College Seminar (101-7-1)

Topic

It's Complicated: Love Stories in Hebrew Literatur

Instructors

Guy Ehrlich
Crowe, 5-167
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00 - 3:00
Guy Ehrlich (Ph.D., Tel Aviv University, 2021) is a postdoctoral fellow at the Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies at Northwestern University. Previously, he was an Einstein Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is interested in modern Hebrew literature, Israeli culture, gender studies, and queer theory. His book, titled “The Empty Places of Yehudit Hendel,” won the Yaacov Bahat Prize for Best Original Scholarly Book Manuscript in Hebrew and was recently published by Haifa University Press (2024). His articles were published in “Mikan: Journal for Literary Studies” (2019), “Jewish Social Studies” (2020), “Ot: A Journal of Literary Criticism and Theory” (2021), “Shofar” (2024), and “Queer Kinship and Comparative Literature” (edited by Anchit Sathi and Alice Ferrebe, Palgrave Macmillan Press, 2024).

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 2378: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Whether as a dangerous rival of traditional Jewish life or the only escape from the cruel, alienated modern world, love has always been a preoccupation in modern - and postmodern - Hebrew literature and culture. This course observes and discusses various depictions of the notion of "love" from the early 20th century onwards, as captured in Hebrew novels, short stories, films, and other cultural representations. Throughout the course we will explore notions such as the eruption of love and its decline; the myth of love; the diasporic Jewish men's complex attitude toward Eros and the suffering of the abandoned wives of the shtetl; the gendered roles and power relations; the queer alternatives of love; and postmodern love. The literary and cultural texts will be accompanied by theoretical essays. While focusing on the concept of love, this course also provides an introduction to Hebrew literature and culture. As a College Seminar, it will also help students become more familiar with the university and its academic culture, set their academic goals, and navigate their transition into university life. No previous knowledge of Hebrew, Israel or Judaism is required! All the Hebrew texts will be read in translation.

Registration Requirements

None.

Learning Objectives

-Examine and interpret literary texts using practices of both close reading and comparative reading
-Critically evaluate and analyze literary and cultural
-Define and describe the notion of love in modern Hebrew literature and culture in its varied contexts -social, cultural, and historical
-Draw connections and correlations between and across literary texts and films
-Develop writing, collaboration, and interpersonal communication skills.
-Become more familiar with the university and its academic culture
Develop skills in academic reading, writing, and critical thinking; Learn about campus resources and strategies for effective time management
-Reflect on their academic and personal goals as they transition into university life

Evaluation Method

Attendance/Class participation: 15%
Short Response Papers: 15% (Pass/Fail)
Long Response Paper: 30%
Final Paper: 40%

Class Materials (Required)

Will be provided by instructor.

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required