Course Catalog - Studies in World Literature
In addition to the STWL courses listed below, the following courses, offered in English, are available for Studies in World Literatures major credit (descriptions of these courses may be found in the course listings of the appropriate Language Program.):
French 232 - Moulin Rouge: Intersections of Art & Popular Culture
French 461 - Writing Madness in Africa
German 250 - Metropolis Berlin
Italian 251 - Renaissance Florence/History and Literature
Italian 253 - Italian Women Writers
Italian 257 - 19th Century Italian Novel
Italian 260 - Dante
Russian 252 - Russian Short Story
Russian 254 - Russian Drama
Russian 255 - 19th-Century Russian Literature
Russian 257 - 20th-Century Russian Literature
Studies in World Literatures 201 - Landmarks of Western Literature: the Ancient World to the Renaissance
Alternate years
An introduction to major works of Western literature, and to the mechanisms of the creation of a canon of Western literature. Included are texts ranging from the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, to the works of Cervantes and of Montaigne. One unit each semester.
Studies in World Literatures 202 - Landmarks of Western Literature: The Modern World
Alternate years
An introduction to major works of Western literature, and to the mechanisms of the creation of a canon of Western literature. Included are texts from the 17th Century to the present. One unit each semester.
Studies in World Literatures 235 - Introduction to Postcolonial Discourses
Annually
Contacts between Europe and the rest of the world, between colonizers and colonized people engendered profound social, cultural, economical, political and psychological transformations. A comparative examination and discussion of major ideas put forward by intellectuals who adapt a “Third World” perspective: Said, Fanon, Achebe, Ngugi, Spivak, Brathwaite, Babha and many others. One unit.
Studies in World Literatures 241 - Francophone Cross-Culturalities & Creolizations
Every third year
A general introduction to the emergence of diverse francophone cultures in the world. The main focus is on North American, Caribbean, North African, and sub-Saharan cross-cultural encounters and creolizations. Topics considered include: colonialism, postcolonialism, neocolonialism, diglossia, majority/minority conflicts, and the interplay of Western and indigenous traditions in the development or invention of “new” cultures. Authors to be read are: Chopin, Djebar, Fanon, Kerouac, Ousmane, Roy, Vallières, and Zobel. Films include: Black Robe, Chocolat, Battle of Algiers. One unit.
Studies in world Literatures 261 - Exile and Cultural Production in Africa and the Caribbean
Annually
Exile is a universal phenomenon. It is generally understood as voluntary or forced expatriation, displacement. Exile may also be understood as inadequacy and irrelevance to function in specific world as compared to the “exile” of Prospero to Caliban island. They represent two extreme categories on the social spectrum: that of the natural ruler, and the naturally ruled. Explores “Caliban’s” inadequacy to adjust to his own postcolonial society after a long sojourn in the Prospero’s world. Most exiles end up writing books or producing films to “translate” their experiences. This course will study books and a few films produced by exile African and Caribbean artists. One unit.
Studies in World Literatures 265 - Existentialism in Literature
Every third year
Studies Existentialism primarily as it is expressed in literary texts, but consideration is also given to its philosophical roots and evolution in Western Culture. Among authors read are Pascal, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Unamuno, Gide, Mann, Kafka, Sartre, Camus, Updike, and Flannery O’Connor. One unit.
Studies in World Literatures 267 - (Post) Colonial Writing: African and the Caribbean experience
Annually
Read texts, watch films and discuss the vision proposed by artists from areas that entered modernity through imperialism. Problems such as dependency and appropriation of the other’s language and culture are addressed. Important concepts such as Negritude (Senghor, Cesaire); African Personality (Soyinka); Creoleness (Chamoiseau, Confiant); colonial education; violence, nationalism and resistance; postcolonial culture, modernity and identity are discussed. One unit.
Studies in World Literatures 299 - Special Topics
Annually
Offered for the study of a particular literary genre, form, theme, etc. Topics announced in the preceding semester. One unit.
Studies in World Literatures 441 - Fourth-Year Capstone Project
Annually
An individual research project involving a comparative study of at least two distinct national literatures. Must be directed by one principal faculty advisor, but must include consultation with at least two STWL faculty. A lengthy final paper and public presentation are expected. One unit.
* The courses and descriptions listed above are taken directly from the official College Catalog.