Introductory Topics in Middle East and North African Studies (290-6-2)

Topic

We're Here, We're Queer: Queerness in Hebrew Liter

Instructors

Guy Ehrlich
Crowe, 5-167
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00 - 3:00

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

We're Here, We're Queer: Queerness in Hebrew Literature and Culture (in Translation)

The corpus of Hebrew prose works and cultural representations that focus on LGBT characters and queer life stories is on the rise. Such texts and films are no longer inherently considered completely marginal, despite not yet being a major part of the literary canon. This course presents a broad examination of LGBT/queer Hebrew literature and culture - from the new wave of gay and lesbian literature in the 1990s up to some more contemporary works. What stories and questions do Hebrew queer literary texts and films present? Is queerness in the Israeli context being celebrated or is it still fighting for acceptance and tolerance? Throughout the course, we will explore Hebrew prose works and films that engage with LGBT/queer identities and topics, and examine questions and themes, such as "coming out of the closet," "queer identity," "the lesbian continuum," "heteronormativity/ homonormativity," and the queer notion of "no future." The literary and cultural texts will be accompanied by theoretical texts from Adrienne Rich, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Lee Edelman, J. Halberstam, and more. No previous knowledge of Hebrew is required! All the Hebrew texts will be read in translation, and all the films will be accompanied by English subtitles.

Learning Objectives

• Examine and interpret literary texts using practices of both close reading and comparative reading
• Critically evaluate and analyze literary, cultural, and theoretical texts
• Define and describe the notion of queerness in modern Hebrew literature and Israeli culture in its varied contexts - social, cultural, and historical
• Compare different aspects of queerness as portrayed in heterogenous Hebrew literary texts and Israeli films
• Draw connections and correlations between and across literary texts/Israeli films
• Develop writing, collaboration, and interpersonal communication skills

Evaluation Method

Attendance & Class participation: 10%
Final paper: 40%
4 Short Response Papers (pass/fail): 10%
2 Long Response Papers: 40%

Class Materials (Required)

Will be provided by the instructor.

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area