Spring 2017

Comparative study of works from a broad range of cultural traditions that originate from, and provide insight into, vital global locations outside the Western sphere.

A comparative study of the Asian aesthetic heritage of poetry, painting, music, and drama; of literary themes, trends, and myths.

Examines literature and film as distinct modes of representation, narration, and structuring of time, language, memory, and visuality.

Introduction to works of major women writers from the Middle Agesto the 20th century in their literary, social, and cultural contexts.

Introduction to psychoanalytic literature on the arts, including classic texts by Freud, Jones, Lacan, Derrida, and others. Readings of theoretical and fictional works.

Studies of the presence and influence of Zen Buddhism and Taoismin Asian literature, with a focus on China and Japan.

Exploration of multilingual encounters in literary works, films, and theoretical texts. Topics may include immigrant languages, dialects, jargons, imaginary or hybrid languages, theories of translation.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Writing of an honors thesis under individual faculty supervision.

Intensive study of a theoretical tradition or critical movement, or of an individual topic or thinker, in literary criticism or theory.