Spring 2021

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.

Comparative study of Latin American cultures, especially vis-a-vis those of Europe and the U.S. Materials drawn from literature, but also film, opera, history, cultural theory.

Survey of literary and other cultural texts from the 19th to the 21st centuries, with emphasis on the individual and social change.

Cultural dimensions of issues in globalization: migration, diaspora, terrorism, communications, climate change, collectives, production and technology, money and exchange.

Study of transformations of characters and themes from myth, legend or fairytale (Oedipus, Antigone, Faust, Don Juan, Cinderella, Comic and Tragic Twins, Hero and Monster).

A survey of narratives accounting for the global dimensions of Black migratory experiences between Africa, Europe and the Americas, from early modern trajectories to contemporary times.

Study of the notion of "decadence" and its impact on modern and contemporary literary/cultural production, with a comparatist focus on different linguistic traditions.

Examines contemporary Arab state-society relations using literature to illustrate how people construct meanings and portray issues of national, social, and cultural significance.

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

Study of the relations between Latin American literature and different mass-media genres.

The noir tradition in books and films set in Los Angeles. Emphasis on generic conventions, representations of the city, and discourses of class, gender, race.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Writing of an honors thesis under individual faculty supervision.

Contemporary notions of racial, cultural, and religious difference across languages and history.