Undergraduate Courses Spring 2008

HUM 122-B IMAGES OF WOMEN IN LITERATURE

In this survey of Western literature we will examine different representations of the “untamed woman” from Ancient Greece to the contemporary United States. Is it possible to trace a history of women - or representations of women - who resist(ed) conformity to the overwhelmingly repressive social norms, who refuse(d) to be victims, martyr, or saints of their times? This semester we will try to do so by examining a variety of literary representations focusing on women who are active and successful agents of their lives, who cannot be easily stereotyped, and who rebel against dominant, oppressive gender roles. To understand what we read, we will consider the social, historical and literary moments that produced these texts including gender norms in areas of sex, anatomy, fashion, work and family, aesthetics and art.

The goal of the course is to outline a literary tradition that defies easy stereotyping of women as well as to develop skills of critical reading and analysis, knowledge of the course texts and the historical moments that produced them.

LEC - TUTH 12:50 PM - 2:10 PM MELVILLE LBR N4072
L. TOKE

HUM 123-B SEXUALITY IN LITERATURE

What is the difference between sex and sexuality? If the one thing that Aristotle agreed on with Plato was that art imitates, to what degree does sexuality in literature imitate sex? How do the lettered arts bring out this difference that is perhaps meant not to be? How and why did it come about that intimacy shared between bodies became the matter of written forms of art? What is the relation between sex and desire and what might this relation tell us about the transposition of sexuality into literature? To what extent is sexuality in literature a measure of culture’s policing of desire? To what extent does it liberate from such constraints? How do specific cultures at specific times in history express their relation to sex through literature? This course is supposed to enable you to answer most of these questions.

LEC-MW 10:40AM -11:35AM JAVITS LECTRE 103 R.HARVEY
R01-F 10:40AM-11:35AM HUMANITIES 3018 W.JIANG
R02-F 10:40AM-11:35AM SB UNION 237 T.HUNG
R03-F 10:40AM-11:35AM PSYCH A 146 E.NOONEY

HUM 201-D FILM AND TELEVISION: GENRES
An introduction to the study of film and television through the concept of genre. Special attention is given to how film and television deal with issues of race and gender.

Prerequisites: One D.E.C. Category B course
LEC – TUTH 11:20AM-12:15PM MELVILLE LIB. N 5004
LAB – TH 6:50PM-8:50PM MELVILLE LIB. N 5004 TBA
M. HIGH

HUM 202-D FILM AND TELEVISION: HISTORY AND THEORY

This course explores the historical development of film through works of renowned international directors. Besides introducing key national movements that have shaped cinema history, we will also examine a number of influential moments that have produced significant artists and works that are not necessarily products of national movements. To investigate the theme of identity as an overarching structure for the course, we will address theoretical issues relating to genre, narrative, authorship, race, gender and transnationality. Weekly film screenings will cover cinema traditions from Europe, Asia and Hollywood.

Prerequisite: One D.E.C. Category B course

LEC – MW 2:20PM-3:15PM JAVITS LECTR HALL 102
LAB – TU 6:50PM-8:50PM JAVITS LECTR HALL 110
E.K. TAN

HUM 447 DIRECTED READINGS

Individually supervised curricula in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities. For students who make arrangements the previous semester with appropriate faculty.

by appointment J. REICH

HUM 475, 476 UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING PRACTICUM I,II

Work with a faculty member as an assistant in one of the faculty member¡¯s regularly scheduled classes. The student is required to attend all the classes, do all the regularly assigned work, and meet with the faculty member at regularly scheduled times to discuss the intellectual and pedagogical matters relating to the course. In HUM 476, students assume greater responsibility in such areas as leading discussions and analyzing results of tests that have already been graded. Students may not serve as teaching assistants in the same course twice.

Prerequisites to HUM 475: U3 or U4 standing; permission of instructor

Prerequisites to HUM 476: HUM 476; permission of instructor and chairperson

by appointment J. REICH

HUM 495 HUMANITIES HONORS PROJECT

A one-semester project for humanities majors who are candidates for the degree with honors. The project involves independent study and the writing of a senior thesis under the close supervision of an appropriate faculty member.

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and director of undergraduate studies.

by appointment J. REICH