Reading Across Disciplines (302-0-1)

Topic

Intersections between Literature and Mathematics

Instructors

Peter D Fenves
847/467-2966
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge 3329
Office Hours: Mon, 12 - 1:30 PM and by appointment

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L04: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

Literature and mathematics—though often seen as at opposite ends of the "liberal arts"— have over the course of millennia each enriched the other in a variety of ways. This class is designed for students to explore the connection between these two forms of writing, thinking, and analyzing the world—whether the world be the "real" one or one discovered through the exercise of imagination and logical reasoning. The principal requirement for the class is a final project that students propose and develop in consultation with the professor. The course is broken into three modules. The frist considers certain poetic genres and individual poems whose mathematical dimensions are an essential element of their meaning. The second revolved around the (short) "fictions" of Jorge Luis Borges. The third involves three portraits of the mathematician: those by Robert Musil, Leonard Michaels, and Alice Munro. The course is taught in English; those who know German and/or Spanish are encouraged to read the stories in the original.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about a variety of ways in which literature is related to mathematics
• Acquire knowledge of certain elements of poetic composition
• Become acquainted with the work of three major modernist prose writers: Robert Musil, Jorge Luis Borges, and Alice Munro
• Learn how to propose and develop an independent research project in humanistic studies.

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

Class participation, Presentations, Research project, Writing assignments

Class Materials (Required)

Texts available via Canvas

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area