Listed in: English, as ENGL-172
Shoshana Olidort (Section 01)
In this course we will explore Jewish stories across time, geography, and genre. We will consider how stories have been deployed as religious, social, and political tools in Jewish culture, and focus on the role of the storyteller in Jewish tradition—as prophet, sage, and/or outlaw. We will pay particular attention to recurring themes such as faith and loss of faith; belonging and ill-belonging; identity—both national and individual; exile and redemption; and language. Readings may include selections from the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, as well as works by Andre Aciman, Sholem Aleichem, Shmuel Yosef Agnon, Isaac Babel, Orly Castel-Bloom, Nathan Englander, Franz Kafka, Imre Kertesz, Tony Kushner, Blume Lempel, Clarice Lispector, Achy Obejas, Tillie Olsen, Cynthia Ozick, Grace Paley, Fradl Shtok, Ayelet Tsabari, Delmore Schwartz, and Isaac Bashevis Singer, among others. In addition to readings, we will engage with films and television series and consider how Jewish stories have been adapted across different media in shows like Rachel Bloom’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Natasha Lyon’s Russian Doll, and Joey Solloway’s Transparent as well as films such as Chantal Akerman’s No Home Movie, Rama Burstein’s Fill the Void, the Coen brothers’ A Serious Man, Claude Lanzmann’s Shoah, and Joshua Weinstein’s Menashe. Assignments will include frequent short papers that respond to weekly readings, a final paper to be developed over the course of the semester, with time for in-class workshopping and revision, and a brief oral presentation.
Spring semester. Visiting Professor Olidort.
How to handle overenrollment: null
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close reading, independent research, oral presentation, emphasis on written work, both analytic and creative
Section 01
Tu 8:30 AM - 9:50 AM CHAP 119
Th 8:30 AM - 9:50 AM CHAP 119