Chair: Dennis Washburn
Professors S. Allan, L. H. Glinert; Associate Professors S. Blader, J. Dorsey, H. N. Kadhim, H. Mowry, D. Washburn; Assistant Professor D. Abouali; Instructor J. Smolin; Senior Lecturers M. Ishida, A. Li, J. B. Rudelson, I. Watanabe; Lecturer I. B. Ben-Moshe; Visiting Associate Professor Y. Li.
PLACEMENT
Placement examinations for students with background in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean will be scheduled as follows for the 05-06 academic year, on September 15, 8 - 10:30 am. Consult the orientation week schedule for details.
MAJORS
Major Options for Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures
Option 1. The major in language and literature
Prerequisite for all languages: 23 or the equivalent
The major consists of 11 courses:
10 [Note: these introductory courses are taught in English. The department offers Arabic 10, Chinese 10, Hebrew 10, and Japanese 10; students must take the offering that corresponds to the language they are studying for the major (e.g. students of Arabic must take Arabic 10, students of Japanese must take Japanese 10, etc.).]
four upper level language courses beyond 23 [Note: for majors in Chinese one of these four courses must be Chinese 51]
three literature-in-translation courses at the 60 level [Note: 60-level courses are basic surveys taught in English; majors in Chinese may substitute either Chinese 52 or 53 for one of these three courses]
one course in another DAMELL literature that is not in the student’s primary language [Note: this requirement may be fulfilled by taking either one 10 or one 60-level course (e.g. a student of Arabic may take Hebrew 10 or a student of Chinese may take Japanese 10)]
one course in literary theory or linguistics chosen from an approved list of departmental and non-departmental courses [Note: examples of non-departmental courses include Comparative Literature 10 or 72, English 15 or 17, Linguistics 1; for updated lists please contact the department administrator]
one seminar at the 80-level [this course will serve as the culminating experience]
Students doing the Honors track for Option 1 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87)
Option 2. The major in two languages and literatures
Prerequisite: 23 or the equivalent for both languages
The major consists of 11 courses
10 in both languages (two courses)
four upper level language courses beyond 23 {These courses may be all in one language or split equally between the two languages]
three courses at the 60 level [these must be split between the two languages, two in one literary tradition and one in the second]
one course in literary theory or linguistics chosen from an approved list of departmental and non-departmental courses [Note: examples of non-departmental courses include Comparative Literature 10 or 72, English 15 or 17, Linguistics 1; for updated lists please contact the department administrator]
one seminar at the 80-level that will serve as the culminating experience.
Students doing the Honors track for Option 2 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87)
Option 3. The modified major
AMELL will permit students to modify the major in language and literature with offerings from other departments or programs. Students will design this major in consultation with a department adviser. The modification to the major in language and literature must consist of a coherent selection of courses that focus on a single discipline. Possible partnering departments and programs include Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Economics, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, Geography, Government, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, and Religion. Students would be required to take a combination of courses that provide training in basic theory and background on subjects related to the study of Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and Japanese.
Prerequisite for all majors: 23 or the equivalent
The major consists of 11 courses:
Six courses from AMELL: 10; three language courses beyond 23; two courses at the 50 or 60 level
Four advanced courses from among those offerings in another department or program that deal with the culture of the student’s chosen language and literature in AMELL [Note: students will not be permitted to count introductory-level courses that are used as prerequisites for the major in another department or program]
One advanced seminar either in AMELL or in the partnering department or program
Students doing the Honors track for Option 3 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87)
MINORS
The minor has the following requirement: six (6) AMELL courses approved by the Chair. Literature courses should be in the student’s area of concentration (i.e., Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, or Japanese); only language courses beyond the first year count towards the minor; as many as three of the six courses may be language courses. Chinese 52, 53 and above can be counted as a non-language course.
FOREIGN STUDY PROGRAMS
Students are encouraged to pursue study-abroad programs recognized by the Department (information on these programs can be obtained from the Department web site). At present, AMELL sponsors one Foreign Study Program in Beijing, China and one Advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) in Tokyo, Japan.
Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Prerequisite: Chinese 3 or the equivalent, with at least a B average, and Chinese 10, or the equivalent, with at least a B average.
The Dartmouth Chinese Foreign Study Program is conducted at Beijing Normal University (BNU) during the summer term. Dartmouth-at-BNU includes nine-and-one-half weeks of instruction on the BNU campus, with short trips to places of historical or cultural interest in Beijing and vicinity. There is also an optional field trip (totaling 12-14 days) at the end of the term within China. Students participating in Dartmouth-at-BNU will live in the foreign student dormitories on the BNU campus, and will enroll in three courses. All students will enroll in Chinese 11 (taught by the Dartmouth faculty member in residence). In addition, students will be placed in two language courses appropriate to their level of proficiency. Students at the second-year level will enroll in Chinese 22 and 23; students at the third-year level will enroll in Chinese 31 and 32; and students at the fourth-year level will enroll in Chinese 41 and 42. Successful completion of the BNU program will serve in satisfaction of the Summer Residence Requirement (even when taken in the summer following a student’s first year or third year). For application and further information, contact the Off Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street, and the Department office, 102A Bartlett Hall.
Dartmouth Advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) Program in Tokyo, Japan
Prerequisite: Japanese 1, 2, 3, or the equivalent, with at least a B average, and Japanese 10, or the equivalent, with at least a B average.
The Dartmouth Japanese LSA+ Program is conducted during the summer term at Kanda University of International Studies in Tokyo, Japan. The program includes nine and one half weeks of instruction, as well as organized trips to areas of cultural interest. Students enroll in three courses: Japanese 29 (taught by the Dartmouth faculty member in residence) and two second-year-level Japanese language courses (Japanese 22, 23). Successful completion of the Tokyo program will serve in satisfaction of the Summer Residence Requirement (even when taken in the summer following the first year or third year). For application and further information, contact the Off Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street, and the Department office, 102A Bartlett Hall.
HONORS PROGRAM
Admission to the Honors Program is by application to the Department. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.3 GPA in the major to qualify for the Honors Program. The Honors Program, involving one credit over and above the regular major, is a two-term project, outlined as follows:
1) Senior fall or winter: AMEL 85: Independent Research (may serve as Advanced Seminar for the major)
2) Senior winter or spring: AMEL 87: Honors Thesis
Proposals are normally submitted to the Department by the fifth week of the junior-year spring term. The proposal should be written in consultation with a prospective advisor, and is to include:
1) the title and nature of the project to be undertaken
2) the significance this research may have within the designated field of study
3) any relevant background (e.g., related courses; other preparation) which the student brings to the work
4) a tentative bibliography of studies germane to the project
5) the name of, and approval by, the thesis advisor
The Honors Program student must achieve and maintain a B+ in AMEL 85; otherwise, the project will be terminated. An informal oral presentation to AMELL faculty and students is required upon completion of the thesis. Completion of the Honors Program is required for graduation with Honors or High Honors in the major.
DEPARTMENT COURSES:
ASIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (AMELL)
7. First-Year Seminars in Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures
Consult special listings
17. Discourse and Cultural Identity in Asia and the Middle East (pending faculty approval)
06S: 2A
This course utilizes theories of discourse and ethnolinguistics to explore how Asian and Middle Eastern cultures use language to project their values, identities and institutions. What is a culture’s ‘communicative style’? What kind of metaphors and structures does it employ to talk business and law, love and health? How does it construct such verbal activities as advertising, apologizing, writing a scientific paper, beginning a phone call? And how do gender and age impinge on discourse practices? Glinert.
85. Independent Research
All terms: Arrange
Under the direction of members of the faculty. Students should consult with a member of the faculty in the term preceding the term in which the independent work is to be done.
87. Honors Thesis
All terms: Arrange
Open only to AMELL majors who are participating in the Honors Program. See guidelines under ‘Honors Program.’
ARABIC LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1-2-3. First Year Courses in Arabic
1. 05F, 06F: 9S
2. 06W, 07W: 9S
3. 06S, 07S: 9S
An introduction to written and spoken Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet four times/week (4 hours/week) for all beginning Arabic language classes. Never serve in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements. The staff.
10. Introduction to Arab Culture
06W, 07W: 2
This course will provide a broad introduction to the historical, literary, artistic, and popular cultures of the Middle East, from pre- and early Islamic times to the present. The aim of the course is to give students an appreciation of Arab and Arabo-Islamic culture, but also to examine ways in which prevailing historical, political, economic and social conditions have impacted cultural production and expression in the Middle East. Sources and texts will include, but not be limited to, selections from the Quran, hadith, Arabic poetry and literature, historical chronicles, and film. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Abouali.
21-22-23. Intermediate Arabic
21. 05F, 06F: 10
22. 06W, 07W: 10
23. 06S, 07S: 10
Prerequisite: Arabic 3 or equivalent
Intermediate level of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Continuation of presentation of fundamentals of grammar and development of proficiency in reading, writing, and spoken communication skills and aural comprehension, including much authentic cultural material. WCult: NW. The staff.
24. Formal Spoken Arabic
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
This course provides training in Formal Spoken Arabic (FSA) with some attention to divergences of certain Arabic dialects. FSA is a register which encompasses interdialectical features as well as features of modern Standard Arabic. The course emphasizes the functional and situational aspects of language. In addition to standard drills, students engage in structured and semi-structured speaking activities as well as content-based language activities built around regional topics. Prerequisite: Arabic 3 or equivalent. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Kadhim.
31-33. Advanced Arabic
31. 05F, 06F: 10A
32. 06W, 07W: 10A
Students will make the transition to true proficiency in Standard Arabic by relying primarily on authentic Arabic texts and audiovisual materials to a much greater degree. Students will be exposed to, and expected to master a wide variety of different kinds of texts, including, but not limited to, excerpts of classical poetry, classical prose, excerpts from the Quran, current newspaper articles, modern fiction, and essays from journals. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. The staff.
59. Independent Advanced Study in Arabic Language and Literature
All terms except summer: Arrange
Available to students who wish to do advanced or independent study in Arabic. The student must get permission from the faculty member with whom he or she wishes to work. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. The staff.
Courses numbered 61 through 63 are literature-in-translation courses, not requiring Arabic.
61. Topics in Modern Arabic Literature and Culture
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
This course is an introduction to the study of modern Arabic literature through readings and discussion of key texts in prose and poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries. Each offering of the course will be organized around a particular author, genre, theme, or period. Topics may include, inter alia, the question of tradition and modernity, the construction of an Arab national identity, the colonial encounter, post-coloniality, and the status of women in Arab society. The course is conducted entirely in English. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. Courses listed under Arabic 61 are open to students of all classes.
62. Topics in Classical Arabic Literature and Culture
06W, 07W: 2
Classical Arabic literature spans over thirteen centuries from pre-Islamic times until the advent of the modern Arab “renaissance” in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Among the outstanding products of this literature are the famed pre-Islamic qasidahs, the adab works of the Abbasid al-Jahiz, the maqamas of al-Hariri, the exquisite lyrics of the Andalusian Ibn Zaydun, and the celebrated One Thousand and One Nights. Each offering of the course will focus on a particular author, genre, theme, or period. The course is conducted entirely in English. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. Courses listed under Arabic 62 are open to students of all classes.
In 06W, The Arabian Nights East and West (Identical to Comparative Literature 35). An introduction to Arabo-Islamic culture through its most accessible and popular exponent, The Thousand and One Nights. The course will take this masterpiece of world literature as the focal point for a multidisciplinary literary study. It will cover the genesis of the text from Indian and Mediterranean antecedents, its Arabic recensions, its reception in the West, and its influence on European literature. The course will be taught in English in its entirety. No prerequisites. Dist: LIT or INT; WCult: NW. Kadhim.
63. Themes in Arabic Literature and Culture
06S, 07S: 2
Arabic literature is widely regarded as the foremost intellectual and artistic accomplishment of the Arabs. In the course of over fourteen centuries of vigorous literary activity, Arab poets and writers have elaborated a set of themes which inform Arabo-Islamic culture in profound ways. Offerings of this course might range from the examination of a particular theme to broader comparative studies. The course is conducted entirely in English. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. Courses listed under Arabic 63 are open to students of all classes and, unless otherwise noted, will satisfy the following General Education requirements: Dist: LIT; WCult: NW.
In 06S, Society, Culture, and Gender in the Middle East. This course will examine the ways in which society, culture and gender intersect and give shape to various institutions and ideologies in the Arab Middle East. The role of women in Islamic and Middle Eastern society will be looked at in historical perspective, and will serve as the primary lens through which Middle Eastern society, aspects of its culture, and the constructions of gender will be explored. We will examine topics such as family, marriage and divorce, sexuality, colonialism, and nationalism through a variety of historical and literary texts and visual media. The course will be taught in English in its entirety. Familiarity with Middle Eastern history or Islam is helpful, but not required. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Abouali.
Courses numbered 81 or above are advanced seminar courses.
81. Topics in Arabic Literature and Culture
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
This seminar is designed to examine closely literary and cultural texts employing theoretical and historical sources. Topics vary but might range from studies of individual authors to broader comparative themes. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW.
CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1-2-3. First Year Courses in Chinese: Beginning Chinese
1. 05F, 06F: 9S, 10
2. 06W, 07W: 9S, 10
3. 06S, 07S: 9S, 10
(Description pending faculty approval.) An introduction to spoken and written Modern Standard Chinese. Conversational drill and comprehension exercises in classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Intensive reading is conducted for textbook lessons. Grammar is explained and written exercises given. Traditional characters are learned in Chinese 1 and 2, simplified characters are introduced in Chinese 3. Classes are conducted increasingly in Chinese. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet Monday to Thursday for fifty minutes each day for all beginning Chinese language classes.
Satisfactory completion of Chinese 3 fulfills the language requirement. Never serve in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements. The staff.
4-5-6. First Year Courses in Chinese: Advanced Beginning Chinese
4. 05F, 06F: 9S, 10
5. and 6: For the 05-07 years 22 and 23 replace 5 and 6.
(Description pending faculty approval.) This series of courses is designed for students with varying, minimal levels of competence in: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Class hours include four or five fifty-minute sessions with the master teacher and up to four fifty-minute drill and/or conversation sessions. There are weekly exams, a midterm, and a final, as well as writing assignments, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed.This series is intended to achieve two goals: 1) to help students equalize their levels of the required speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills; 2) to allow them to raise these levels and thereby significantly increase their understanding of Modern Standard Chinese. Chinese 4 is an accelerated first-year course. Satisfactory completion of Chinese 4 places the student into the 20-level series. Never serve in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements. The staff.
10. Introduction to Chinese Culture (Identical to AMES 12)
06W, 07W: 12
The aim of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge and appreciation of Chinese culture. The course will examine the development of traditional Chinese culture from the earliest Chinese dynasties, dating back more than 3500 years, to the present day. Through readings of literary texts in translation students will be introduced to topics in language, history, literature and art, philosophy and social and political institutions. The course is open to students of all classes. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Blader.
11. Special Topics in Chinese Studies
06X, 06F, 07X: D.F.S.P. (Dartmouth in China)
WCult: NW. The staff.
21. Intermediate Modern Chinese (First term of second-year level)
Not offered in the period
from 05F through 07S
(Description pending faculty approval.) This second-year language course, taught on campus in the summer term, will cover a selection of chapters from the textbook “Snapshots of China”. The course will improve the student’s overall language skills through careful study of the text, which introduces many issues relating to modern-day life in China. The staff.
22-23. Intermediate Modern Chinese (Second-year level)
22. 06W, 07W: 8, 9S
23. 06S, 07S: 8
(Description pending faculty approval.) Chinese 22 and 23 covers a full second-year level course, using the textbook “Integrated Chinese Level Two” and a variety of other materials. The course is designed for students who have completed Chinese 4 or Chinese 21 or the equivalent. Students who have only completed Chinese 3 may be eligible for this course with permission of the instructor. Class hours include four or five fifty-minute sessions with the master teacher and up to four fifty-minute drill and/or conversation sessions. There are weekly exams, a midterm, and a final, as well as writing assignments, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed. This series is intended to raise the student’s levels in speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and, thereby, significantly increase their understanding of Modern Standard Chinese. Li.
31-32-33. Advanced Modern Chinese (Third-year level)
31. 05F, 06F: 11
32. 06W: 1007W. 11
33. 06S, 07S. 11
(Description pending faculty approval.) This series may be taken non-sequentially. Readings will be selected from literary, political, and historical publications. There will be regular exams, writing exercises, oral presentations, and supplementary work assigned as needed.
Prerequisite: Chinese 23 or permission of the instructor. The staff.
40-level courses. Advanced Modern Chinese (Fourth year level)
Fourth-year courses in Modern Chinese are taught as topic courses, each covering a specific literary genre or genres. These courses are non-sequential. The prerequisite is two courses at the third-year level or equivalent.
41. Modern Expository Prose
06X: 12
(Description pending faculty approval.) The course will focus on modern expository essays written by major writers and intellectuals from the 1940s down to the present-day. The readings will be selected based on both their language- and their content-suitability. Main themes covered are issues surrounding China’s modernization or westernization; China’s population; women’s issues; the contrast, conflict and compromise between the city and the rural community; and China’s peasantry in the 21st century.
Prerequisite: Two third-year level Chinese courses or permission of the instructor. Li.
42. Creative Literature of Modern China, part I
05F, 06F: 12
(Description pending faculty approval.) The student will read a variety of modern Chinese literature in the original Chinese. The aim of this course is to improve the student’s language skills through reading and discussion of important modern literary works. Written assignments will be given.
Prerequisite: Two third-year level Chinese courses or permission of the instructor. Li.
43. Creative Literature of Modern China, part II
06W, 07W: 12
A continuation of materials from Chinese 42.
Prerequisite: Two third-year level Chinese courses or permission of the instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Li.
FSP Language Courses: 22-23, 31-32, 41-42. Intermediate or advanced Modern Chinese (please see description under “Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Beijing”)
06X, 06F, 07X: D.F.S.P. (Dartmouth in China)
WCult: NW. The staff.
51. Introduction to Classical Chinese
06W, 07S: 10A
An introduction to the basic grammar and vocabulary of the Classical Chinese language using examples from a selection of texts from the Warring States Period.
Prerequisite: First-year Chinese. This course serves as a requirement for students wishing to major in the Chinese language and literature track. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Allan.
52. Readings in Classical Chinese: Daoist Philosophical Texts
06S: 10A
Readings in the Daoist classics, such as the Laozi Daodejing and Zhuangzi. Readings will be in the original Chinese. Emphasis will be placed on key philosophical issues, such as the meaning of the Way in Daoist texts and the relationship of language to thought.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Classical Chinese. Chinese 52 can be considered a non-language course. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Allan.
53. Readings in Classical Chinese: Confucian Philosophical Texts
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
Readings in the Confucian classics, primarily Mencius and Xunzi. Readings will be in the original Chinese. Emphasis will be placed on key philosophical issues, such as the concept of kingship in ancient China and the debate on human nature.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Classical Chinese. Chinese 53 can be considered a non-language course. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Allan.
59. Independent Advanced Study in Chinese Language and Literature
All terms: Arrange
Available to students who wish to do advanced or independent study in Chinese. Chinese 59 can be considered a non-language course. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. The staff.
Courses numbered 61 through 63 are literature-in-translation courses, not requiring Chinese.
61. Topics in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
05F: 10A
Following the definition generally accepted by the Chinese themselves, “modern” in this context refers to two large periods: that preceding the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, and that following 1949. The former (i.e. xiandai) can be pushed as far back as the Opium War of 1839-42, and the latter (i.e. dangdai) can be extended to “today”. Courses offered under this rubric examine the main literary and cultural phenomena and events taking place in China (including Taiwan and Hongkong) over this period of one and a half centuries. Courses listed under Chinese 61 are open to students of all classes.
In 05F, Literature and Revolution in 20th Century China. The revolutionary literature of 20th century China may be approached as fruitfully from the sociological point of view as from the literary one. This course will examine short stories, novels, plays, and poems in the context of their function as a political tool of the Chinese revolution. The methodology used will be developed in the first weeks of the course through extensive readings of western and translated Chinese theoretical sources, such as Marx and Engels’ The Communist Manifesto, Mao Zedong’s The Yenan Forum on Literature and Art, Leon Trotsky’s ‘On Literature and Art,’ and other works. Among the Chinese authors to be studied in English translation are Lu Xun, Cao Yu, Ding Ling, Lao She, Wang Anyi, and many others. The goal of this course is to reach a deeper understanding of the role of the artist and the art work in a communist society. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Blader.
62. Topics in Traditional Chinese Literature and Culture
06S: 2A
Traditional Chinese literature ranges from the earliest examples, divinations inscribed on turtle plastrons and ox scapulae dating back more than 3000 years, to the popular knight errant novels of the early 19th century. The Opium War of 1839-42 are taken as the cut off point for courses in this topic category which considers cultural as well as literary themes. Courses reflect the interests and expertise of the teaching staff and include early Chinese culture, the development of the Chinese script, historical prose, fiction and drama, poetry and oral literature. Courses under this rubric are defined by historical period and/or literary genres. Courses listed under Chinese 62 are open to students of all classes.
In 06S, Early Chinese Culture (Identical to History 73). A survey of early Chinese culture. The literary tradition will be taken as the primary evidence in the reconstruction and students will read early Chinese poetry and historical texts in translation. This tradition will then be examined in the light of new evidence from archaeological excavations concerning the material culture of ancient China and from ancient inscriptions. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Allan.
63. Themes in Chinese Literature and Culture
06W, 07S: 2A
Courses under this rubric will provide the student with a comprehensive view of the most frequently occurring themes in Chinese literary writings from the second millennium B.C.E. to the present. The most prominent among these themes are love (patriotic, familial, romantic, and platonic) and social protest. Individual literary genres in China have traditionally been associated, in a general way, with historical/dynastic periods. Therefore, tracing the evolution, for example, of the theme of romantic love, will lead the student through the multiplicity of ways that an idea can be transformed by diverse literary mediums and different historical periods. In reaching a fundamental understanding through literature of the Chinese way of looking at a specific idea as it evolved over time, we will understand better the uniqueness of both Chinese values and institutions and their Western counterparts. Courses listed under Chinese 63 are open to students of all classes.
In 06W, Languages of China (Identical to, and described under, Linguistics 50). Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Pulju.
In 07S, Women in China. This course examines Chinese attitudes towards, and perceptions of, women from early antiquity to modern times. The course takes a literary approach; students read and study masterpieces from various periods of Chinese history in almost all major literary forms. Satisfies the Non-Western Requirement. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Mowry.
Courses numbered 81 or above are advanced seminar courses.
81. Lu Xun and Hu Shi
06S: 2A
Through the writings of Lu Xun (1881-1936) and Hu Shi (1891-1962), two of the most important scholar-writers of the twentieth century, this course will examine several issues that were raised during the first two decades of this century by Chinese intellectuals who felt an acute, ever-increasing inadequacy of their own cultural heritage in the face of Western democracy and technological and scientific advancements. Those issues, raised more than seven decades ago, have persistently engaged the central attention of modern Chinese intellectuals, and include discussions of China’s modernization (or Westernization) and of China’s vernacular language movement, debates about various political and social philosophies, questions surrounding the so-called new culture movement, and other such issues. The seminar will be conducted in English; however, readings will include several original articles in Chinese. Permission of instructor required. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Mowry.
82. Chinese Poetry
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
This course will provide the student with an in-depth examination of the Chinese poetic tradition of more than three thousand years. Main focus: a close reading of representative poetic works in the original, with critical exploration of Chinese poetics, in both Chinese and English. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Williams.
83. Topics in Chinese Literature and Culture
06W, 07S: 2A
In 06S, Key Concepts of Confucian and Daoist Philosophical Thought. (Identical to AMES 91). In this course, we will examine the imagery at the root of certain key concepts, such as the way (dao), non-action (wu wei), the mind/heart (xin), energy/ether/breath (qi), in early Chinese philosophy, and explore the relationship between these images and the structure of early Chinese philosophical thought. Students will do some reading in metaphor theory, as well as of early Chinese philosophical texts, such as the Analects, Mencius, Laozi Daodejing, and Zhuangzi. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Allan.
HEBREW LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1-2-3. First Year Courses in Modern Hebrew
1. 05F, 06F: 2
2. 06W, 07W: 2
3. 06S, 07S: 2
An introduction to spoken and written Modern Israeli Hebrew (MIH). In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet four times/week for one hour (4 hours/week) for all beginning Hebrew language classes. Never serves in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements. Ben-Moshe.
10. Introduction to Hebrew and Israeli Culture (Identical to AMES 17 and Jewish Studies 20.2)
06S, 07S: 10A
This course is interdisciplinary, exploring the interaction of Hebrew literature, film, music, religion and society. For millenia, Hebrew has had a unique spiritual hold on both the Jewish and Christian imagination. We will focus on the Bible as wisdom, law and poetry, the Talmud of the ancient Rabbis, Kabbalah and Hebrew alphabet mysticism, war and the Israeli cinema, Hebrew folk and rock culture, and a modern political mystery: how today’s Hebrew was raised from the dead.
No knowledge of Hebrew is assumed. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Glinert.
21-22. Intermediate Hebrew
21. 05F, 06F: 12
22. 06W, 07W: 12
Continued study of Modern Israeli Hebrew grammar and syntax. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of the spoken language and on listening and reading comprehension. The course includes selected readings from contemporary Hebrew authors. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Ben-Moshe.
31. Advanced Hebrew
06S, 07S: 12
Continued study of Modern Israeli Hebrew grammar and syntax. Emphasis is placed on acquisition of the spoken language and on listening and reading comprehension. The course includes selected readings from contemporary Hebrew authors. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Ben-Moshe.
51. Biblical Hebrew and its Ethos (formerly Hebrew 4, pending faculty approval)
06W, 06F: 10A
An introduction to the language and ethos of the Hebrew Bible, sampling Biblical texts in the original for their language, genre and themes, and examining how Biblical language has been transmuted into English semantic space from the Renaissance to the present day.
Prerequisite: First-year Hebrew or equivalent.
This course serves as a requirement for students wishing to major in Hebrew language and literature. Glinert.
59. Independent Advanced Study in Hebrew Language and Literature
All terms except summer: Arrange
Available to students who wish to do advanced or independent study in Hebrew. The student must get permission from the faculty member with whom he or she wishes to work. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Glinert.
Courses numbered 61 through 63 are literature-in-translation courses, not requiring Hebrew.
61. Topics in Modern Hebrew Literature and Culture
06S: 1007S: 2A
Emerging in 18th and 19th century Europe, Modern Hebrew literature produced the Hasidic anecdote and fable seeking to revitalize the religious Jewish masses, then the excited and tortured novels and poetry of Jewish intellectuals seeking to Westernize themselves while remaining true to their roots, and now the radically different literature of contemporary Israel dealing with Zionism, modernity, the lonely individual, war and peace. Courses listed under Hebrew 61 are open to students of all classes.
In 06S, History of Israel from an Arab Intellectual Perspective (Identical to, and described under, Jewish Studies 15; pending faculty approval). Kamil.
In 07S, Film, Fiction and the Israeli-Arab Conflict (Identical to Jewish Studies 40). This course explores Israeli cinema in the context of the social and historical backdrop of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the painful emergence of a new Jewish-Israeli identity in the shadow of the Holocaust and constant warfare. We will study a dozen or so films in depth, situate them in the evolution of an Israeli cinema, and consider the problems of turning fiction into film. Dist: LIT. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: EU. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. Glinert.
62. Topics in Classical Hebrew Literature and Culture
06W: 2A
Classical Hebrew literature spans 3000 years from the Biblical period until the advent of Jewish ‘modernity’ in the 18th-19th centuries, and reflects the lives and values of Jews in their ancient homeland and across the Ashkenazi and Sephardi diasporas. Among the outstanding products of this literature, whose effects on Jewish and Western civilization have been incalculable, are the Bible, the Midrash and Talmud of late Antiquity. Medieval Hebrew genres include the theological and erotic poetry of Spain and Italy, the laments of the Crusades, the travelogue, ethical fables, philosophical essays, and Messianic folklore. Courses listed under Hebrew 62 are open to students of all classes.
In 06W, Midrash: How the Rabbis Interpreted the Bible (Identical to Comparative Literature 70 and Jewish Studies 20.1). Midrash is the ancient Jewish term for Biblical interpretation. We examine how the Bible was interpreted by the Rabbis 1500 to 2000 years ago, at the crucial juncture in history when the Bible was being canonized in the form it now has. We focus on powerful motifs such as the Creation, the Flood, Jacob and the Angel, Joseph’s Dreams, and the Golden Calf, and view them through two prisms: through a wide range of ancient Midrashic texts themselves; and through one influential modern Jewish literary reading of the Midrashic themes of Genesis. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Glinert.
63. Themes in Hebrew Literature and Culture
06F: 2A
Committed to tradition but irresistibly changing, Hebrew literature across the centuries has created a delicate set of modulations on major themes, which may be deemed leitmotifs of Jewish culture and which continue to surface even in secular Israel: Among them are love and the mystical eros, holy land and holy people, the sacrifice of Isaac and martyrdom, exile and the messiah. Courses listed under Hebrew 63 are open to students of all classes.
In 06F, Rabbis, Rogues and Schlemiels: Jewish Humor and its Roots (Identical to Comparative Literature 41 and Jewish Studies 20). What is Jewish humor, what are its roots, and what can it begin to tell us about Jewish society, its values and its self-image? This course mines the long and rich tradition of Hebrew comic and satirical folklore and fine literature, and their relationship to Yiddish, Israeli and Anglo-American Jewish humor. We will also compare the joke, popular song, film and the cartoon, asking how genre impacts on theme. Taught in English translation. Open to all classes. Dist: LIT. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: EU. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. Glinert.
Courses numbered 81 or above are advanced seminar courses.
81. Topics in Hebrew Literature and Culture
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1-2-3. Japanese
1. 05F, 06F: 9S
2. 06W, 07W: 9S
3. 06S, 07S: 9S
An introduction to written and spoken modern Japanese. In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. Conversational drill and comprehensive exercises in classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of the basic patterns of speech. Classes are conducted in Japanese. Reading in simple materials is extensive. Mandatory student-run drill sessions meet daily for one hour (5 hours/week) for all beginning Japanese language classes. Never serves in partial satisfaction of Distributive or World Culture requirements. The staff.
10. Introduction to Japanese Culture (Identical to AMES 13)
06S, 07S: 11
Japanese cultural history through a broad survey of literature, art, social and political institutions, and popular culture. Modern conceptions of Japan and formations of Japanese identity have evolved under the pressures created by radical swings between periods of wholesale appropriation of foreign cultural forms and periods of extreme isolation. The course will trace the evolution of Japanese culture by examining the ways in which cultural archetypes are distinguished in Japan. Taught in English. Open to all classes. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Dorsey, Washburn.
22, 23. Intermediate Modern Japanese
06X, 07X: D.L.S.A.+ (Dartmouth in Japan)
A continuation of the fundamentals of grammar and further acquisition of spoken communication skills, aural comprehension, and proficiency in reading and writing. This is an intensive course that integrates the FSP homestays and the local environment into course materials. Students will be expected to master a wide variety of reading and video materials. WCult: NW. Dorsey.
29. Special Topics in Japanese Studies
06X, 07X: D.L.S.A.+ (Dartmouth in Japan)
WCult: NW. Dorsey.
31. Advanced Japanese
05F, 06F: 10
A progression of materials from Japanese 23. Intensive review and continued study of modern Japanese at the intermediate level. Conversation skills will continue to be an important aspect of this course, but more emphasis will be placed on reading and writing skills. Reading materials will be drawn from current newspapers, contemporary fiction, essays from journals and excerpts from poetry. Short audiovisual selections will be used as well. Assigned work includes written compositions and oral presentations.
Prerequisite: Japanese 23 or permission of instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Ishida.
32. Advanced Japanese
06W, 07W: 10
A progression of materials from Japanese 31. A variation of materials used in Japanese 31. Note: although the materials used in this course differ from the materials used in Japanese 31 the general level of proficiency required to enroll in either Japanese 31 or 32 is roughly equivalent. Students may take Japanese 32 even if they have been unable to enroll in Japanese 31.
Prerequisite: Japanese 31 or permission of instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Watanabe.
33. Advanced Japanese
06S, 07S: 10
A continuation and progression of materials used in Japanese 31 and 32. Note: the level of proficiency required to enroll in Japanese 33 is higher than the proficiency required for either Japanese 31 or 32.
Prerequisite: Japanese 32 or equivalent. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Ishida.
41. Advanced Japanese
05F, 06F: 11
A variation of materials used in Japanese 33. Note: although the materials used in this course differ from the materials used in Japanese 33, the general level of proficiency required to enroll in either Japanese 33 or 41 is roughly equivalent. Students may take Japanese 41 even if they have been unable to enroll in Japanese 33.
Prerequisite: Third year Japanese or permission of the instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Watanabe.
42. Advanced Japanese
06W, 07W: 11
A progression of materials from Japanese 41. Designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Assigned work includes written compositions and oral presentations.
Prerequisite: Japanese 41 or permission of the instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Dorsey.
43. Advanced Japanese
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
A progression of materials from Japanese 42.
Prerequisite: Japanese 41 or 42 or permission of the instructor. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Ishida.
59. Independent Advanced Study in Japanese Language and Literature
All terms except summer: Arrange
Available to students who wish to do advanced or independent study in Japanese. The student must get permission from the faculty member with whom he or she wishes to work. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Dorsey, Washburn.
Courses numbered 61 through 63 are literature-in-translation courses, not requiring Japanese.
61. Topics in 20th Century Japanese Literature and Culture
06W, 07W: 12
Classes offered under this rubric deal with major figures, themes, or issues of twentieth-century Japanese literature, popular culture, and intellectual history. Techniques of critical reading and interpretation are studied as an integral part of these courses, which reflect the interests and expertise of the teaching staff. Since each offering is based on a particular theme or period students may take this course more than once. Courses listed under Japanese 61 are open to students of all classes.
In 06W, Godzilla’s Revenge: Anime, Manga, J-Pop and Cultural Identities in Modern Japan. A vague suspicion that Japan’s ultimately disastrous war effort had been fueled by both the culture of the elite and the elites’ view of culture meant that popular, or low-brow, media took on a new significance in the burnt out ruins of the late 1940s. This course will explore the evolution of this vision for popular culture through the changing technologies of representation, from the manga (comic books), film, pulp fiction and popular music of the early postwar years through the animation, tv programming, and video games of present times. Topics to be addressed include the dynamics between high- and low-brow genres; the delineation of race, gender, and national identity in popular culture; the nature of culture in post-industrial consumer capitalism. No knowledge of the Japanese language required. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Dorsey, Washburn.
In 07W, Word and Image in Japanese Fiction and Film. An examination of the historical production and reception of key literary and film texts in Japan. Topics include: adaptation and the translation of word to image; the modernist fracturing of text and image into separate temporal and spatial realms; nostalgia and the use of the past in the formation of the language of Japanese film; censorship and cultural amnesia; violence as an expression of cultural authenticity; the construction of national identity and of gender roles within codes of nationalism. We shall also consider how all of these topics are informed and distorted by Western perspectives on the East and by Japanese perspectives on the West. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Washburn.
62. Topics in Early Modern Japanese Literature and Culture
Not offered in the period from 05F through 07S
Classes offered under this rubric explore the emergence of modern Japan between the years 1600 and 1900 through an examination of literature, popular culture, and intellectual history. Techniques of critical reading and interpretation are studied as an integral part of these courses, which reflect the interests and expertise of the teaching staff. Since each offering is based on a particular theme or period students may take this course more than once. Courses listed under Japanese 62 are open to students of all classes.
63. Topics in Classical Japanese Literature and Culture
06F: 12
Classes offered under this rubric will explore key developments in the cultural history of Japan between the years 700 and 1600 through a close examination of literary artifacts. Techniques of critical reading and interpretation are studied as an integral part of these courses, which reflect the interests and expertise of the teaching staff. Since each offering is based on a particular theme or period students may take this course more than once. Courses listed under Japanese 63 are open to students of all classes.
In 06F, The Karma of Love: Japanese Women Writers and the Classical Canon. The Japanese literary tradition is notable for the overwhelming dominance of women writers in the classical canon and for the ways their work was later co-opted by the literary culture of warrior society. We shall analyze the social, economic, and political contexts that led to the dominance of women writers, focusing primarily on depictions of sexual relationships and the development of an ideology of love. Major texts include: The Tale of Genji, The Pillow Book, The Gossamer Diary, As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams, and The Confessions of Lady Nijo. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Washburn.
Courses numbered 81 or above are advanced seminar courses.
81. Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture
06W, 07W: 10A
This seminar is designed to examine closely literary and cultural texts employing theoretical and historical sources. Topics vary according to instructor, but might range from studies of single authors to broader comparative themes, where students will be urged to incorporate readings in the original language.
In 06W, The Art of War: Stories, Paintings, Films, and Propaganda From Japan’s Modern Wars. In this course we will examine the relationship between a wide variety of cultural artifacts and modern Japan’s experience of war, particularly WW II. Topics addressed within this context include: government censorship, literary subversion, popular culture versus high culture, visual versus written media, postwar cultural memory, the ideology of suicide squads, and the mentality of victimhood. No Japanese language is required for the course, but students with sufficient ability will be expected to make use of original sources. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Dorsey.