Interpreting Culture (202-0-20)

Instructors

Scott P Durham
8474914660
1860 S. Campus Drive, Crowe Hall #2-141

Noran Mohamed

Meeting Info

University Hall 122: Mon, Wed 10:00AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

French Existentialism

This course, taught in English, will serve as an introduction to existentialism, which not only defined the literary, philosophical and political culture for French intellectuals of the post-war period, but also remain indis-pensable for an understanding of various currents of contemporary literature and cul-ture. We shall begin by discussing the philo-sophical and literary foundations of existen-tialism. Then we will examine the moral, so-cial and political questions central to existen-tialism, as worked out in the fiction, drama, and essays of such authors as Sartre, Beau-voir, Beckett, and Fanon. Finally, we will consider the extent to which post-existentialist thought and culture may be read as a continuation of or as a reaction against existentialism.

Class Materials (Required)

1. Beauvoir, The Second Sex
2. Beckett, Waiting For Godot
3. Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth
4. Genet, The Screens
5. Sartre, What is Literature?
6. Sartre, Nausea
7. Sartre, The Flies

Class Notes

This course satisfies the Area V Ethics and Values and the Area VI Literature and Fine Arts distribution requirements. TAUGHT IN ENGLISH.

Class Attributes

Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - Kresge Cent. Hall 2-380 Kaplan: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - Kresge Cent. Hall 2-380 Kaplan: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-325: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM

DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-331: Fri 3:00PM - 3:50PM