holy inquisitor, the explorer, the conquistador, the mystic, and the scientist, we will investigate the rise of modern technologies of knowledge and domination. What was their combined effect on efforts to uphold the authority of divine revelation and how do they relate to the cultural shifts that gave rise to our world? Texts by or about Joan of Arc, Torquemada, Columbus, Hernan Cortes, Luther, Saint Teresa of Avila, Galileo, Francis Bacon, Boyle, Lowith, Heidegger, and Blumenberg.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 233
Self, Society and Writing in Contemporary Latin American 'Autoficcion'
The goal of this course is to examine contemporary Spanish American short stories and novels, mainy from the second half of the twentieth century to the present, where the figure of an/the author—real or fictional—is present within the fiction. As Beatriz Trastoy observes, what is of interest about the concept of ‘autoficción’ is its persistent ambiguity as it asks to be and not to be believed, as it presents itself as simultaneously false and serious, refusing to offer the necessary signs to differentiate between reality and fiction. This will lead us to examine the discourse of real and fictional autobiography as writers explore their own identity inside and outside fiction. Authors to be discussed include: Borges, García Márquez, Vargas Llosa, Poniatowska, Glanz, Bolaño.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 233
Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean in Transition
This course examines the history, societies, and cultures of various regions of the Americas (North and Central America, the Caribbean, The Andean Region, Brazil, the Southern Cone). The course moves from the major pre-Columbian civilizations, through the period conquest and colonization (as European powers integrated the Americas to its own economic, political and cultural ends), the colonial times, and the first manifestations of the desire for independence. The second half of the same course focuses onto the construction of national states and cultures during the nineteenth century as well as main-historic-political events of the twentieth century. Discussions will be based on lectures, readings, documentaries and feature films. Latin American newspapers on the Internet will also be used to inform our debates of current events. This "MDLG 233" kind of course is an ENGLISH and shorter version of 263-264, and because it is not taught in Spanish it is not equivalent to either course. It will be offered occasionally by MLL-Spanish and will count as equivalent to LACS 101 whenever the latter is not offered. Latin American Studies majors and minors will not be able to use this course as one of the four language courses. Spanish majors can use it only as a related field course. This course is of no use for the "Language Concentration" (or minor) in Spanish for it is not taught in Spanish (this student must take 263 or 264).
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 233
Latino Literature in the United States
This course will study the literary production of the Hispanic Diaspora, concentrating on those four groups historically understood to constitute "Latinos" in the United States: the immigrants of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Through the literature and cinema of these groups we will not only study the socio-cultural situation and history of this heterogeneous Diaspora but will also explore and come to question central themes traditionally used to discuss Latinos in the US: identity, language, culture, community, exile, and memory. In examining a literary and cultural production that spans three centuries, we will read texts in translation from the original Spanish, bilingual texts, and texts written in originally English. A reading knowledge of Spanish helpful but not essential.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 233
The Alchemy of Identity: Culture-Planning and Civil Society in Barcelona 1850 to 2000
This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the ways in which the city of Barcelona has created and maintained its unusually vibrant artistic and civic culture during much of the past 150 years of its existence. Besides studying the work of the city's more important contemporary artists, artistic movements, and cultural institutions (Gaudí, Miró, Picasso, Marsé, Mendoza; Modernisme, Noucentisme; the Liceu and, yes, the Barcelona Football Club), we will analyze the city's long and highly conscious tradition of culture-planning, which has done so much to make this history of civic and artistic innovation a reality. Whenever possible, the history of creating a sustainable urban culture in Barcelona will be compared with that of Hartford and other U.S. urban centers. This course is taught in English. (Listed as both LACS 233-49 and HISP 233-04.)
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 233
Latin American Literature and Film in Translation
This course is aimed at a broad and general audience. No knowledge of Spanish is required. Taught in English this survey course introduces students to a set of key Latin American literary works of the 19th and 20th century, from various areas (the Caribbean, Mexico, Latinos in the US/The Border, Central America, South America, the Southern Cone), of various kinds (novels, short novels, short stories, essays, testimonies, collages, etc.) and reflecting on a variety of social and cultural issues (depicting/ordering/making sense of reality, storytelling, mythmaking, constructing the nation, neo-colonialism, fascism, revolution, human rights, exile, border-culture, race, ethnicity, gender). Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Spanish should secure permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Spanish and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed as both Language and Cultural Studies 233-11 and Hispanic Studies 233-01; and under the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 233
Food in Italian History, Society, and Art
The saying, “A tavola non s’invecchia” (“One does not age at the supper table”), expresses the importance of food and eating for Italians. In this course, we will examine the relationship between food and culture in Italy, from the Romans to the present, through a variety of readings and tasting experiences. Topics include: the importing and exporting of different foods in antiquity as an instance of cultural and economic exchange; medieval beliefs about intellectual and physical aptitudes associated with diet; the representation of food in art, literature, and cinema; regional cuisines and cultural identities; and the language of food. We will also discuss Italian and Italian-American cuisine as the reflection of related, yet very different, cultures. Students may opt to undertake a Community Learning Initiative in consultation with the course instructor. Enrollment limited to 25. (Listed as both LACS 233-41 and ITAL 233-06.)
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 233
Mafia
In contemporary societies there is an intimate contest between two kinds of social order: The rule of law and criminal organization. A remarkable instance may be found in the workings and metamorphoses of the Mafia. From its origins in Sicily, an agrarian society on the periphery of Europe, the Mafia has acquired intercontinental dimensions and a grip on high politics and finance capital. This shadowy phenomenon has been approached and explained in very different ways by historians, anthropologists, sociologists, economists, and political scientists. It has also been the subject of literature and film. We shall discuss outstanding examples of each approach and treatment. The purposes of the course are to make sense of the Mafia, to explore a basic problem of social order and to compare the different styles of reasoning and representation that characterize the various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Course requirements: seminar reports, several short papers, and full attendance and participation. (Listed as both LACS 233-17 and ITAL 233-02.)
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 233
Italy and America
An interdisciplinary introduction to the history of relations between these two nations, with an emphasis on the experience of Italians in America, through discussion of works of history, sociology, literature, and film. Topics include explorers and colonists; the Great Emigration; the ethnic neighborhood; the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti; mafia; the war against fascism; unions; religion; and assimilation. There will be course-related trips to Little Italys in cities of the Eastern Seaboard. Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Italian should receive permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed both as LACS 233-24 and ITAL 233-04; and under the American Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 233
Enlightenment and Romanticism in Italy
An introduction to modern ideas of nature, human nature, and history expressed in great literature, art, and music. Topics include individuality and community, the passions and the interests, the intimate contest of bourgeois and aristocratic cultures, revolution and reaction, and secularism. Among authors, artists, and composers who will be studied are: Leopardi, Manzoni, Tiepolo, Longhi, Canaletto, Canova, Fattori, Donizetti, Rossini, and Verdi. (Listed as both LACS 233-98 AND ITAL 233-08.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Enlightenment and Romanticism in Italy
An introduction to modern ideas of nature, human nature, and history expressed in great literature, art, and music. Topics include individuality and community, the passions and the interests, the intimate contest of bourgeois and aristocratic cultures, revolution and reaction, and secularism. Among authors, artists, and composers who will be studied are: Leopardi, Manzoni, Tiepolo, Longhi, Canaletto, Canova, Fattori, Donizetti, Rossini, and Verdi. (Listed as both LACS 233-98 AND ITAL 233-08.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
New German Cinema
This course will examine the rich and varied cinema produced in the Federal Republic of Germany between 1960 and the mid-1980s, otherwise known as New German cinema. Concurrent with screenings of films by directors such as Wim Wenders, Rainer Werner Fasbinder, and Dorris Dorrie, we will consider the political and historical events that influenced the film financing, distribution and exhibition in post-World War II West Germany. The themes examined will include, but are not limited to, the relationship between public and private, past and present, history and gender, and the "German" and the other, and the search for a national identity. (Listed as both LACS 233-96 and GRMN 233-19.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
The Modern German Novel
An introduction to the major German novels of the 19th and 20th centuries in their historical and cultural context. Topics include: the Industrial Revolution, existentialism and the "Death of God," modernism and the cult of Nietzsche, the Great War, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, and World War II, exile, and postwar life in divided Germany. Among the authors are: Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Hermann Hesse, Christa Wolf, and Günter Grass. (Listed as both LACS 233-91 and GRMN 233-17.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Burnt Books: Literature and Nazi Germany
In an effort to cleanse the nation’s soul of un-German influences, the National Socialists ceremoniously burnt works by hundreds of so called “degenerate” writers, among them such celebrated authors as Heinrich Heine, Erich Maria Remarque, Heinrich Mann, and Bertolt Brecht. This course explores major works of German literature forbidden during the Third Reich and examines the rationale for their exclusion from the Nazi canon. The course furthermore studies Nazi-endorsed writings, as well as literary responses to the Third Reich by anti-Nazi writers such as Anna Seghers, Klaus Mann, and Stefan Zweig. (Listed as both LACS 233-92 and GRMN 233-18.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Contemporary Arabic Novel: Continuity and Change
This course offers a general survey of 20th-century Arabic literature in translation, mainly the novel. It examines a variety of cultural aspects of Egyptian and Levantine societies with reference to gender issues and the status of women in these societies as reflected in the writings of Najib Mahfuz, Ala Aswani, Nawal El-Saadawi, and Ghadah al-Samman. The works of these prominent contemporary writers will be examined against the background of the major historical political and social events in the modern Middle East and supported by a number of films and documentaries.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Soul, Flesh, and the Russian Mystique
"A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." Such is Winston Churchill's famous description of Russia. Renowned for its passionate unrestraint, the legendary Russian soul encompasses opposing extremes of human thought and impulse. Selfish pleasure, gratuitous cruelty, and humiliation of others coexist with forgiveness, compassion, and embrace of suffering. As our window on the multifaceted Russian soul—as well as its physical manifestation, the rebellious body—we will take salient works from 1000 years of music, art, and literature. Among the genres we will explore: icon painting and the later, socially-themed paintings that hastened the revolution; the majestic music of the Orthodox church and contemporary youth pop; the wise woman and holy fools of the folktale and the comic literature of scandal. Taught in English; no pre-requisites.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Who Am I and Where Am I Going?
How many personal identities do you have? Lover, friend, brother or sister, gambler, worshipper, skeptic, liar, outsider, psychotic—we may play all of these parts simultaneously or at different times in our lives. Through discussion of short literary texts, with some forays into religion and psychology, we will consider the ways in which our multiple identities shape our self-image as well as how others see us. Readings will be chosen from, among others, Tennessee Williams, Dostoevsky, Freud, and the Bible.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Berlin, Vienna, Prague
In this course we will peek into the urban souls of Berlin, Vienna, and Prague as we become familiar with some of the many writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers who have called these cities home. Berlin comes alive in expressionist films and cityscapes, the Berlin literary avant-garde, and the many artistic responses to the Cold War and its most visible reminder: the Berlin Wall. We'll approach Vienna through Sigmund Freud and Arthur Schnitzler, study Secessionist art by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and accompany modern writers on their wanderings through the city. In Prague we will study Art Nouveau and Art Deco and become acquainted with the city's most famous writers, Franz Kafka and Milan Kundera. This course is taught in English and is listed as GRMN 233 and LACS 233. It meets the Writing Part II requirement for German Studies majors.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 233
Love, Sex, and War in Tolstoy
This course offers a detailed and varied exploration of Tolstoy's greatest fiction. Writer and prophet, aristocrat and socialist, moralist and hedonist, Tolstoy contained a bundle of contradictions in a mind of artistic genius. As we seek to uncover the aesthetic workings of his stories and novels, we will have ample opportunity to discuss the subjects of these works—romantic love, sexual expression, family life, war as military theory and as human experience, and the individual's search for meaning in relation to the works themselves and to our own lives. Tolstoy's youth, military service, marriage, religious conversion, and contentious relations with those around him will be discussed in connection with his literary art. (Listed as both LACS 233-82 and RUSS 233-07; under the Russian and Eurasian studies concentration of the International Studies Program; and under the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
The 18th Century in Literature/Film/Music
From Libertinism to the Revolution : Screening the French 18th Century. The French 18th century has never been so popular with film-makers. In this course, we will study a selection of films whose subject is the history and cultural life of 18th-century France and examine the relevance of 18th-century issues for the contemporary world. Attention will be paid to literary texts and other documents upon which the films are based and to questions of historical interpretation and film technique. The films studied include Que la fête commence by Bertrand Tavernier, La Religieuse by Jacques Rivette, Les Amants by Louis Malle, Dangerous Liaisons by Stephen Frears, The Affair of the Necklace by Charles Shyer, Ridicule by Patrice Leconte, and L’Anglaise et le duc by Éric Roemer.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Marx, Nietzsche, Freud
This survey of German intellectual history from 1848 to the present will acquaint students with writings of Marx, Freud, Nietzsche and the many others who shaped subsequent western culture and thought. Drawing upon close readings of excerpts from pivotal works, we will examine the relevance of such works in the matrix of artistic trends and historical circumstances from which they emerge. Short literary pieces (Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann) will be included.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
France Today
This course focuses on French Culture in the period from post-1945 to the present as represented by selected texts in translation. Part of the course involves viewing and discussing films from the Nouvelle Vague to Popular Culture.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Women & War: World War I and World War II
This course will bring to light the lesser known and diverse story of women in war as active participants in combat, as ambulance drivers at the front, as members of resistance groups, in espionage for or against their own country, as munition workers, and in laboring positions previously denied them because of their gender. Some women collaborated with the enemy and were subject to execution or imprisonment after the wars while others stayed at the "home front" and involved themselves in volunteer work to contribute to the war effort. Through readings of novels, plays, poetry, short stories, diaries, memoirs, and history books, and through viewings of art, documentary, and feature films, we will study the experiences of European women during World War I and World War II; and consider the social and political changes these events brought to their lives. (Listed both as Modern Languages 233-77 and French 233-09; and under the History Deparment, and the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Fantasy and Realism in Russian Literature
All readings and discussion will be in English. Through the enduring traditions of fantasy and realism, Russian literature has probed human dilemmas and invited self-examination. We shall read these works as art and entertainment, and also for what they help us learn about ourselves. A disturbing world of the uncanny, populated by murderous doubles, human snakes, talking dogs, ghosts, and other diabolical creatures will open up to us and haunt our imaginations. As we consider the realist and fantastic streams, we shall ultimately ask the question: can we really define the difference between them? Authors to be read include Gogol, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and others. This course will introduce the students to some of the greatest works in the Russian literary canon. (Listed as both LACS 233-36 and RUSS 233-01; and under the Russian and Eurasian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Green Think & Pols in Germany
Nature and its relationship to human society has been an enduring topic in German literature, politics, and culture. In fact, the term "ecology" was coined by a 19th century German zoologist, Ernst haekel. This course introduces students to two centuries of green thought and discusses its impact on politics both in Germany and globally. Students will become familiar with thinkers of German Romanticism, study the dialectic of man versus nature in 19th century idealism, and explore the rise of ecological awareness in the context of rapid urbanization and industrialization. The course also covers the German Nature Movement as well as "eco-fascism," the green wing of National Socialism. Students will follow the metamorphosis of the contemporary German environmental movement from the grassroots to the formation of the Green Party, to junior partner in a ruling government. The course concludes with an examination of the impact of the "Greens" on environmental politics within the European Union as well as globally.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Paris:Myth & Reality
“America is my country and Paris is my home town” (Gertrude Stein). This course will first examine how and why the City of Lights has earned its name. Paris is more than the capital of France: it is in many ways its most prestigious civic and artistic achievement. It is also a myth and a dream haunting the imagination of millions. To understand Paris’s success as an urban center, we will examine the historic relationship between the city and the State, and on how the city has been and continues to be conceived culturally and politically as the driving force of the Nation. Then we will explore why Paris has captured the world’s imagination and inspired so many poets, writers, musicians, painters and film makers. We will focus on American artists in Paris such as Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and others, and in particular on Afro-American artists such as Josephine Baker, Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and Sidney Bechet. For the latter group, the city was a refuge, chosen since it allowed them to express themselves freely, and yet it also represented a bitter exile for them. Finally, we will consider whether American artists are still the presence in the city they were in the first half of the 20th century and if so, how. We will be guided by the artists’ vision of the city and pose the question, what does it mean today to be an American in Paris? (Same as Modern Languages 233-74.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Self, Society and Writing in Contemporary Latin American 'Autoficcion'
The goal of this course is to examine contemporary Spanish American short stories and novels, mainy from the second half of the twentieth century to the present, where the figure of an/the author—real or fictional—is present within the fiction. As Beatriz Trastoy observes, what is of interest about the concept of ‘autoficción’ is its persistent ambiguity as it asks to be and not to be believed, as it presents itself as simultaneously false and serious, refusing to offer the necessary signs to differentiate between reality and fiction. This will lead us to examine the discourse of real and fictional autobiography as writers explore their own identity inside and outside fiction. Authors to be discussed include: Borges, García Márquez, Vargas Llosa, Poniatowska, Glanz, Bolaño.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 233
Orientalism and Occidentalism in Russia
This course will explore Russia’s encounter with the Other, as represented in travelogues, memoirs, poetry, novels, and films. It will look at both Russia’s own Orient--such as Georgia, Chechnya, and Central Asia--and the Orient outside Russia’s borders, in countries like Iran, and compare the perception of the Orient in Russian sources with the perception of Russian and Western cultures by the “Orientals” themselves. While discussing political, social and ideological issues, such as the radicalization of Islam in the Caucasus during and after the Russian conquest, or the unveiling of Muslim women in post revolutionary Central Asia, we will also pay close attention to the aesthetic forms used in the representation of the Other in different genres of literature and film.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Prisms of Modernity: Inquiry, Discovery, Possession
A study of the birth of the modern age (14th-18th centuries) focused on the emergence of five distinct forms of inquiry, discovery, and possession: juridical interrogation, geographical exploration, military conquest, mystical speculation, and scientific experimentation. Through careful analyses of the figure of the holy inquisitor, the explorer, the conquistador, the mystic, and the scientist, we will investigate the rise of modern technologies of knowledge and domination. What was their combined effect on efforts to uphold the authority of divine revelation and how do they relate to the cultural shifts that gave rise to our world? Texts by or about Joan of Arc, Torquemada, Columbus, Hernan Cortes, Luther, Saint Teresa of Avila, Galileo, Francis Bacon, Boyle, Lowith, Heidegger, and Blumenberg.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 233
Exile from Nazi Germany
In the 1930s, thousands of writers, scientists, filmmakers, philosophers, historians, musicians, architects, and artists were driven into exile by the Nazi regime. The majority of émigrés, many of whom were Jewish, settled in the United States and went on to make significant contributions to the country's intellectual and cultural life. The purpose of this course is threefold: to introduce the concept of exile; to study the particular circumstances and stories of exile from Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe; to become familiar with the accomplishments of exiles in the fields of literature, film, music, and culture studies. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of German and Austrian filmmakers in Hollywood and on the stamp of exiles on the U.S. academic world.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 233
Exile from Nazi Germany
In the 1930s, thousands of writers, scientists, filmmakers, philosophers, historians, musicians, architects, and artists were driven into exile by the Nazi regime. The majority of émigrés, many of whom were Jewish, settled in the United States and went on to make significant contributions to the country's intellectual and cultural life. The purpose of this course is threefold: to introduce the concept of exile; to study the particular circumstances and stories of exile from Nazi Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe; to become familiar with the accomplishments of exiles in the fields of literature, film, music, and culture studies. Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of German and Austrian filmmakers in Hollywood and on the stamp of exiles on the U.S. academic world.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 233
Post-Colonial Island Cultures in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and West Indies (Antilles)
When the indigenous islanders of the Pacific, Indian Ocean and West Indies began to question English and French colonization during the 20th century, they discovered that their national, social, and individual identities had been fundamentally altered by the experience. The course will examine the literary and cultural themes unique to the island cultures in these former and current colonies. In particular, there will be a special emphasis on the common questions of race, otherness, imperialism and postcolonialism found in the islands.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
German History Through Literature and Film
This course examines German history from 1871 to the present through major works of German literature and film. Special emphasis will be placed on the historical context within which each work was written: the Wilhelmine Empire, World War I, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East/West Germany and the Cold War, and Reunification. The objective of the course is twofold: to become familiar with some of the most powerful narratives of modern German literature and film; and to analyze literature and film as windows on social, cultural, and historical processes.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Introduction to Arab and Middle Eastern Cinemas
This course offers an overview of the social and artistic role of cinema in the Arab world. It presents a historical outlook on the rise and development of cinema in the broader Middle East and North Africa through an investigation of this genre and the use of critical and cultural theory. It examines the artistic and cultural relationship of cinema to the societies it represents by utilizing a variety of structured thematic viewpoints such as the configuration of society and community, children in times of war, feminist discourse, and homosexuality, in order to explore cinema as an integral part of Arabic popular culture. The lectures will be organized around weekly screening of films in addition to related critical readings. No previous knowledge of Arabic language is required. This course is also listed under the African studies concentration and Middle Eastern studies concentration of the International Studies program and under the Women, Gender, and Sexuality program.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Italy and America
An interdisciplinary introduction to the history of relations between these two nations, with an emphasis on the experience of Italians in America, through discussion of works of history, sociology, literature, and film. Topics include explorers and colonists; the Great Emigration; the ethnic neighborhood; the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti; mafia; the war against fascism; unions; religion; and assimilation. There will be course-related trips to Little Italys in cities of the Eastern Seaboard. Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Italian should receive permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed both as LACS 233-24 and ITAL 233-04; and under the American Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Italian Cinema: Fiction and Film
A study and discussion of Italian cinema from neorealism to the present. The course will cover both formal and thematic trends in the films of the noted postwar Italian directors Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Luchino Visconti. The course will also consider the trend away from reliance on literary texts toward the development of personal expressions by such author/directors as Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Lina Wertmüller, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Maurizio Nichetti, and others. Film screenings will be in Italian with English subtitles. Lectures and coursework will be in English. Students wishing to apply this course toward the major in Italian must secure permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. Faithful attendance is required. (Listed as both LACS 233-05 and ITAL 290-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Mafia
In contemporary societies there is an intimate contest between two kinds of social order: The rule of law and criminal organization. A remarkable instance may be found in the workings and metamorphoses of the Mafia. From its origins in Sicily, an agrarian society on the periphery of Europe, the Mafia has acquired intercontinental dimensions and a grip on high politics and finance capital. This shadowy phenomenon has been approached and explained in very different ways by historians, anthropologists, sociologists, economists, and political scientists. It has also been the subject of literature and film. We shall discuss outstanding examples of each approach and treatment. The purposes of the course are to make sense of the Mafia, to explore a basic problem of social order and to compare the different styles of reasoning and representation that characterize the various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Course requirements: seminar reports, several short papers, and full attendance and participation. (Listed as both LACS 233-17 and ITAL 233-02.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Modern Italy
An introduction to modern Italy, through discussion of outstanding works of history, social science, film, and literature. Topics include the unification of Italy, the sharp changes in relations between church and state, the Great Emigration, Fascism, modernization, the Sicilian mafia, and the persistence of regional divisions. All work is done in English. Students who wish to count this course toward a major in Italian should request permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed as both LACS 233-08 and ITAL 236-01; and under the History Department.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
African Cinema
Although the image of Africa has been a major subject and a racist misconception of Western cinema since its inception, African cinema itself appeared on the world screen with the independence of the continent in the 1960s. This course will introduce students to the images that Africans have of themselves and their societies, past and present. As we study the evolution of African cinema using a wide array of films that portray the many cultural facets of the continent and the diverse political agendas of the directors, we will explore the issue of cinema as a nation-building endeavor as each African society defines its own modern identity while reconsidering its past. We will see that this modern identity is anchored for the most part in the redefinition of the family and the status of women. The films studied will be mostly from West and North Africa, and women directors will be represented as much as possible: although, as in the West, they are still less numerous than male directors. (Listed as both LACS 233-32 and FREN 233-03. This course is also offered under the African studies concentration of the International Studies Program and the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Latin American Literature and Film in Translation
This course is aimed at a broad and general audience. No knowledge of Spanish is required. Taught in English this survey course introduces students to a set of key Latin American literary works of the 19th and 20th century, from various areas (the Caribbean, Mexico, Latinos in the US/The Border, Central America, South America, the Southern Cone), of various kinds (novels, short novels, short stories, essays, testimonies, collages, etc.) and reflecting on a variety of social and cultural issues (depicting/ordering/making sense of reality, storytelling, mythmaking, constructing the nation, neo-colonialism, fascism, revolution, human rights, exile, border-culture, race, ethnicity, gender). Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Spanish should secure permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Spanish and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed as both Language and Cultural Studies 233-11 and Hispanic Studies 233-01; and under the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Food in Italian History, Society, and Art
The saying, “A tavola non s’invecchia” (“One does not age at the supper table”), expresses the importance of food and eating for Italians. In this course, we will examine the relationship between food and culture in Italy, from the Romans to the present, through a variety of readings and tasting experiences. Topics include: the importing and exporting of different foods in antiquity as an instance of cultural and economic exchange; medieval beliefs about intellectual and physical aptitudes associated with diet; the representation of food in art, literature, and cinema; regional cuisines and cultural identities; and the language of food. We will also discuss Italian and Italian-American cuisine as the reflection of related, yet very different, cultures. Students may opt to undertake a Community Learning Initiative in consultation with the course instructor. Enrollment limited to 25. (Listed as both LACS 233-41 and ITAL 233-06.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Russian and Soviet Theater
An exploration of a variety of topics in Russian and Soviet theater from the 1830s to the present: the plays, the experiments and developments in acting technique and scenic design as well as their theoretical foundations. Particular emphasis will be given to the 30 years at the beginning of this century and theater developments in the past decade. Discussion will also cover reasons for restaging the classics in recent years and the serious challenges confronting the artistic community during the Stalin years and continuing beyond the Brezhnev era. (Listed both as Modern Languages 233-93 and Russian 337-01; under the Russian and Eurasian concentration of the International Studies Program; and Theater and Dance.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Fantasy & Realism
All readings and discussion will be in English. Through the enduring traditions of fantasy and realism, Russian literature has probed human dilemmas and invited self-examination. We shall read these works as art and entertainment, and also for what they help us learn about ourselves. A disturbing world of the uncanny, populated by murderous doubles, human snakes, talking dogs, ghosts, and other diabolical creatures will open up to us and haunt our imaginations. As we consider the realist and fantastic streams, we shall ultimately ask the question: can we really define the difference between them? Authors to be read include Gogol, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and others. This course will introduce the students to some of the greatest works in the Russian literary canon. (Same as Modern Languages 233-36.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Russian Women's Culture
An exploration of the feminine identity in Russia. We will examine the roles, occupations, attitudes, and treatment of women throughout Russian history, with special emphasis on our own century. Issues to be considered include models of the feminine as developed by both men and women, sexual freedom and subservience, male-female relations and family life, women in the workplace, images of women in art and popular culture, women in the Russian revolution, women under Communism, Soviet labor camps for women, and reasons for the ineffectiveness of the women's movement in Russia.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Dostoevsky
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
The Alchemy of Identity: Culture-Planning and Civil Society in Barcelona 1850 to 2000
This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the ways in which the city of Barcelona has created and maintained its unusually vibrant artistic and civic culture during much of the past 150 years of its existence. Besides studying the work of the city's more important contemporary artists, artistic movements, and cultural institutions (Gaudí, Miró, Picasso, Marsé, Mendoza; Modernisme, Noucentisme; the Liceu and, yes, the Barcelona Football Club), we will analyze the city's long and highly conscious tradition of culture-planning, which has done so much to make this history of civic and artistic innovation a reality. Whenever possible, the history of creating a sustainable urban culture in Barcelona will be compared with that of Hartford and other U.S. urban centers. This course is taught in English. (Listed as both LACS 233-49 and HISP 233-04.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 233
Franz Kafka
In this course we will read short stories, novels, and letters of Kafka with an eye to the artistic and literary trends of his time (expressionism, surrealism, art nouveau), the uniqueness of Kafka’s writing, and his influence upon later writers. Readings include The Judgment, Metamorphosis, and The Trial; we will examine themes such as unappeasable authority, inescapable guilt, and the individual marooned in an incomprehensible and perhaps merciless world. (Listed as both LACS 233-54 and GRMN 233-10.)
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Russian Women's Culture
An exploration of the feminine identity in Russia. We will examine the roles, occupations, attitudes, and treatment of women throughout Russian history, with special emphasis on our own century. Issues to be considered include models of the feminine as developed by both men and women, sexual freedom and subservience, male-female relations and family life, women in the workplace, images of women in art and popular culture, women in the Russian revolution, women under Communism, Soviet labor camps for women, and reasons for the ineffectiveness of the women's movement in Russia.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Orientalism and Occidentalism in Russia
This course will explore Russia’s encounter with the Other, as represented in travelogues, memoirs, poetry, novels, and films. It will look at both Russia’s own Orient--such as Georgia, Chechnya, and Central Asia--and the Orient outside Russia’s borders, in countries like Iran, and compare the perception of the Orient in Russian sources with the perception of Russian and Western cultures by the “Orientals” themselves. While discussing political, social and ideological issues, such as the radicalization of Islam in the Caucasus during and after the Russian conquest, or the unveiling of Muslim women in post revolutionary Central Asia, we will also pay close attention to the aesthetic forms used in the representation of the Other in different genres of literature and film.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Fantasy and Realism in Russian Literature
All readings and discussion will be in English. Through the enduring traditions of fantasy and realism, Russian literature has probed human dilemmas and invited self-examination. We shall read these works as art and entertainment, and also for what they help us learn about ourselves. A disturbing world of the uncanny, populated by murderous doubles, human snakes, talking dogs, ghosts, and other diabolical creatures will open up to us and haunt our imaginations. As we consider the realist and fantastic streams, we shall ultimately ask the question: can we really define the difference between them? Authors to be read include Gogol, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and others. This course will introduce the students to some of the greatest works in the Russian literary canon. (Listed as both LACS 233-36 and RUSS 233-01; and under the Russian and Eurasian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Who Am I and Where Am I Going?
How many personal identities do you have? Lover, friend, brother or sister, gambler, worshipper, skeptic, liar, outsider, psychotic—we may play all of these parts simultaneously or at different times in our lives. Through discussion of short literary texts, with some forays into religion and psychology, we will consider the ways in which our multiple identities shape our self-image as well as how others see us. Readings will be chosen from, among others, Tennessee Williams, Dostoevsky, Freud, and the Bible.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Love, Sex, and War in Tolstoy
This course offers a detailed and varied exploration of Tolstoy's greatest fiction. Writer and prophet, aristocrat and socialist, moralist and hedonist, Tolstoy contained a bundle of contradictions in a mind of artistic genius. As we seek to uncover the aesthetic workings of his stories and novels, we will have ample opportunity to discuss the subjects of these works—romantic love, sexual expression, family life, war as military theory and as human experience, and the individual's search for meaning in relation to the works themselves and to our own lives. Tolstoy's youth, military service, marriage, religious conversion, and contentious relations with those around him will be discussed in connection with his literary art. (Listed as both LACS 233-82 and RUSS 233-07; under the Russian and Eurasian studies concentration of the International Studies Program; and under the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 233
Soul, Flesh, and the Russian Mystique
"A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" is Winston Churchill's famous description of Russia. Renowned for its passionate unrestraint, the legendary Russian soul encompasses opposing extremes of human thought and impulse. Selfish pleasure, gratuitous cruelty, and humiliation of others coexist with forgiveness, compassion, and embrace of suffering. As our window on the multifaceted Russian soul—as well as its physical manifestation, the rebellious body—we will take salient works from one thousand years of music, art, and literature. Among the genres we will explore: icon painting and the later, socially-themed paintings that hastened the revolution; the majestic muse of the Orthodox church and contemporary youth pop; the wise woman and holy fools of the folktale; and the comic literature of scandal. Taught in English; no prerequisites.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 236
Modern Italy
An introduction to modern Italy, through discussion of outstanding works of history, social science, film, and literature. Topics include the unification of Italy, the sharp changes in relations between church and state, the Great Emigration, Fascism, modernization, the Sicilian mafia, and the persistence of regional divisions. All work is done in English. Students who wish to count this course toward a major in Italian should request permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and will meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. (Listed as both LACS 233-08 and ITAL 236-01; and under the History Department.)
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 241
Advanced Composition and Style
Development of a high level of proficiency through the reading and analysis of texts and films in contemporary idiomatic French, with considerable emphasis on attainment of grammatical accuracy.
Prerequisite: French 202 or equivalent or instructor consent.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 250
Advanced Language Study
This course is designed to strengthen and develop students’ reading, writing, and translating skills, to facilitate the transition between lower-level language courses and the upper-level study of literature and culture. Readings will focus on the short story as a genre in order to build vocabulary and increase students’ ability to read with ease, as well as to appreciate the literary value of a text. Weekly writing will be assigned on a variety of topics taken from the readings, as well as the students’ own creative writing (essays or short fiction). The translation component of the course will entail passages from the texts read in class, but students will also translate their own creative work. Texts by contemporary writers such as Le Clézio, Assia Djebar, Véronique Tadjo, Philippe Delerm, and others will be used.
Prerequisite: French 241 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 250
German Translation Studies
This course concentrates on the techniques of translating and interpreting both German and English texts from a variety of fields (e.g. culture, literature, the arts, history, political, social and natural sciences, entertainment, and international relations, among others). We will learn how to do bilingual reports, summaries and oral presentations. Students are encouraged to take this course in conjunction with either German 202 or a 300-level German course.
Prerequisite: German 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 251
French Literature I: From the Middle Ages to Romanticism
This course is designed to introduce the student to the major authors of French literature from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Representative works will be read in chronological order to foster a sense of literary history. Special emphasis will be placed on techniques of literary appreciation. Class conducted entirely in French.
Prerequisite: French 241 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 252
Modern French Literature
This course will be a survey of the major texts of the 19th and 20th century France. Principles of literary history and literary appreciation will be emphasized. Prerequisite: French 241 or equivalent
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 253
Fantasy & Realism
All readings and discussion will be in English. Through the enduring traditions of fantasy and realism, Russian literature has probed human dilemmas and invited self-examination. We shall read these works as art and entertainment, and also for what they help us learn about ourselves. A disturbing world of the uncanny, populated by murderous doubles, human snakes, talking dogs, ghosts, and other diabolical creatures will open up to us and haunt our imaginations. As we consider the realist and fantastic streams, we shall ultimately ask the question: can we really define the difference between them? Authors to be read include Gogol, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and others. This course will introduce the students to some of the greatest works in the Russian literary canon. (Same as Modern Languages 233-36.)
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 257
Dostoevsky
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 261
Iberian Culture I (Middle Ages to the 19th Century)
The course is designed to provide a broad understanding of the primary cultural dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. We will pay special attention to the more important cultural developments during this crucial era of Spanish history.
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 262
Iberian Culture II (The 20th Century)
This course introduces students to the set of cultural problems that have shaped Spain’s contemporary development. It will do so through the study of novels, films, and historical narrative. Special emphasis given to the cultural history of the Franco years (1939-1975) and the country’s more recent transition to democracy (1975-1992).
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 263
Latin American Culture I (Pre-Columbian Era to Enlightenment)
This course examines the history, societies, and cultures of the various regions that today are known as Latin America. The course moves from the major pre-Columbian civilizations, through the first encounter between Europe and these peoples, the subsequent conquest and colonization, and the first manifestations of the desire for independence. The course will concentrate specifically on how the peoples of these various regions and periods explored their social and political concerns through art, literature, and music. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)Enrollment limited.
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 264
Literature and the Law
In literature and in law, language shapes rhetorical worlds that seek to represent, constitute and interpret the actions of human beings and their world. Therefore, examining how the law is represented in literature gives insight both into how this representation shifts to accommodate historical and cultural differences, and how central the role of narrative is to legal institutions. This course will focus on representations of the law in German-language literature from the late 18th century onward, to examine how literature relates the human condition to law, to other central cultural values (love, honor and justice), and how literature can put the law itself into question. The course will emphasize literary interrogations of National Socialist law, which take up these questions in their most urgent form. Taught in English.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 264
Latin American Culture II (Independence to Present Day)
This course focuses on the social, political, economic, and cultural development of the Latin American nations. Emphasis will be on to the construction of national identities during the 19th century as well as main historic-political events of the 20th century. Discussions will be based on readings, documentaries, and feature films. Latin American newspapers on the Internet are used to inform our debates of current events. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 264
Literature and the Law
In literature and in law, language shapes rhetorical worlds that seek to represent, constitute and interpret the actions of human beings and their world. Therefore, examining how the law is represented in literature gives insight both into how this representation shifts to accommodate historical and cultural differences, and how central the role of narrative is to legal institutions. This course will focus on representations of the law in German-language literature from the late 18th century onward, to examine how literature relates the human condition to law, to other central cultural values (love, honor and justice), and how literature can put the law itself into question. The course will emphasize literary interrogations of National Socialist law, which take up these questions in their most urgent form. Taught in English.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 270
Introduction to Cultural Analysis
This course serves as a transition to advanced courses in Spanish language, culture, and literature. Students will develop analytical skills through an intense exploration of cultural production in the Hispanic world and through an examination of diverse literary genres, film, and current events. The focus will be on improving the necessary linguistic and critical thinking skills that are the fundamental foundation for literary and cultural analysis in advanced Spanish study.
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or 224 or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 270
Russian Poetry
Readings in Russian poetry, including verse of the Golden and Silver Ages (the nineteenth century through 1920). Texts will be discussed from the viewpoint of their aesthetic and historical significance. Students will become familiar with the classics of Russian poetry while also developing the critical skills of being able to analyze poetry linguistically and write about it. Stylistic analysis will refine students’ knowledge of grammar; extensive discussion of texts will enhance oral proficiency. All readings and discussion in Russian.
Prerequisite: Russian 201 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 271
French Theater Workshop
This workshop will offer students a combination of linguistic and dramatic training. Conducted in French only, it will give students a chance to improve their language skills. During the semester, students will work on scenes from various theatrical genres but also, voice, movement, and improvisation. The workshop leads to a performance that will conclude the course. Student’s responsibilities will include 2 hours a week of class meetings as well as private rehearsals. The play or scenes to be performed at the end of the semester will be chosen based on the number of students enrolled and their level of French.
Prerequisite: French 201 or equivalent, or instructor consent.
0.50 units, Seminar
HISP 280
Hispanic Hartford
This course seeks to place Trinity students in active and informed dialogue with the Hartford region’s large and diverse set of Spanish-speaking communities. The course will help student recognize and analyze the distinct national histories (e.g. Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Chilean, Honduran, Cuban, Colombian, Mexican) which have contributed to the Hispanic diaspora in the city and the entire northeastern region of the United States. Students will undertake field projects designed to look at the effects of transnational migration on urban culture, institution-building, and identity formation. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Hispanic 221 or 224 or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 281
Conversational French: Current Events
This course is designed for students who want to acquire greater proficiency in their oral expression and are interested in current events. We will examine current political, social, historical and educational issues as they appear in French newspapers and magazines such as L’Express, Le Monde, Le Nouvel Observateur and other online resources. Students will participate in class discussions, prepare oral reports and conduct presentations on the issues under study.
Prerequisite: French 241 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 285
Cultural Rights
This course will address the developing field of cultural rights by considering a variety of human rights documents in conjunction with international literature and film dedicated to the topic. Cultural Rights is a colloquium course in which a variety of LACS professors will lead lectures on texts in their countries of specialty. The course will be taught in English, and will focus on topics such as a community's right to preserve their culture, to speak their language, and to practice their religion; cultural relativism, political autonomy, and cultural consumerism; resistance to culturally-defined gender roles, and the struggle to navigate conflicting values as a minority living within a majority culture.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 290
Studying in the Hispanic World Colloquium
This course is designed to provide students returning from study abroad in Barcelona, Santiago, Cordoba, and other Spanish-speaking venues (summer, semester, or year-long programs) with a forum within which they can share, compare, and process analytically and historically the difficulties, conflicts, absences, and discoveries that they experienced in their time abroad. They will then be asked to investigate how these experiences have affected their view of the social and cultural norms of U.S. culture. (Prerequisite: Study abroad in an approved program in a Spanish-speaking country.)
0.50 units, Seminar
ITAL 290
Italian Cinema: Fiction and Film
A study and discussion of Italian cinema from neorealism to the present. The course will cover both formal and thematic trends in the films of the noted postwar Italian directors Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Luchino Visconti. The course will also consider the trend away from reliance on literary texts toward the development of personal expressions by such author/directors as Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Lina Wertmüller, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Maurizio Nichetti, and others. Film screenings will be in Italian with English subtitles. Lectures and coursework will be in English. Students wishing to apply this course toward the major in Italian must secure permission of the instructor. They will complete their assignments in Italian and meet with the instructor in supplementary sessions. Faithful attendance is required. (Listed as both LACS 233-05 and ITAL 290-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 299
Foundations of Language and Culture Studies
This course (taught in English) starts from the premise that all language acts are culturally based. The main topics of the course are the history of languages; linguistics; literary criticism; cultural criticism; and the translated text. Questions we will explore are: what is language, how do we acquire it, and what relationship does it have to culture? What does the nature vs. nurture debate mean for language? What is the interface between (literary) narrative, language, and culture? What happens when a literary text is translated from one language into another? Does it matter? Students will have a chance to do individualized work that bears upon their own language of study. The course features regular guest lectures by faculty from a range of languages and fields.
1.00 units, Seminar
ARAB 301
Intermediate Arabic III
Continuation of Arabic 202, introducing increasingly complex grammatical structures through culturally based materials and literary texts, with a programmed expansion of vocabulary to 1,500 words. Lab work required. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Arabic 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 301
Advanced Chinese I
Further development of skill in written and spoken Mandarin, with increasing emphasis on longer texts, additional characters, and extensive discussion. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 301 and 302 in sequence. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 301
Existentialism
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 301
German Readings I: Imagining America
America has long served as a projection screen for European cultural fantasies and anxieties. German writers have consistently evoked images of America that hover between utopian dreams and dystopian nightmares. Particularly after 9/11 and the recent expansion of the European Union, German writers have begun to view the United States with a greater detachment than before. In this course we will examine the history of interaction between the United States and post-1945 Germany with a focus on literature written in East and West Germany and reunified Germany. Our readings of short stories, novels (excerpts), and essays will look at literature as a mapping of changing perceptions of America within specific political and socio-cultural contexts. In addition to the study of literature, we will also continue with the oral history project with German immigrants in the Hartford area that was started by German students in 2007. This course develops students’ basic skills of literary interpretation, interviewing skills, various readings techniques (e.g. close readings, reading for the plot etc.), and writing. Authors include Christa Wolf, Günter Kunert, Peter Handke, Uwe Johnson, and Heiner Müller.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 301
German Readings I: Small Masterpieces of Modern German Literature
Through close readings and comparative discussions of novellas and short prose fictions of major German authors, students will improve German comprehension and speaking skills. Frequent writing assignments will be required. Some grammar review will be offered. All work will be done in German.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 301
German-Jewish Writers
This course will examine the contribution of Jewish writers to German literature, philosophy and culture. Of central concern will be how these writers negotiate and theorize their dual identity as Jew and German through the form and content of their writings. Issues of national, cultural and linguistic identification, acculturation, and self-criticism will be traced out through texts dating from the Enlightenment to the modern era. Readings to include: Mendelssohn, Varnhagen, Schlegel, Heine, Schnitzler, Freud, Kafka, Lasker-Schüler, Arendt, Celan.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Seminar
GRMN 301
The Wild 18th Century: Goethe on Love, Death and the Devil
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is perhaps the most influential author in German literature, and his works defined some of the most important genres of his lifetime and beyond (1749-1832). This course will explore some of Goethe's greatest masterpieces, as well as selected works by other authors of the era, in order to examine some of the fundamental philosophical and aesthetic questions of the eighteenth century. Readings will include Goethe's "Die Leiden des jungen Werther," "Faust I" and selected poems; Schiller's "Die Räuber" and selected poems; and Kleist's "Das Erdbeben in Chile." We will also focus on the life and times of Goethe in order to understand his influence and role in German and European culture.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 301
German Literature and Film Since 1945
Through close readings and comparative discussions of short prose, poetry, and film from 1945 until the present, students will improve their German comprehension (listening as well as reading), speaking, and writing skills. There will be texts from Austria, Switzerland, the Federal Republic of German, and the former GDR, by authors such as Günter Grass, Heinrich Böll, Max Frisch, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, and Christa Wolf, as well as many well-known poets and film directors. Some grammar review will be offered. All work will be done in German.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HEBR 301
Advanced Modern Hebrew I
Emphasis on written essays as well as on comprehension through readings and class discussion of short stories, articles, and poetry. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
Prerequisite: Hebrew 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 301
An Introduction to Cervantes' Literary Industry
An analysis and interpretation of the complete text of Don Quijote de la Mancha, with attention given to Cervantes' use of irony (burla) as the keystone of his artifice. Keeping in mind the historical and cultural background of the text, we will examine how Cervantes' writings (El Quijote, Entremeses, Novelas Ejemplare) hinge on a parodic game that entails a process of encoding and decoding, one which has a demystifying power upon reality.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 301
Russian through Literature and Film
This course contains two segments. In one segment students strengthen their grammar and vocabulary through reading authentic literary texts. The other segment improves listening comprehension through the viewing of a Russian film. Students will view the film in installments, using video technology to replay scenes as often as necessary to achieve comprehension. Homework assignments will include film viewing in the video lab.
Prerequisite: Russian 221 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 302
Intermediate Arabic IV
Continuation of Arabic 301, presenting alternative stylistic tools for oral and written communication, with a vigorous expansion of vocabulary. Lab work required. (Also listed under the African Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Arabic 301 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 302
Advanced Chinese II
Concentration on advanced writing and speaking skills, further acquisition of compound characters, and further extensive practice in complex reading. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 302
Voices of the Century
Through the discussion and interpretation of the memoirs, letters, diaries, and eyewitness testimonials of famous and eclectic German poets, artists, composers, architects, film directors, politicians, and critics, the class will examine the themes and conflicts that comprise the German Zeitgeist. We shall also experience and analyze selections from a major film, art work, or musical composition that played a role in the phenomenal transitions from the Kaiserreich through the fall of the Berlin Wall. Students will be asked to draw conclusions from the art forms and the texts in short essays and an on-line journal. Some grammar review will be offered. All work will be done in German. Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 302
German Readings II: Autobiographies
Further development and practice of advanced oral and written skills, based on a variety of German literary readings. This year's focus will be autobiographies. This course will explore differing responses to such fundamental questions as "Who am I?" through an examination of various canonical and lesser known autobiographical texts. The genre of autobiography pushes the boundaries of self-reflection, self-analysis, and representation, leading to differing modes of identity construction along cultural, historical, religious, and gender lines. We will explore the limits and possibilities of this genre by reading a broad range of German language texts from the late 18th to the late 20th centuries, focusing on such questions as What role do memoirs play in relating history? Is a subjective account more truthful? Is there an ethics attached to the memoir? and what is the connection between the artistic production and lived experience of these authors? Reading to include Goethe, Varnhagen, and Nietzsche.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 302
German Readings I: Across Time and Genres
This course develops students’ basic skills of literary interpretation. We will practice various reading techniques (e.g. close reading, reading for the plot, etc.) and familiarize ourselves with literary terminology and its application. The texts represent different genres (fairy tales, children’s literature, poetry, drama, etc.) and span more than two hundred years of cultural history in German-speaking lands. We will explore key cultural concepts and different political and cultural movements with an emphasis on literature. The intent of this course is to help students establish a framework for critical reading and communicative skills in German, which they will develop further in subsequent study of German culture and politics.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
GRMN 302
Moments in Modern German Culture
This course will introduce students to four major issues in German culture beginning with the early twentieth century and ending with very contemporary cultural concerns. Divided into four segments, the course will begin with a focus on the Weimar Republic, anti-Semitism and National Socialism, before moving on to the concepts of the Stunde Null, multiculturalism, and finishing up with a look at Die Berliner Republik and Germany’s political standing in Europe. Each topic will be explored through a combination of readings and other media (film, music), with the goal of improving students’ reading, speaking, listening and writing skills in German. Readings: Brecht, Döblin, Kolmar, Borchert, Tawada, Schulze.
Prerequisite: German 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Seminar
GRMN 302
German Literature from 1700-1900
This course explores German history and culture through the lens of literature and focuses on the historical period encompassing the aesthetic movements of the Storm and Stress, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Classicism and Realism. While the focus is on the interpretation of literary texts, secondary readings on history and aesthetic/cultural theory will also be included. Readings include works by Goethe, Schiller, Heine, Stifter, Hauptmann, Rilke and Mann.
Prerequisite: Gereman 202, 301, or consent of instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
HEBR 302
Advanced Modern Hebrew II
A continuation of Hebrew 301 with emphasis on reading short novels and Israeli newspapers as well as viewing and discussing selected videos and movies. (Also offered under the Middle Eastern studies and Jewish studies programs.)
Prerequisite: Hebrew 301 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 302
Russian Narrative Prose
Intensive study of traditional or contemporary Russian texts. Weekly reading assignments will be supplemented by oral reports, literary analysis, and exercises in translation. Students will play a significant role in leading class discussion. All readings and discussion in Russian.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Russian 222, or permission of instructor
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 304
Current Russian Media
A survey of current Russian newspaper and magazine articles, radio and television broadcasts, and the Internet. Subjects covered will include popular culture, home and family life, environmental issues, economics, and politics. Students will strive to master the special type of Russian used in the media as well as describe how these media reflect or distort the state of Russian society. Prerequisite: Russian 222 or permission of the instructor. (This course is also offered under the Russian and Eurasian Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 305
Modern Culture and Civilization
A study of modern France through its history, arts, politics, and social structures. This course is designed to help students understand why the French think the way they do and why their societal concepts are often very different from those of the Americans. To do so we will see that for the French the presence of the past deeply informs the present and how this historical phenomenon has shaped, at least in part, the concept of the family, the government, the educational system, and the position of women in France. We will also examine the important issue of immigration, which is one of France’s major social issues today. Finally, we will look at the role that France is playing in the shaping of European unity.
Prerequisite: French 241 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 311
The Spanish Golden Age: An Overview
This course provides an overview of some of the most relevant canonical works of the Golden Age while establishing some basic guidelines for the understanding of this rich period of Spanish culture; The American Empire made Spain one of the most powerful countries in the history of humanity. We will focus on central aspects of the Imperial Age poetics, such as the relationship between literature and reality, as well as the key trends in politics and religion (the connections between Golden Age culture and the Reconquest and the Counter-Reformation), while simultaneously calling attention to some of the critical stances of well-known writers such as Cervantes.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 311
Advanced Readings in Japanese I
This course aims at building students’ skills and speed in reading Japanese. It will draw materials from primary sources in various genres such as novels, poems, newspapers, essays, and instructional materials. Students will develop sentence analysis strategies as well as expand their knowledge of advanced vocabulary and kanji. An appropriate level of oral communication skill is required. (Since the content of this course varies from year to year to focus on the most contemporary materials, students may enroll for credit more than once.)(Also offered under the Asian studies program.)
Prerequisite: Japanese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 312
Foundational Tropes/Contested Tropes: "The Gaucho"
Several debates, themes, images or tropes seem to constitute a symbolic and discursive core of Latin American cultural history: "The Savage," "The Gaucho," "The Mestizo," "The Captive," "The Matriach," "The Landowner," "The Enightened Tyrant," "The Developer," and "The Immigrant." These concepts are, in turn, connected to notions of Europeanness, whiteness, civilization, capitalist development, and progress. Through the examination of a series of literary texts and documents from different historical periods and literary and ideological movements, this course explores the origin and historical evolution of these recurring and enduring themes and metaphors.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 312
Advanced Spoken Japanese I
This course aims to develop students’ listening and speaking skills in Japanese. The first half of the course focuses on basic tasks and social situations covered in Japanese 101 through Japanese 202, bringing students’ performance to a more natural and practical level. The latter half will introduce new conversational strategies and diverse topics and situations mostly drawn from current and culture-specific topics. (Since the content of this course varies from year to year to focus on the most contemporary materials, students may enroll for credit more than once.)
Prerequisite: Japanese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 313
The Vision of America and its Inhabitants Through the Renaissance and the Golden Age
The course concentrates on the contradictory worldviews of Amerindians’ voices/writings and the specific projections generated by explorers, travelers, historians, soldiers, friars, and conquistadors as they sought to explain the “otherness” of this new land. It also will focus on the shift of the official representation of America and the Amerindian provoked by the complexities brought on by the emergence of the modern state. We will also study, through the work of the leading playwrights of the Golden Age, the significance of these profound changes, their implications for the Spanish policies toward the Amerindians, and Spain’s response to this non-European world.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 314
Indigenous Peoples in Spanish American Literature and Culture
This course looks at the (primarily literary) representation of the indigenous peoples of Spanish America, from the first writings of Christopher Columbus to current indigenista and neo-indigenista prose and indigenous testimonies. Besides essays, poetry, theater, and narrative, the class examines art, film, photography, and popular culture, in order to examine how national cultural production portrays, appropriates, marginalizes, or celebrates the indigenous peoples and cultures. While we will look at the portrayal of the indigenous peoples in a variety of contexts (including the US), we will concentrate on those areas with the highest concentration of indigenous peoples: Mexico, Central America, and the Andes. (Also listed under Latin American and Caribbean Studies.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 314
Contemporary Italian Literature
A critical reading of selected novels, short stories, poetry, and plays from the turn of the 20th century to the present. Authors include: Pirandello, Svevo, Aleramo, Montale, Ungaretti, Morante, Calvino, Petrignani, Fo, and other contemporary authors. Emphasis is on the historical and cultural context of the works and on recent trends in Italian literature. Topics include: literature during both world wars and under Fascism, modernism and postmodernism in literature, contemporary women writers, and the role of Italian intellectuals in society. All work is done in Italian.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 318
Gender and Sexuality in Spanish America
How is gender imagined in cultural production from Spanish America? What role has feminism played in transforming women’s writing? How is homosexuality represented in film and literature? What is the relationship between gender and ethnicity in articulating subjectivity? We will consider these questions and many others in our exploration of the construction of gender and sexuality in texts by men and women in Spanish America. (Also listed under Latin American and Caribbean Studies; and Women, Gender and Sexuality.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 319
The Stylistics of Violence: Discourses and Narratives of Violence in the Hispanic World
This course analyzes the various ways in which the Hispanic world narrates violence. Special attention will be given to the relationship between violence and cultural production, from the colonial period through modern day Latin America and Spain. The required texts problematize and re-signify the notion of violence as perceived and represented by marginalized, peripheral, and subaltern communities throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The class will draw from texts across a wide range of genres, including traditional literature—novels, essays, poetry, short fiction—as well as from other forms of cultural discourse—film, documentaries, testimonial literature, performance art, graffiti, and tattoos. Course assessment will hinge on in-class participation, weekly orientation questions, in-class group presentations, and out-of-class essays. We will conduct the class primarily in Spanish.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 320
French Cinema
This course is designed to familiarize students with the development and art of the French cinema as seen through its important phases and movements, and in its relationship to modern France. Relevant literary and critical texts will accompany each film. Lectures and coursework will be in English. (Listed as both LACS 333-01 and FREN 320-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 320
Emigration and Transatlantic "Cultural Commerce"
Since the middle of the 19th century, the Iberian nations have produced a constant stream of emigrants to the Americas. The new arrivals from Spain and Portugal have often exercised significant influence on the development of their countries of adoption. Similarly, the channels of communication opened by these emigrants to the New World have allowed citizens from countries such as Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and the United States to play important roles in the development of contemporary Spanish and Portuguese life. After studying the prime "push" and "pull" factors in these transatlantic emigrations, we will examine literary, cinematic, and artistic manifestations of this transatlantic "cultural commerce" during the contemporary era.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 321
Gender, Ethnicity in Andes
This course will focus on the construction of the subject within national discourses and cultural expressions in the countries of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. Specifically, we will look at those creators and works (in literature, music, art, film, theater, and popular culture) that challenge/threaten dominant discourse within the nation and demand a rethinking of the dominant culture-space paradigm. Our exploration will include, but not be limited to, cultural production by women, indigenous and mestizo groups, Afro-Hispanics, Jews, and gays. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean Studies concentration of the International Studies Program; and the Women Gender and Sexuality Program.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 324
The Spanish Post-War Novel (1939-Present)
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) severely damaged Spain's social and cultural fabric. In the six decades since the end of the war, however, Spaniards have demonstrated that violence, poverty, and political oppression are no match for a vital literary and cultural tradition. In this course we will analyze a number of the more important novels of the post-war era with an eye toward gaining an understanding the social problems and transformations that have taken place in the country during this period.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 325
Americans in Paris/Parisians in America
Americans visiting Paris today flock to the literary cafés of the Latin Quarter and the Impressionist paintings at the Musée d’Orsay, but how was it that Paris came to represent a cultural mecca for Americans? To what extent do American cities generally—and New York in particular—occupy a similar place in the cultural imaginary of Parisians? This course draws from an eclectic mix of materials—historical and literary texts, transatlantic correspondence, pop culture and comedy, music, films, political treatises, cultural theory—to examine some of the assumptions, prejudices, and cross-cultural influences that characterize Franco-American relations historically and today. Sample reading list includes works by James Baldwin, Simone de Beauvoir, Adam Gopnik, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, David Sedaris, and Alexis de Tocqueville. Coursework and discussions will be in English. Listed as both LACS 325-01 and FREN 325-01.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 325
Literature of Popular Consciousness and Revolution
This course explores the way certain literary works, themes, genres and movements emerged or accompanied a series of popular uprisings and revolutions (i.e. the Mexican Revolution) as well as emerging urban, working class and nationalist forms of consciousness during the first half of the 20th century.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 325
Americans in Paris/Parisians in America
Americans visiting Paris today flock to the literary cafés of the Latin Quarter and the Impressionist paintings at the Musée d’Orsay, but how was it that Paris came to represent a cultural mecca for Americans? To what extent do American cities generally—and New York in particular—occupy a similar place in the cultural imaginary of Parisians? This course draws from an eclectic mix of materials—historical and literary texts, transatlantic correspondence, pop culture and comedy, music, films, political treatises, cultural theory—to examine some of the assumptions, prejudices, and cross-cultural influences that characterize Franco-American relations historically and today. Sample reading list includes works by James Baldwin, Simone de Beauvoir, Adam Gopnik, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, David Sedaris, and Alexis de Tocqueville. Coursework and discussions will be in English. Listed as both LACS 325-01 and FREN 325-01.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 327
Memory at Work in Latin American Culture
This course will examine memory as an evolving process that leads to the construction of individual and collective identities. We will look at the individual and collective dimensions of memory as articulated in literature, film, photography, music, and monuments. On the individual level, to what extent does fantasy interplay with memory in the reconstruction of the past? On the collective level, who has the right to remember? How do cultural discourses propose alternatives to the hegemonic interpretation of the national past? Is memory a form of resistance? And furthermore, how can memory and reconciliation be articulated in post-dictatorship societies? ((Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 328
Iberian Film
In this course we will examine the relationship between history and film in Spain, one of the world's most important film-producing countries. Until quite recently, cinematic production there was marked by a general tendency to promote the primacy of Castilian culture and Church-derived social mores through the production of historicist narratives. Since the country's transition to democracy, a much more plural and heterodix cinematic tradition has taken root in the country. While still very much engaged with history, this new tradition promotes a broader view of the country's religious, sexual and linguistic heritage.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 329
The Transatlantic Radio Network
The aim of this course is to enhance written and oral skills in Spanish and to engender a detailed and sophisticated understanding of the major cultural, historical, and political tendencies of Spain and the societies of the Southern Cone of Latin America. After learning the basics of “podcasting” production (Internet telephony, digital editing, and RSS syndication), students will produce a bi-weekly internet radio program which will place special emphasis on the study of the urban cultures of Barcelona and Montevideo and the flow of ideas between the South America and the Iberian worlds. When researching, writing, and producing the required 10 hours of finished programming, student production teams are expected to communicate not only with faculty and student “correspondents” at Trinity’s global learning sites, but also with relevant artists, writers, politicians and cultural entrepreneurs on both sides of the Atlantic basin.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 330
Art and Politics in the Spanish and Latin American Picaresque
Featuring vagabonds, outlaws, and other social deviants as protagonists, picaresque novels offer a critical view of a decadent 17th-century Spain from the perspective of socially marginalized subjects whose view of the world is rife with irony and satire. Through the reading of Golden Age Spanish classics like the Lazarillo de Tormes and Cervantes' Novelas ejemplares, as well as other classic and contemporary Latin American picaresque texts, including Catalina de Erauso's Vida y sucesos de la monja alférez, Carmen Boullosa's Duerme, and Che Guevara’s Diarios de motocicleta, this course inquires into the relationship between art and the political, exploring the ways in which artists exploited the aesthetic form of the picaresque to both question power and reaffirm it. Course readings will be complemented with various key films in Spanish and Latin American cinema and with selected readings in critical theory.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 331
The "Boom" and Beyond
This course will examine the period known as the "Boom" both as literary movement and as cultural phenomenon. What are the characteristics of the so-called "New Narrative" and the principle concerns of the writers of the "Boom"? What are the internal, global, cultural, and market forces that produced this explosion in the production and reception of Latin American literature? Who is excluded from the "boom" and why? This course will focus on "classic" 20th-century "Boom" works by Borges, Cortízar, Rulfo, García, Márquez, Vallejo, and others, as well as some works by post-Boom writers. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
ITAL 333
Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies
An interdisciplinary seminar devoted to guided, individual research. In consultation with the course instructor, each student may work on any aspect of the history, society, or culture of Italy or of Italians in other lands. Coursework is conducted in Italian. Qualified sophomores and juniors should register for the course as ITAL 333. Seniors majoring in Italian: Plan A and Plan B (Italian as primary language) are required to take this course and must register for it as ITAL 401. Seniors will complete a substantial research paper in partial fulfillment of the course requirements. (Listed as both ITAL 333 AND ITAL 401.)
Prerequisite: One 300-Level Course in Italian Literature or equivalent and Permission of Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
ITAL 333
Modern Italian Literature
A survey of major works of Italian literature from the 18th through the 19th centuries, from the neoclassical period, through Romanticism, to Verismo and Decadentismo. Authors to be read include: Goldoni, Alfieri, Foscolo, Leopardi, Manzoni, Verga, D’Annunzio, and Serrao. Special attention is paid to the historical and cultural significance of the works to be read. Topics include: the development of a national language and identity, women writers and intellectuals, and literary representations of the North/South question. All work is done in Italian. (Listed both as LACS 333-26 and ITAL 333-02.)
Prerequisite: Italian 228 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ITAL 333
Dante: The Divine Comedy
An intensive study of the Divine Comedy (in translation) with particular emphasis on the historical and aesthetic significance of this 'summa.' Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Italian should receive permission of the instructor. (Listed as both LACS 333-12 and ITAL 333-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 333
Dante: The Divine Comedy
An intensive study of the Divine Comedy (in translation) with particular emphasis on the historical and aesthetic significance of this 'summa.' Students wishing to count this course toward a major in Italian should receive permission of the instructor. (Listed as both LACS 333-12 and ITAL 333-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 333
French Cinema
This course is designed to familiarize students with the development and art of the French cinema as seen through its important phases and movements, and in its relationship to modern France. Relevant literary and critical texts will accompany each film. Lectures and coursework will be in English. (Listed as both LACS 333-01 and FREN 320-01.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 333
Dostoevsky
(Conducted in English.) Reading and discussing Dostoevsky’s literary works, we will try to answer the social, psychological, philosophical, and religious questions that tortured him. We will examine Dostoevsky’s reaction to social problems he saw in 19th-century Russia: family breakdown, alienation and powerlessness in the workplace, the daily humiliations of living in a system that ranks people according to their salary; and we will try to answer the underlying question: how can people connect with each other in the modern age? Modernity’s preference for science and social science also troubled Dostoevsky. If human actions are scientifically predictable, can people ever be free? We will examine the unsavory solutions Dostoevsky offered: spite, game-playing, crime, radical nihilism, and others. Do religions, with all their glaring contradictions, offer a viable answer? The search for answers to these and other questions will open up new vistas and will educate students about one of the most influential world writers, the author of such classics as Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, and The Brothers Karamazov. (Listed as both LACS 333-10 and RUSS 357-01; and under the Russian and Eurasian studies concentration of the International Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 333
Modern Italian Literature
A survey of major works of Italian literature from the 18th through the 19th centuries, from the neoclassical period, through Romanticism, to Verismo and Decadentismo. Authors to be read include: Goldoni, Alfieri, Foscolo, Leopardi, Manzoni, Verga, D’Annunzio, and Serrao. Special attention is paid to the historical and cultural significance of the works to be read. Topics include: the development of a national language and identity, women writers and intellectuals, and literary representations of the North/South question. All work is done in Italian. (Listed both as LACS 333-26 and ITAL 333-02.)
1.00 units, Lecture
LACS 333
Modern Existentialist Drama
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Lecture
RUSS 337
Russian and Soviet Theater
An exploration of a variety of topics in Russian and Soviet theater from the 1830s to the present: the plays, the experiments and developments in acting technique and scenic design as well as their theoretical foundations. Particular emphasis will be given to the 30 years at the beginning of this century and theater developments in the past decade. Discussion will also cover reasons for restaging the classics in recent years and the serious challenges confronting the artistic community during the Stalin years and continuing beyond the Brezhnev era. (Listed both as Modern Languages 233-93 and Russian 337-01; under the Russian and Eurasian concentration of the International Studies Program; and Theater and Dance.)
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 340
U.S. Latino/Latina Writers
This course explores exemplary texts written by Latina/Latino authors in the19th and 20th centuries and examines them in relation to their representation of issues such as gender and sexualities, diasporic identities, and bilingualism. We will consider a diversity of Chicana/o and Latina/o literature (poetry, narrative, theater, and film) in our analysis of topics such transculturation, (im)migration, (im)migrant's rights, feminist consciousness, exile, post-colonialism and linguistic identity. (Also offered under Latin American and Caribbean Studies; and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Program.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 341
Latin American Poetry
The students will become familiar with the main literary trends in the Spanish American Poetry since the "Modernismo movement" (end of XIXth century) to the present. The readings will include poets such as Pablo Neruda, Cesar Vallejo, Alejandra Pizarnik, Ruben Dario and Gioconda Belli, and some popular singers such as Silvio Rodriguez and Violeta Parra. There will be an emphasis on understanding the specificity of poetic language and the development of the appropriate tools of analysis. The course will enhance reading skills that will enable students to enjoy poetry in Spanish or any other language.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 342
Latin American Theater
This course explores the various manifestations of Latin American tTheater of the late 19th and the 20th centuries. Texts to be studied include canonical authors (i.e. Florencio, Sanchez, Agustin Cuzzani, Augusto Boal) as well as other, equally important authors, movements and trends such as Teatro Campensino, Teatro Poblacional, Popular Theater, and performances. Some attention will also be paid to the study of theatricality in social and political rituals and everyday life. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 342
Latin American Theater
This course explores the various manifestations of Latin American Theater of the late 19th and the 20th centuries. Texts to be studied include canonical authors (i.e. Florencio, Sanchez, Agustin Cuzzani, Augusto Boal) as well as other, equally important authors, movements and trends such as Teatro Campensino, Teatro Poblacional, Popular Theater, performances. Some attention will also be paid to the study of theatricality in social and political rituals and everyday life. This course may count toward the Theater and Dance major.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 344
Spanish American Historical Novel
How is history portrayed in literature? How may literature be used to search for a greater, or alternative, historical "truths"? How might historical events be used to contemplate more intimate concerns and problems? These and other questions will be explored as this class examines some of the many historical novels produced both at the beginning of the 20th century and today in Latin America. We will study how authors use history to explore problems of narration, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, subjectivity, and the nation.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 345
Special Topic
To be offered occasionally on a special topic of consideration in Spanish American or Iberian literatures and cultures.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 345
Special Topics: Imperial Spain and the Dawn of the Modern World Order
Spain's colonial ventures in the 16th and 17th centuries are nowadays credited with having laid the foundations for the first modern empire, yet as the Spanish nation found itself transformed into a key global player it continued to struggle with the internal political and religious tensions that had been rattling other European countries since the Renaissance. This course will focus on three crucial figures of this tumultuous and transitional moment: Christopher Columbus, the Genoese explorer behind the "discovery" of America; Saint Teresa of Avila, the Catholic mystic and religious reformer; and Garcilaso Inca de la Vega, the son of a Spanish Conquistador and an Inca princess who would later become the foremost chronicler of Inca civilization. Situating their writings in relation to the main polemics of the period--geographical and cosmological disputes about the nature of the planet (Columbus), Reformation and Counter-Reformation theologies of salvation (Teresa), and critical reflections on the legitimacy of imperial violence and of the uses of memory and history (Garcilaso)--we will examine how these threads combine to form Spain's distinct contribution to the constitution of the modern world order. Readings will include Columbus' Diaries, Letters, Book of Prophecies, and Testament, Teresa de Avila's Book of Her Life, and Garcilaso's Royal Commentaries of the Incas, as well as selections from Aquinas, Marco Polo, Joachim de Fiore, Luther, and Bodin.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 345
Special Topics: From Romantics to Moderns
The nineteenth-century witnesses radical changes on many planes in Spain including the political, economic, and the ideological. In Western cultures in general, contemporary society was transforming itself, struggling against outdated power structures to emerge, at the end of the century, with self-awareness of modern, albeit divided, citizenries. Parallel to these events, cultural productions went through changing aesthetic stages (Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, etc.) as novelists, intellectuals, artists, poets, and journalists in Spain took part in successive debates within national borders, between Spain and Europe, as well as with the newly independent Latin American nations. Examinations of literature, art, political documents and the press will provide an understanding of the protagonism of cultural representations during that century in the ongoing processes and enduring tensions of identity formation, liberalization, and modernization.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP 221 and HISP 270
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 350
Critical Approaches to Advanced Translation Studies
This course will focus on techniques of translating and interpreting both French and English texts from a variety of fields (e.g., literature, culture, history, the arts, political, social, and natural sciences, cinema, international relations, entertainment). Students will learn how to do bilingual reports, summaries, and oral presentations to increase awareness of linguistic subtleties and communicative possibilities. The course emphasizes the process of translation as both an art and a methodology that sharpens critical thinking and language proficiency skills. It is meant to be of particular use to students wishing to develop high-level French language skills for application in a wide variety of contexts.
Prerequisite: French 250, 251 or 252 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Critical Methodology
Close readings of texts selected from the genres of poetry, prose and drama, to help develop and apply various critical skills. All work done in French.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
18th-Century Enlightenment
The Enlightenment can be defined as a movement of political, social, and philosophical contestation advocating the reign of reason and progress. This course will examine the manifestations of this questioning through the study of the dominant genres of the periods: plays, philosophical tales, dialogues, novels. We will also study a selection of films whose subject is the history and cultural life of 18th-century France and examine the relevance of 18th-century issues to the contemporary world. Sample reading list, L'île des esclaves, Marivaux, Le Neveu de Rameau, Diderot Candide, Voltaire, Le Mariage de Figaro, Beaumarchais, Les Infortunes de la vertu, Sade. Films: Que la fête commence, Bertrand Tavernier, Ridicule, Patrice Leconte, L'Anglaise et le duc, Éric Roemer.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
From Libertinism to the Revolution : Screening the French Eighteenth Century
The French 18th century has never been so popular with film-makers. In this course, we will study a selection of films whose subject is the history and cultural life of eighteenth-century France and examine the relevance of eighteenth-century issues for the contemporary world. Attention will be paid to literary texts and other documents upon which the films are based and to questions of historical interpretation and film technique. The films studied include Que la fête commence by Bertrand Tavernier, The Night and the moment by Anna Maria Tatò, Les Amants by Louis Malle, La Religieuse by Jacques Rivette, Dangerous Liaisons by Stephen Frears, The Affair of the Necklace by Charles Shyer, L’Anglaise et le duc by Éric Roemer, Danton by Andrzej Wajda
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
Special Topics in French Literature: Voices from the Francophone World
This course is designed to introduce students to the literary voices coming from France’s former colonial empire (North and West Africa, the Caribbean’s and the literature of emigration). It could be said that Francophone literature is the belated off spring of the ideals of the Enlightment and the French Revolution, which finally, almost two centuries later, allowed “the Empire to write back”. This ever-growing literary corpus is bringing a new energy and a new vision of the world to both French literature and French society. Readings will be selected from the genre of prose, drama and poetry, and all the work will be done in French. * We will not study the literature from Quebec, even though it is considered part of the Francophone world. Prerequisite: French 251 or 252 or permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
Tales of Transgression:Crime, Censorship, & Public Morals in the 19th & 20th Century French Culture
In this course we will explore various manifestations of crime and transgression in French literary culture of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the topics we will discuss are the rise of bourgeois industrial culture, social norms and mores, scandal, and censorship as they relate to class, gender, and sexuality. Works will include narratives by the 19th-century chief of police Eugene Vidocq, Crimes celebres by Victor Hugo, Les Fleurs du mal by Baudelair, excerpts of Flaubert's Madam Bovary, Barbey's LesDiaboliques, selected plays by Rachilde, narratives and poetry of the surrealist movement, Robert Netz's Histoire de la censure, and selected writings by Michel Foucault and Georges Bataille.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Special Topics: Tales of Terror: The Short Stories in 19th-Century French Culture
In this course, students will study the short story (nouvelle or conte) as a literary genre and as a cultural product of industrialization and consumerism. Texts include, but are not limited to Claude Geuex by Victor Hugo, Le Bonheur dans le crime de Barbey d'Aurevilly, and selections by George Sand, Prosper Merimee, Theophile Gautier, Balzac, Delphine Girardin, la Comtesse Dash, Maupassant, Flaubert, Dumas (pere and fils), Judith Gautier, Rachilde, and Emile Zola.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Bilingualism and the Francophone World
This course will take us on a tour of the Francophone world, from North Africa, to Canada, the Caribbean, and beyond. Despite French colonization and the presence of the French language in places such as Quebec, Algeria, Haiti, Martinique, and Tahiti, writers nonetheless remind readers of the other languages that once were, or still are, spoken there: Arabic, Berber, Creole, English, Joual. We will study the conflicts raised by sites of political bilingualism and how these issues are played out in works by and about bilinguals. We will also consider writers who, in the absence of any direct political colonization, have opted for careers of self-translation and literary bilingualism. Authors to be studied include Beckett, Chamoiseau, Derrida, Djebar, Huston, Kundera, Khatibi, Roumain, Semprun, and Tremblay.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
Reading the Streets of Paris: flâneurs, lionnes, and chiffonniers
This course focuses on representations of Paris through the eyes of a variety of 19th and 20th-century authors. This course integrates the experience of study abroad and with the analysis of texts that evoke different aspects of urban life. We will begin with a brief history of the city of Paris and specific features of its transformation under Haussmann. Urban icons such as Baudelaire's flâneur, working girls, (grisettes) and ragpickers (chiffonniers) hold an important place in visual and textual representations by the following authors: Charles Baudelaire, Honoré Balzac, Delphine Girardin, George Sand, Jules Verne, Walter Benjamin, André Breton and Colette.We begin with texts by Baudelaire to understand the concept of the flâneur. This becomes an important and uniquely urban phenomenon in 19th-century French culture. The flâneur implies either bohemian or bourgeois social status; however we also analyze texts about women navigating the city, and ragpickers (chiffonniers) who are immortalized in the poetry of Baudelaire and photographs of Atget. Authors include: Charles Baudelaire, Honoré Balzac, Céleste Mogador, George Sand, Jules Verne, Walter Benjamin, Louis Aragon, and Colette.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
The World of Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust is arguably the most iconic and influential French author of the twentieth century. The proustian gaze reaches into every aspect of social, intellectual and artistic life of the period from 1870 to 1920. In this course, a close reading of Du côté de chez Swann, provides an intiation to the world of Proust and A la recherche du temps perdu. Substantial extracts from other parts of the epic seven volume novel will allow a more in-depth understanding of the author’s ideas and of the narrative arch of his work. We will also study a number of adaptations of Proust’s novel in film and other media.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
Visions of France at War in 20th-century Literature and Film
This course considers the literary and cinematic representation of French involvement in wars of the twentieth century both on national and foreign soil. Examining works of fiction, poetry, memoir and film that emerged from the world wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the Algerian War for independence, this course probes the relationship between violence, historical memory, and aesthetic representation, and asks how art can be used to respond to traumatic events. Readings may include works by Albert Camus, Georges Bataille, Michel del Castillo, André Malraux, Jorge Semprun, Marguerite Duras, René Char, Assia Djebar, Leïla Sebbar, and Sylvie Germain, and films such as La Grande Illusion, La Guerre est finie, Nuit et brouillard, Lacombe Lucien, Le Chagrin et La Pitié, Indigènes, and La Bataille d’Alger.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 355
The 20th Century Avant-Garde
Focusing on Paris, this course will study the great, innovative and experimental adventure that took place in that city in art, culture and literature from the time of the death of Victor Hugo to the advent of Surrealism. We will look at "La Belle Epoque," Dada, The New Spirit, Cubism, Surrealism and other relevant trends and movements at the beginning of the 20th century. We will view art, movies, and read an eclectic collection of poetry, plays, novels, and manifestoes. Among writers and artists to be studied are: Jarry, Colette, Apollinaire, Tzara, Matisse, Ernst, Cocteau,Breton and Eluard.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Special Topic in French Literature: Voices from the Francophone World
This course is designed to introduce students to the literary voices coming from France's former colonial empire (North and West Africa, the Caribbean's and the literature of emigrations). It could be said that Francophone literature is the belated offspring of the ideals of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, which finally, almost two centuries later, allowed "the Empire to write back." This ever-growing literary corpus brings energy and a new vision of the world to both French literature and French society. Readings will be selected from the genre of prose, drama and poetry, and all the work will be done in French. We will not study literature from Quebec, even though it is considered part of the Francophone world.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Seminar in French Literature: France During the Occupation
What was it like to live in France between 1940 and 1945? This course will study French lives during the German occupation in World War II through fictional literature (novels, short stories, plays and poetry), memoirs, testimonies, historical accounts, documentaries and feature films. We will focus on the issues the war raised for the population such as : collaboration, resistance, heroism, profiteering, censorship, and accommodation. We will also consider the problems of daily life that survival entailed. Our readings and approaches will be eclectic in order to encompass many experiences and views. Among the authors to be considered are Merle, Rousso, Joffo,Vercors, Sartre, Eluard,Delbo, Duras and Chaix and among filmmakers are Ophuls, Chabrol, Clair, Berri and Truffaut.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Le Mot& L'Image:Cin& Lit
This course will study some of the masterpieces of French literature as well as their adaptation to the screen. The purpose of the course will be twofold: a) to discuss the difficulties that movie directors encounter in translating the written word to its visual representation, and how literary and cinematic techniques differ from one another. b) to examine the image of French society as it appears both in the written and visual texts with an emphasis on gender dynamics Among novels and films to be studies are: Le Colonel Chabert, Madame Bovary, Jules et Jim, Le Silence de la Mer, Germinal, Gigi, La Femme du Boulanger Une Partie de Campagne.
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 355
Special Topics in French Literature: Writing Life Stories in the 20th Century
Why write stories about our lives? How do authors put into writing the personal, traumatic, and often unbelievable experiences they've had in life? This course considers how authors construct fictional and autobiographical selves in French and Francophone literature of the 20th century. By looking at first-person narratives as presented in novels, memoirs, war testimonies, and journals, we will examine the often tenuous boundary between truth and fiction, probe the assumptions we bring to reading autobiographical texts, and pay close attention to the representation of national identity, trauma, and loss. Among the authors to be considered are Proust, Leiris, Beckett, Sartre, Duras, Sarraute, Camus, Chraibi, Conde, Berr, and Federman
Prerequisite: French 251 or 252, or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 355
Rogue Humanism
In dialogue with Greek and Roman sources, Renaissance humanists articulated a definition of humanity that continues to shape debates in philosophy, aesthetics, politics, and theology. In Spain, however, humanism is linked with a set of characters that question the viability of a normative understanding of the human. In what ways do "rogue" figures like Fernando de Rojas’ Celestina, a go-between who makes a living fixing the broken hymens of promiscuous young women; Lazarillo, the pícaro who will voice a corrosive skepticism surrounding national myths; and Cervantes’ Don Quixote, a knight unaware of the distinction between reality and fiction, ask us to revise enduring notions about the cultural and political aspirations of man? Readings by Lucretius, Apuleius, Plautus, Nebrija, Rojas, Erasmus, Cervantes, Heidegger, Arendt, and Rahner.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
LACS 355
Language Across the Curriculum
Students who have completed the intermediate level of a foreign language (fourth semester or equivalent) and who are enrolled in any course across the college, may do an additional half-credit work in the language for that course. This half-credit course will be done with one of the faculty of the Language and Culture Studies Department. The language faculty member will meet with the student regularly and go over the texts in the foreign language that pertain to the course being taken. The language faculty member will grade the student on this additional half-credit and it will count as an LACS course (independent study).
0.50 units, Independent Study
RUSS 357
Dostoevsky
(Conducted in English.) Reading and discussing Dostoevsky’s literary works, we will try to answer the social, psychological, philosophical, and religious questions that tortured him. We will examine Dostoevsky’s reaction to social problems he saw in 19th-century Russia: family breakdown, alienation and powerlessness in the workplace, the daily humiliations of living in a system that ranks people according to their salary; and we will try to answer the underlying question: how can people connect with each other in the modern age? Modernity’s preference for science and social science also troubled Dostoevsky. If human actions are scientifically predictable, can people ever be free? We will examine the unsavory solutions Dostoevsky offered: spite, game-playing, crime, radical nihilism, and others. Do religions, with all their glaring contradictions, offer a viable answer? The search for answers to these and other questions will open up new vistas and will educate students about one of the most influential world writers, the author of such classics as Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, and The Brothers Karamazov. (Listed as both LACS 333-10 and RUSS 357-01; and under the Russian and Eurasian studies concentration of the International Studies program.)
1.00 units, Lecture
FREN 365
Paris:Myth & Reality
“America is my country and Paris is my home town” (Gertrude Stein). This course will first examine how and why the City of Lights has earned its name. Paris is more than the capital of France: it is in many ways its most prestigious civic and artistic achievement. It is also a myth and a dream haunting the imagination of millions. To understand Paris’s success as an urban center, we will examine the historic relationship between the city and the State, and on how the city has been and continues to be conceived culturally and politically as the driving force of the Nation. Then we will explore why Paris has captured the world’s imagination and inspired so many poets, writers, musicians, painters and film makers. We will focus on American artists in Paris such as Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and others, and in particular on Afro-American artists such as Josephine Baker, Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and Sidney Bechet. For the latter group, the city was a refuge, chosen since it allowed them to express themselves freely, and yet it also represented a bitter exile for them. Finally, we will consider whether American artists are still the presence in the city they were in the first half of the 20th century and if so, how. We will be guided by the artists’ vision of the city and pose the question, what does it mean today to be an American in Paris? (Same as Modern Languages 233-74.)
Prerequisite: French 251, French 252 or French 305.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 366
20th-Century Mexican Literature La Mexicanidad
This course examines the century-long quest for national identity in Mexico and in particular, the political, social, and cultural impact of the Mexican Revolution on intellectual discourse. Topics of study include Marxism, the development of civil and women’s rights, community art, secularism, and the importance of mestizaje in the shaping of Mexican identity and letters. We will read primarily novels and essays, by authors ranging from José Vasconcelos to Subcomandante Marcos. We will also critically examine the artwork of the Mexican muralists and Frida Kahlo. (Also offered under the Latin American and Caribbean Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.) Taught in Spanish.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 371
Testimony and Human Rights in Latin American Literature
The course will study Latin American literary testimonies linked to the defense, promotion, or violation of human rights. Attention will be given to a variety of testimonies by women, Indians, Afro-Latin Americans, youth, students, activists, guerrillas, clergy, artists, political prisoners, etc. We will concentrate on first-hand accounts of social and political events. Conducted in Spanish.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 372
Unstable Worlds: Jorge Luis Borges
This course proposes an in-depth analysis of works by the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986). His writing subverts our comforting presuppositions about our place in the universe and its intelligibility. A map the size of the world, an object reflecting all time and place, an encyclopedia that engulfs the universe are only part of the huge landscape Borges' works offer. Reading selections include short stories as well as essays, poems, and critical studies.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Lecture
HISP 375
War, Truth Commissions, and Cultural Production in Latin America
This course will look at the role of cultural production in transitional justice efforts, taking as case studies Truth Commission endeavors in four Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Guatemala and Peru). We will study how film, theater, literature, and the visual arts explore moments of violent civil conflict and contest dominant narratives of truth-finding and reconciliation. How does a society use cultural artifacts as archives of memory and a means of collectively processing traumatic events? How do violence and terror change a national culture, and key concepts such as national identity and citizenship? In considering these questions, we examine key theoretical frameworks for understanding cultural production in times of extreme social violence and articulating a poetics of crisis, trauma, and recovery.
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in HISP270 and one of the following: HISP261 or HISP262 or HISP263 or HISP264; or Permission of the Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
ARAB 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
CHIN 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
FREN 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
GRMN 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
HEBR 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
HISP 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
ITAL 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
JAPN 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
LACS 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
LING 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
RUSS 399
Independent Study
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study
ARAB 401
Advanced Arabic I: Conversation and Composition
This course builds on grammatical concepts acquired in elementary and intermediate courses (101-302). It introduces alternative stylistic tools for oral, aural, and writing skills with a vigorous expansion of vocabulary related to contemporary Arab culture and daily events in the Middle East. We will focus on two key areas of Arabic grammar: the root and pattern system, and complex sentence structure. Students will gain knowledge of grammatical aspects such as active and passive participles, geminate verbs, passive voice, circumstantial clauses, and nouns of place and time (to name a few) and learn more on idafas, broken plurals and superlatives and comparative forms. We will read and discuss authentic texts (short stories, newspapers, and magazine articles) and view films and various news clips in Arabic.
Prerequisite: Arabic 302 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 401
Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary China
The primary goal of this course is to become familiar with, discuss, and debate some cultural, political and economical situations of the contemporary Chinese speaking world through the modern media of newspapers, television and film. The course will also further improve advanced students' ability to use Chinese in their daily and professional lives.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 401
Senior Seminar: Special Topics
This seminar is required of all seniors majoring or minoring in French. Over the term, students will work collaboratively on the various papers they are writing by way of integrating exercises in their major or minor, and the whole class will undertake a number of readings in common in order to provide informed criticism of one another’s papers. Depending on enrollment, the class may also spend part of the semester considering a special topic, author, or genre in French studies.
Prerequisite: At least one 300-level course in French literature or the equivalent, and permission of the instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
FREN 401
Visions of France at War: Violence at Home and Abroad
This course considers the literary and filmic representation of French involvement in wars of the twentieth century both on national and foreign soil. Examining works of fiction, poetry, memoir and film that emerged from the world wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the Algerian War for independence, this course probes the relationship between violence, historical memory, and aesthetic representation and asks how art can be used to respond to traumatic events. Readings may include works by Camus, Bataille, Michel del Castillo, Malraux, Simon, Semprun, Duras, Char, Djebar, and Sebbar, and films such as La Grande Illusion, Nuit et brouillard, Lacombe Lucien, Le Chagrin et La Pitié, Indigènes, and La Bataille d’Alger.
1.00 units, Seminar
GRMN 401
Senior Seminar: Special Topics in German Studies
This interdisciplinary seminar, devoted to guided, individual research, is required of all seniors majoring in German Studies: Plan A, Plan B (German as primary language.) Each student may work on any aspect of the history, society, or culture of the German-speaking world. Coursework is conducted in German. The grade is based on seminar participation and a research project.
Prerequisite: One 300 level German course and instructor consent
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 401
Senior Thesis Seminar
Required for graduation with a major in Spanish (Plan A) or Plan B with Spanish as primary language. Individual tutorial in the writing of a thesis on a special topic in literature or culture, in coordination with one of the members of the Spanish faculty.
This course open to seniors only.
1.00 units, Seminar
HISP 401
The Spanish Golden Age: A Thesis Project
The main goal of this course is to write a thesis-style project. This objective will be accomplished through the study of some of the more relevant canonical works of the Spanish Golden Age and its colonial experience. Thus, we will focus on central aspects of the imperial Spanish age, not only in the peninsula but also in the Americas. We will explore the relationship between literature and reality, as well as key trends in politics and religion such as the connection between Golden Age culture and the politics of the Counter-Reformation against Protestants and Muslims. Simultaneously, we will call special attention to some of the critical stances of well-known writers such as Cervantes.
This course is open only to Hispanic Studies Seniors.
1.00 units, Seminar
ITAL 401
Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies
An interdisciplinary seminar devoted to guided, individual research. In consultation with the course instructor, each student may work on any aspect of the history, society, or culture of Italy or of Italians in other lands. Coursework is conducted in Italian. Qualified sophomores and juniors should register for the course as ITAL 333. Seniors majoring in Italian: Plan A and Plan B (Italian as primary language) are required to take this course and must register for it as ITAL 401. Seniors will complete a substantial research paper in partial fulfillment of the course requirements. (Listed as both ITAL 333 AND ITAL 401.)
Prerequisite: One 300-Level Course in Italian Literature or equivalent and Permission of Instructor.
1.00 units, Seminar
ITAL 401
Senior Seminar: Topics in Italian Studies
This seminar is required of all seniors majoring in Italian: Plan A, Plan B (Italian as primary language.) An interdisciplinary seminar devoted to guided, individual research. Each student may work on any aspect of the history, society, or culture of Italy or of Italians in other lands. Coursework is conducted in Italian. The grade is based on seminar participation and a research project. Prerequisites: At least one 300-level course in Italian literature or equivalent and permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Italian 228 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Seminar
JAPN 401
Senior Seminar: Special Topics
This seminar is required of all seniors majoring in Japanese: Plan B (Japanese as primary language). Over the term, students will work collaboratively on the various papers they are writing by way of integrating exercises in their major, and the whole class will undertake a number of readings in common in order to provide informed criticism of one another’s papers. Depending on enrollment, the class may also spend part of the semester considering a special topic, author, or genre in Japanese studies.
1.00 units, Seminar
RUSS 401
Senior Seminar: Special Topics
Intensive study of a selected author, genre, movement or theme. Senior majors required to write an integrating project will do so in conjunction with this course; the course is therefore required of all Plan A majors and Plan B majors with a primary focus in Russian. Permission of the instructor required.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 402
Advanced Arabic II: Composition and Style
This course is a continuation of Arabic 401. We will closely read and analyze complex authentic texts in order to develop a high level of proficiency and grammatical accuracy in Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial Levantine. We will continue to vigorously focus on the root and pattern system. Students will study new grammatical aspects such as the imperative, the prohibitive, hollow and weak verbs, assimilation in and basic meanings of certain awzan, and the different types of grammatical objects (to name a few). Students will learn different styles of narration and significantly expand their vocabulary repertoire.
Prerequisite: Arabic 401 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
MDLG 402
Sr Sem:Trnsltn-Thry&Prac
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Seminar
CHIN 410
Cultural China
The course introduces various aspects of Chinese culture using Mandarin Chinese as the sole medium language in classroom. The targeted students will be those who major in Chinese, and/or have received significant amount of Chinese language training, and/or have great interest in pursuing a Chinese-related career.
Prerequisite: Chinese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 411
Advanced Reading in Japanese II
The course aims at further training in reading Japanese above JAPN 311. Students will read a variety of materials taken mostly from primary sources, such as novels, news articles, instructions, etc., at an accelerated rate. The goal is to develop speed, accuracy, and efficiency in students' reading skills in Japanese. Class activities focus on analyzing the given texts and translation them into English. A total accumulation of kanji is expected to be 1,100-1,200.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Japanese 311.
1.00 units, Lecture
JAPN 412
Advanced Spoken Japanese II
This course is also listed under Asian Studies in the International Studies Program. The aim of this course is to further students' acquisition of listening and speaking skills in Japanese through study and discussion of films, TV shows, and other audio-visual sources. It aims to enhance students' ability to express their personal responses and opinions, while exposing them to more culturally specific concepts and topics.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Japanese 312.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 413
Advanced Chinese III
Students will further develop skills in written and spoken Mandarin, with increasing emphasis on longer texts, additional characters, and extensive discussion. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 413 and 415 in sequence.
Prerequisite: Chinese 302 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 415
Advanced Chinese IV
Students will improve skills in written and spoken Mandarin for formal occasions and conversations. Focuses will be given to students' ability to use the language formally and idiomatically.
Prerequisite: Chinese 413 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 420
Chinese Writing
The course introduces Chinese writing skills for graduate level use. The targeted students will be those who major or minor in Chinese, and/or have received significant amount of Chinese language training, and/or have great interest in pursuing a Chinese-related graduate study.
Prerequisite: Chinese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 430
Chinese Speaking and Writing I
The course introduces Chinese speaking and writing skills for graduate school-level use. The targeted students will be those who major or minor in Chinese, and/or have received significant amount of Chinese language training, and/or have great interest in pursuing a Chinese-related career. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 430 and 440 in sequence. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Chinese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
CHIN 440
Chinese Speaking and Writing II
The course introduces Chinese speaking and writing skills for graduate school-level use. The targeted students will be those who major or minor in Chinese, and/or have received significant amount of Chinese language training, and/or have great interest in pursuing a Chinese-related career. In order to secure maximum proficiency, students should plan to take both 430 and 440 in sequence. (Also listed under the Asian Studies concentration of the International Studies Program.)
Prerequisite: Chinese 202 or equivalent.
1.00 units, Lecture
ARAB 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
FREN 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
GRMN 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
HISP 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
ITAL 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
LACS 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
RUSS 460
Tutorial
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
ARAB 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
CHIN 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
FREN 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
GRMN 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
HEBR 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
HISP 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
ITAL 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
JAPN 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
LACS 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
LING 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
RUSS 466
Teaching Assistantship
Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
ITAL 490
Research Assistantship
No Course Description Available.
0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study
GRMN 497
Senior Thesis
Submission of special registration form, available in the Registrar's Office, and the approval of the director are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
ITAL 497
Senior Thesis
Submission of special registration form, available in the Registrar's Office, and the approval of the director are required for enrollment.
1.00 units, Independent Study
RUSS 497
Senior Thesis
No Course Description Available.
1.00 units, Independent Study