Listed in: First Year Seminar, as FYSE-126
Events in recent years in the United States and across the globe have revealed how tragic human life can be. But what does it really mean to call something “tragic”? This course explores the tragic condition by reading the most lasting works of Ancient Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides alongside modern retellings of these tragedies by authors from diverse communities around the world and in the United States. We will learn about the enigmatic origins of tragedy in Greece and about the performance of tragedy in ancient Athens by studying the conventions of music, dance, and the mask. Most importantly, we will reflect on enduring relevance of Greek tragedy today by reading several works by authors and playwrights from diverse communities around the world who have taken these powerful myths, stories, and characters from Greek tragedy and adapted them to the Black, Chicano, Transgender, African, Latin American, Muslim, and Japanese experience. All readings will be in English translation. No previous knowledge of Ancient Greece, tragedy, or myth is required.
Fall semester. Professor Hutchins.
How to handle overenrollment: Dean will handle this.
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on reading, writing, and class discussion.
Course Materials