Literary and Cultural Studies (LCST)
LCST 150. Amazons, Valkyries, Naiads, Dykes: Woman Identified and Lesbian Artists in Europe An introduction to issues arising at the intersection of gender and literary studies, in this case women-identified art. A survey of the canon, the reading and film viewing for this course includes: Sappho, Aphra Behn, Virginia Woolf, Radclyffe Hall, Gertrude Stein, Ulrike Ottinger, Monique Wittig, Jeanette Winterson, and others. The geo-cultural center for this course is Western Europe, and cultural context as a factor in the creative process will be central to discussion. Lecture-discussion, short papers, exam. No prerequisites. 6 cr., AL,RAD, Not offered in 2005-2006.
LCST 245. Introduction to Critical Methods: Structure, Gender, Culture What does it mean to theorize the way we read? For one thing, it means to reflect on the assumptions already implicit in our reading habits; for another, it invites us to challenge those assumptions to see what might be gained. Changes of perspective can have significant impact, for the set of questions we bring to our reading largely determines the answers we come away with. In this course we will study a range of critical issues and movements, and we will examine how they can influence our reading of texts (prose, poetry, film) drawn from a variety of national traditions. Open only to declared majors of literature or language programs or by permission of instructor. 6 cr., AL, Winter—S. Carpenter
LCST 270. Degeneration and the Fin de Siecle In Europe at the end of the ninteenth century, the prevailing faith in forward progress was counterbalanced by the notion that Western civilization might actually be in declinea decline characterized by neurosis, criminality and social decay. This course will examine biological, anthropological and philosophical theories of degeneration and their impact on the intellectual history, popular culture and belles lettres of the time. After studying theoretical treatises by Morel, Lombroso and Nordau, we will discuss the works of so-called "degenerate" artists such as Zola, Ibsen, Wagner and Nietzsche. No prerequisite, but opportunities for using knowledge of French, German, Russian or Italian. 6 cr., AL, Not offered in 2005-2006.