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Course Catalog - Spring 2024

CWL 111 - Bible as Literature

Same as ENGL 114 and REL 101. See REL 101.

CWL 112 - Literature of Global Culture

Same as ENGL 112. See ENGL 112.

CWL 114 - Global Consciousness and Lit

Exploration of the cultural and historical roots of globalization and the development of global consciousness from ancient Greece to the present, as reflected primarily in literature, but also with reference to historiography, cartography, religion, art, politics, economics, and popular culture. Course materials including literary texts, articles, historical accounts, political tracts, films, and paintings focus on the mutual perception of, and historical relationships among Europe, the Arab world, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

CWL 117 - Russ & E Euro Science Fiction

Same as SLAV 117. See SLAV 117.

CWL 119 - Literature of Fantasy

Same as ENGL 119. See ENGL 119.

CWL 122 - Russia and Black America

Same as AFRO 122 and RUSS 122. See RUSS 122.

CWL 151 - Cross-Cultural Thematics

Explores a combination of western and non-western literature through the focus on a shared theme, exploring differences in treatment both within and among different cultures. Several thematic focuses are offered in rotation, including concepts of love and death, environmental justice, catastrophe, gender, and others. All the themes introduce students to a wide array of famous texts from different cultures and also offer some varied perspectives for their own inevitable thoughts on these major topics. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term.

CWL 189 - Literatures of the Islamic World

Comparative, cross-cultural study of major literary and cultural works from the Islamic world, broadly defined, including pre-Islamic cultures and their interactions with Islamic civilization. All readings in English.

CWL 190 - Modern Asian and African Literatures

Comparative, cross-cultural study of major works from the postcolonial world. Topics may include pre-colonial cultures, the impact of colonialism, decolonization, modernization, and/or globalization. All readings in English.

CWL 191 - Freshman Honors Tutorial

Study of selected topics on an individually arranged basis. Open only to honors students or to Cohn Scholars and Associates. May be repeated one time. Prerequisite: Consent of departmental honors advisor.

CWL 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar

Credit: 1 to 5 hours. Approved for both letter and S/U grading. May be repeated.

CWL 201 - Comparative Lit Studies

Introduction to various methods in comparative literary study, including genres, thematics, literary relations, literary movements, and interdisciplinary approaches.

CWL 202 - Literature and Ideas

Analysis of several important world-views in Western civilization (such as classical, Romantic, modern, and so forth), studied comparatively and in relation to selected figures in Western literature.

CWL 204 - US Border Literatures and Cultures

Exploration of the cultures, experiences, and conditions of people living on and around the borders of the United States. The syllabus will place particular emphasis on the US-Mexico borderlands, a space of interaction, exchange, and confrontation between diverse communities that traverse national, racial, and linguistic borders. We will examine this dynamic space through a varied array of cultural texts, including literature, film, journalism, and scholarship. Through these texts, students will gain a deepened understanding and appreciation of the Latinx and indigenous communities that live along, around, and across today’s US-Mexico border. At the end of the semester, we will turn our attention briefly to the US-Canada border – and, in particular, to the political and cultural life of indigenous peoples living along and across the present-day US-Canada border.

CWL 205 - Islam & West Through Lit

Organized around major cultural/historical/religious topics presented in literature through Western and Islamic eyes, beginning with the Crusades and proceeding into the present. This course will examine stereotypes, fantasies, identifications and political opportunism promoted by the encounter between the West and the Islamic World. Prerequisite:CWL 241 and CWL 242 or one year of college literature.

CWL 206 - Classical Allusions in Cinema

Same as CLCV 206. See CLCV 206.

CWL 207 - Indian Cinema in Context

Introduction to Indian mainstream (mainly Bollywood) cinema and its evolution through the last seven decades. Topics to be explored include, but not limited to, the relation between Indian society/culture and its cinematic representations, cinema's resistance to dominant nationalist and patriarchal ideologies, its interactions with the postcolonial nation-state of India, how globalization has changed the industry. All films will be screened with subtitles. No knowledge of Hindi or any other Indian language is required. Same as MACS 207.

CWL 208 - Cultures & Literatures of South Asia

Same as ASST 208, REL 208 and SAME 208. See REL 208.

CWL 209 - Jewish American and US Minority Literatures in Dialogue

Same as JS 209 and ENGL 222. See JS 209.

CWL 210 - Introduction to Modern African Literature

Same as AFST 210 and ENGL 211. See AFST 210.

CWL 211 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict

War has been a constant shadow over the lives of Israelis and Palestinians. We will examine the history of attitudes to war and peace in the region as presented through historical documents, memoirs, political statements, poetry, film and short stories. The course explores the plurality of voices and experiences of different political groups, genders, ethnicities, religions and communities. Same as JS 211 and SAME 211.

CWL 212 - Israeli Cinema and Television

Same as JS 212 and SAME 212. See JS 212.

CWL 215 - Madness, Myth, and Murder

Same as SCAN 215. See SCAN 215.

CWL 216 - Legends of King Arthur

Same as ENGL 216 and MDVL 216. See ENGL 216.

CWL 217 - Classical Chinese Lit

Same as EALC 207. See EALC 207.

CWL 218 - Survey of Ukrainian Literature

Same as UKR 218. See UKR 218.

CWL 220 - Exploring the Greek and Roman World

Same as CLCV 220. See CLCV 220.

CWL 221 - Jewish Storytelling

Same as ENGL 223, JS 220, REL 220, and YDSH 220. See YDSH 220.

CWL 223 - The Qur'an (Koran)

Same as REL 223, SAME 223. See REL 223.

CWL 224 - German Literature in Trans

Same as GER 200. See GER 200.

CWL 225 - Constr Afr and Carib Identity

Same as AFST 209, FR 240, and LAST 240. See FR 240.

CWL 226 - Humanist Persp of Afro-Am Exp

Same as AFRO 224. See AFRO 224.

CWL 227 - Golden Age of Russian Literature

Same as RUSS 220. See RUSS 220.

CWL 230 - Popular Cultures of Contemporary East Asia

Same as EALC 230. See EALC 230.

CWL 240 - Italy Middle Ages & Renaiss

Same as ITAL 240 and MDVL 240. See ITAL 240.

CWL 241 - Early Masterpieces of Western Culture

Comparative study of major works of literature, philosophy and culture in the Western tradition from the ancient world to the Renaissance, from Homer and the Bible to Shakespeare and Cervantes. Emphasis on the works as representative of their historical and cultural period, as well as how these works create the cultural world we live in today. Prerequisite: Completion of campus Composition I general education requirement.

CWL 242 - Modern Masterpieces of Western Culture

Comparative study of major works of literature, philosophy and culture in the Western tradition from the Enlightenment to today, from Descartes and Voltaire to Dickinson and Calvino. Emphasis on the works as representative of their historical and cultural period, as well as how these works create the cultural world we live in today.

CWL 245 - Survey of Polish Literature

Same as POL 245. See POL 245.

CWL 249 - Russian Lit and Revolution

Same as RUSS 225. See RUSS 225.

CWL 250 - Grimms' Fairy Tales - ACP

Same as ENGL 267 and GER 250. See GER 250.

CWL 251 - Viking Mythology

Same as MDVL 251, REL 251, and SCAN 251. See SCAN 251.

CWL 252 - Viking Sagas in Translation

Same as MDVL 252 and SCAN 252. See SCAN 252.

CWL 253 - Medieval Literature and Culture

Same as ENGL 202 and MDVL 201. See ENGL 202.

CWL 254 - Grimm's Fairy Tales in Context

Same as ENGL 266 and GER 251. See GER 251.

CWL 255 - Renaissance Literature and Culture

Same as ENGL 204. See ENGL 204.

CWL 257 - Enlightenment Literature and Culture

Same as ENGL 206. See ENGL 206.

CWL 259 - Early African American Literature and Culture

Same as AFRO 259 and ENGL 259. See ENGL 259.

CWL 260 - Modern African American Literature and Culture

Same as AFRO 260 and ENGL 260. See ENGL 260.

CWL 262 - Gender & Sexuality in Greco-Roman Antiquity

Same as CLCV 240 and GWS 240. See CLCV 240.

CWL 263 - Odysseus and Other Heroes

Same as CLCV 221. See CLCV 221.

CWL 264 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Theater

Same as CLCV 222 and THEA 210. See CLCV 222.

CWL 267 - The Short Story

Same as ENGL 245. See ENGL 245.

CWL 269 - British, American, and Continental Fiction

Examination of important thematic and structural relationships - influences, parallels, and variations - among selected major works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; readings chosen from works of Bronte, Hardy, Lawrence, Woolf, James, Faulkner, Bellow, Oates, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Stendhal, Flaubert, Camus, Kafka, Mann, Hesse, Moravia, and Pavese. All works read in English. Same as ENGL 248. Prerequisite: Completion of the Composition I requirement.

CWL 271 - The Holocaust in Context - ACP

Same as ENGL 268 and GER 260. See GER 260.

CWL 272 - Sexuality and Literature

Same as GER 270 and GWS 270. See GER 270.

CWL 273 - The Holocaust in Context

Same as ENGL 269, GER 261, and JS 261. See GER 261.

CWL 275 - Masterpieces of East Asian Lit

Same as EALC 275. See EALC 275.

CWL 276 - Asian Film Genres

Same as EALC 276 and ENGL 276. See ENGL 276.

CWL 277 - Slavic Literature Survey

Same as SLAV 277. See SLAV 277.

CWL 283 - Jewish Sacred Literature

Same as REL 283. See REL 283.

CWL 284 - Modern Jewish Literature

Same as ENGL 284, JS 284, and REL 284. See JS 284.

CWL 308 - Chinese Popular Literature

Same as EALC 308. See EALC 308.

CWL 311 - Japan Lit in Translation I

Same as EALC 305. See EALC 305.

CWL 312 - Japan Lit in Translation II

Same as EALC 306. See EALC 306.

CWL 317 - Francophone Worlds

Same as FR 319. See FR 319.

CWL 320 - Responses to the Holocaust

Course introduces a variety of Jewish and non-Jewish responses to the Holocaust created during and after the Second World War (from 1939). The discussion of Holocaust films, miniseries, memoirs, diaries, novels, short stories, poems, and other texts will focus on the unique contribution of those works to our understanding of the Holocaust. In addition, the works and their authors will be situated in their cultural and historical context. Taught in English translation. Same as ENGL 359, JS 320, REL 320, and YDSH 320.

CWL 321 - Russian Writers

Same as RUSS 320. See RUSS 320.

CWL 322 - The Comic Imagination

Same as CLCV 323 and THEA 323. See CLCV 323.

CWL 323 - Tolstoy

Same as ENGL 323 and RUSS 323. See RUSS 323.

CWL 324 - Dostoevsky

Same as ENGL 322 and RUSS 322. See RUSS 322.

CWL 325 - Chekhov

Same as RUSS 325 and THEA 362. See RUSS 325.

CWL 328 - Special Topics German Studies

Same as GER 396. See GER 396.

CWL 335 - Nabokov

Same as RUSS 335. See RUSS 335.

CWL 350 - South Asian Goddesses

Same as REL 350 and SAME 350. See REL 350.

CWL 376 - Children and Youth Literature

Same as EURO 376, GWS 376, and SCAN 376. See SCAN 376.

CWL 387 - Media and Cinema in French

Same as FR 387 and MACS 382. See FR 387.

CWL 389 - French & Comparative Cinema II

Same as FR 389 and MACS 383. See FR 389.

CWL 395 - Special Topics Comp Lit I

Presentation and discussion of subjects relating literature to other disciplines; topic varies. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours.

CWL 400 - African Diasporic Thought in the Caribbean

Same as AFRO 400. See AFRO 400.

CWL 410 - Modern African Fiction

Same as AFST 410, and ENGL 470. See AFST 410.

CWL 411 - The Chinese Novel

Same as EALC 411. See EALC 411.

CWL 412 - Mod Chinese Lit in Translation

Same as EALC 412. See EALC 412.

CWL 413 - Dante

Same as ITAL 413 and MDVL 413. See ITAL 413.

CWL 414 - Petrarch & Boccaccio

Same as ITAL 414 and MDVL 414. See ITAL 414.

CWL 415 - Mod Japan Lit in Translation

Same as EALC 415. See EALC 415.

CWL 417 - Topics in Medieval British and Irish Literature

Same as ENGL 412 and MDVL 410. See ENGL 412.

CWL 420 - Masterpieces Renaiss Lit

Same as ITAL 420 and MDVL 420. See ITAL 420.

CWL 421 - Jewish Life-Writing

Same as HIST 436, REL 420, SLAV 420, and YDSH 420. See YDSH 420.

CWL 430 - History of Translation

Same as CLCV 430, ENGL 486, GER 405, SLAV 430, SPAN 436, and TRST 431. See SLAV 430.

CWL 434 - Studies in Francophonie

Same as FR 479. See FR 479.

CWL 436 - Problems of Polish Literature

Same as POL 446. See POL 446.

CWL 440 - Russian Culture Studies

Same as RUSS 460. See RUSS 460.

CWL 441 - Themes in Narrative

Analysis of literary themes and types in narratives of Western and non-Western literature (e.g., the hero, east and west, dream visions), emphasizing comparative perspectives. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

CWL 444 - Problems in Romanticism

Same as RUSS 444. See RUSS 444.

CWL 450 - Topics in Bodies and Genders

How do gender, sexuality, and the body emerge through cultural representations and across artistic forms? How do literature, film, and the visual arts construct gender identities in various times and places? Topics and regions vary by semester and instructor. All readings in English. Same as GWS 450. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 6 hours maximum. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

CWL 451 - International Film Genres and Auteurs

Advanced, in-depth study of either (a) cinematic genres, or (b) major film directors. Genres may include musicals, horror films, Westerns, melodrama, comedies, film noir. Auteurs will include major figures of world cinema whose influence over the medium is widespread, such as Hitchcock, Woody Allen, Vertov, Bergman. No foreign language knowledge required. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same or subsequent semesters to a maximum of 6 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours if topics vary. Prerequisite: One cinema course or consent of instructor.

CWL 453 - Slavic Cultural Studies

Same as SLAV 452. See SLAV 452.

CWL 457 - Russian Modernism

Same as RUSS 424. See RUSS 424.

CWL 461 - Lit Genres and Forms

Structure and development of literary genres and forms in historical perspective (for instance, drama, parody and the grotesque, poetry, fables and fabulists, and modern fiction); essential international components and significant national variations of such genres and forms. Emphasis changes from term to term. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

CWL 463 - Modern Scandinavian Drama

Same as SCAN 463 and THEA 483. See SCAN 463.

CWL 466 - Russia and the Other

Same as RUSS 461. See RUSS 461.

CWL 467 - Japanese Cinema

Same as EALC 466 and MACS 466. See MACS 466.

CWL 470 - Scandinavian Politics and Society

Same as EURO 470 and SCAN 470. See SCAN 470.

CWL 471 - International Lit Relations

Study of specific relations between authors of different countries; influences of certain works, concepts, or tastes on another work, author, or country; and literary interaction between Eastern and Western cultures. Emphasis changes from term to term. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

CWL 472 - Kierkegaard and the Self

Same as PHIL 472, REL 472, and SCAN 472. See SCAN 472.

CWL 477 - Post-Communist Fiction

Same as SLAV 477 and REES 477. See SLAV 477.

CWL 478 - Classical Chinese Thought

Same as EALC 476 and HIST 425. See EALC 476.

CWL 481 - Topics in Arabic Literature & Culture

Studies in Arabic literature and culture of various genres, periods, and regions. Graduate students are encouraged to read the texts in the original language. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same semester to a maximum of 6 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours if topics vary; May be repeated in separate semesters to a maximum of 12 undergraduate hours or 16 graduate hours if topics vary. Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

CWL 490 - Topics in Classical Literature

Same as CLCV 490. See CLCV 490.

CWL 493 - Senior Thesis and Honors

Independent research guided by tutor(s), leading to the writing of a comparative thesis. Intended primarily for candidates for honors in comparative literature, but open to other seniors. 3 to 6 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours.

CWL 496 - Special Topics in Comp Lit II

Selected literary topics of international significance in relation to other cultural expressions. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 undergraduate or 12 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

CWL 501 - Theory of Literature

Major issues of literary theory, critical approaches, and comparative research.

CWL 502 - Methods of Comparative Lit

Problems and methods of cross-cultural literary studies, concentrating on the effects of historical encounters between different civilizations and on theoretical issues in comparing literatures across cultures. 4 graduate hours. No professional credit.

CWL 503 - Historiography of Cinema

Same as ENGL 503 and MACS 503. See MACS 503.

CWL 504 - Theories of Cinema

Same as ENGL 504 and MACS 504. See MACS 504.

CWL 511 - Applied Literary Translation I

Same as EALC 511, GER 511, SLAV 501, and TRST 501. See TRST 501.

CWL 512 - Applied LiteraryTranslation II

Same as EALC 512, GER 512, SLAV 502, and TRST 502. See TRST 502.

CWL 535 - Nabokov

Same as RUSS 535. See RUSS 535.

CWL 551 - Seminar Lit Movements

Investigation of the development and mutation of literary movements (classicism, romanticism, symbolism, etc.) through a study of critical texts and their reception in various countries. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary.

CWL 552 - Studies French & Comp Cinema

Same as FR 552. See FR 552.

CWL 561 - Seminar Genres - Forms

Study of a form (the lyric, the novel, the drama, etc.) to discover its essential components in all the literatures studied and the significance of national variations. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary.

CWL 562 - Sem Spanish-American Lit

Same as SPAN 535. See SPAN 535.

CWL 571 - Seminar in Literary Relations

Investigation of the impact of one literature upon another, or of some specific works upon others (the role of English literature in continental Europe, the influence of Russian novelists on French and German writers, etc.). May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary.

CWL 576 - Methods in Slavic Grad Study

Same as SLAV 576. See SLAV 576.

CWL 578 - Seminar 20thC French Lit

Same as FR 578. See FR 578.

CWL 581 - Seminar Lit Themes

Study of a theme or type (the Faust myth, the romantic hero, etc.) to discover its essential components in all the literatures studied and the significance of national variations. The subject of the seminar varies each term. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours if topics vary.

CWL 582 - Proseminar

Introduction to comparative literature as a discipline, history and philosophy of comparative literature, and training in practical professional skills, including conference presentations, grant writing, and course development. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

CWL 586 - Children and Youth Literature

Same as EURO 576, GWS 576, and SCAN 576. See SCAN 576.

CWL 593 - Special Studies

CWL 599 - Thesis Research

Intended for students engaged in writing a thesis as a partial requirement for the M.A. or Ph.D. degree in comparative literature. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 graduate hours.