Fall 2012:
HUMOR IN ARABIC LITERATURE
ABT3130, Sara Tlili
This course will introduce students to a variety of narratives in different Arabic literary genres through the theme of humor. It will consider how humorous Arab and Islamic society has been, what makes Arabs laugh, how they justify humor, what types of humor are acceptable and in which social contexts, and so forth. The period covered extends from early Islam (6th century) to the modern period, with a special focus on the Abbasid period, 8th to 13th centuries CE.
The Viking Experience
EUH 4195,
Professor Florin Curta
Course page with description HERE.
The Archaeology of the Middle Ages
EUH 5934 (graduate level)
Professor Florin Curta
Course page with description HERE.
Medieval Epic, Romance, Allegory
MEM 4931 (#054H) / FRE 4930, Professor Bill Calin
This class is taught in French. Study of the three most important narrative genres in the French Middle Ages: chanson de geste, courtly romance, and the allegory of love. Scrutiny of the texts in their historical setting and from the perspective of modern criticism.
Taoism and Chinese Culture
MEM 4931 (08F6)/CHT 3513 (03FC)
Professor Richard Wang
An exploration of Taoism as a specific set of cultural traditions that evolved within the historical context of ancient, medieval, and modern China, and how Taoism evolved to meet the spiritual needs of people in specific historical situations. The multi-sources and complexity of Taoist belief systems and ritual practice, and the influence of Taoism upon Chinese thought, religion, art, culture and society will also be covered.
History of Christianity, c.100-c.1300 (Martyrs, Monks, Crusaders)
MEM 4931 (#0592) / WOH 3233 / REL 3938
Professor Andrea Sterk
This course surveys the history of world Christianity from its status as a persecuted minority religion of the Roman Empire to its position of dominance in the civilizations of medieval Europe and Byzantium. We will study not only the emerging western (Latin) tradition but Christian traditions in Asia and Africa as well reflecting the wide geographical and cultural scope of ancient and medieval Christianity. In addition to examining major figures, institutions, and ideas, we will pay special attention to issues of unity and diversity within the Christian movement; the relationship between Christianity and culture; the “losers” as well as the “winners” in theological debates; Christian encounters with pagans, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists; the roles of women in the church; and various expressions of spirituality which flourished in the Middle Ages.
Introduction to Italian Literature I: Dante’s Inferno
MEM 4931(#054G) / ITW3100
Professor Mary Watt
The class is taught in Italian. It will take students on a semester-long journey through the underworld as imagined by the fourteenth century writer Dante Alighieri. The primary source will be Dante’s Inferno but the course will be enhanced with visual materials and will make full use of the many digital resources devoted to the study of Dante and his world. Special attention will be paid to the political, historical and religious context in which Dante was writing but the main point of the course will be to give students an appreciation of the masterful narrative that Dante weaves and the enduring beauty of his poetry. Classes will combine student-centered activities with brief lecture style introductions to the day’s reading. Accordingly, students will be expected to have read the assigned reading and be prepared to comment and participate in a meaningful discussion.
The Tale of the Heike: a Samurai Story
MEM 4931 (#002B) / IDH 3931 (1 credit)
Professor Yumiko Hulvey
The theme of The Tale of the Heike (hereafter the Heike) describes the rise and fall of the Taira clan during the Genpei civil war (1180-1185) and focuses on the impermanence of life, a chief tenet of Buddhism that colored the social fabric of the times. Blind biwa hôshi, oral singers of battles and court life, helped mold historical events of the Genpei war into a literary text that remains vibrant seven hundred years after being transcribed into written form based on the performance of the biwa hôshi master Kakuichi in 1371. This one-credit course (HNR xxxx The Tale of the Heike: a Samurai Story) will cover a chapter a week in The Tale of the Heike (twelve numbered chapters and the thirteenth named, the Initiates chapter) and will spend the final two meetings showing key episodes from the Heike performed by Ms. Yôko Hiraoka on campus in 2010. (I received written permission by Ms. Hiraoka to show the recording of her lecture and recital exclusively to classes I teach on the Heike). Students curious to deconstruct misconceptions and myths about samurai culture depicted in cinema will receive a solid foundation in medieval Japanese history.
Tales of Kyoto
MEM 4931 (#055A) / JPT 3100
Professor Yumiko Hulvey
The main objective of the course is to introduce prose masterpieces of the classical Japanese literary canon from the Heian (794-1185), Kamakura (1185-1333), Muromachi (1336-1573), Azuchi-Momoyama (1573-1600), and Edo (1600-1867) periods. Fictional and non-fictional texts by male and female authors form the core reading material. Readings in literary criticism and literary history provide the framework for analyzing the classical Japanese literary canon. (H, N)
El cortesano español –The Spanish Courtier
MEM 4931 (#06AB)/SPW 4930
Professor Shifra Armon
Pre-req.: 2 SPW 3000-level courses or permission of Instructor. Note: This class is taught entirely in Spanish. Spain was the first European country to face the challenges of modern global empire. As medieval models of chivalry crumbled, new forms of manhood emerged to take their place. This course will examine the new gender order of early modern Spain with emphasis on the controversial ideal the gentleman of court, or courtier. Readings include literary works that portray the Spanish courtier positively, critically and humorously as well as courtesy manuals designed to “civilize” the new urban gentleman.
Introduction to Spanish Literatures I: Encrucijada de caminos culturales – Spain: Cultural crossroads 1200-1700
MEM 4931 (#06AE)/SPW3100
Professor Shifra Armon
Prereq.: SPN 3300 or permission of instructor. Note: This class is taught entirely in Spanish. This course explores the diverse literary heritage of Spain from 1200-1700, including Moslem, Jewish, Monastic, New World, secular and religious currents. Bawdy, sublime, tragic and satirical, the texts sampled reveal an astonishingly dynamic literary heritage.
The Mass through the Ages
MUH 4930
Professor Jennifer Thomas
This survey course will move chronologically through the history of the mass, sampling representative works and their style, beginning with plainchant, moving through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, with works by Machaut, DuFay, Ockeghem, Josquin, and Palestrina, through the common practice period, to include Bach’s B Minor Mass, works by Michael Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and ending in the twentieth century, with Bernstein, Messiaen, Britten.