Classical Mythology RELST-UA 404
Session 6W1, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 9:30am - 11:05am. Class # 2171. 4 Pts. Nikota
Session 6W2, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 9:30am - 11:05am. Class # 2172. 4 Pts.
Discusses the myths and legends of Greek mythology and the gods, demigods, heroes, nymphs, monsters, and everyday mortals who played out their parts in this mythology. Begins with creation, as vividly described by Hesiod in the Theogony, and ends with the great Trojan War and the return of the Greek heroes. Special emphasis on the return of Odysseus, as related by Homer in the Odyssey.
Jewish Politics, Jewish Power HBRJD-UA 695, Russ-Fishbane
Monday, Wednesday 2:00pm - 4:45pm
The course will take a close look at the history of Jewish political thought and the implementation of Jewish power, both in the past and in the present. The course begins with an overview of the current debate over Jewish power and powerlessness and examines some of the modern myths of Jewish power that are still with us today. The course will also focus on the roots of the Jewish political tradition from the Bible to Mendelssohn, explore the many sides of modern Zionism, modes of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, and the consequences and challenges of modern Jewish power in the State of Israel. Questions to further discuss include: What does Judaism have to do with politics? Is there such a thing as Jewish politics before the establishment of the modern State of Israel?
Courses Applicable to the Major or Minor in Religious Studies
MEIS-UA 782 Topics in Islamic Studies:
Media and Islam | 4 units | Class#: 4964 | Session: 6W2 07/08/2019 - 08/18/2019 Section: 001. Component: Seminar. Instructor: Ian Vander Meulen
Tue, Thu 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Notes: SAME AS MEDI-UA 782.
The recent resurgence of Islamophobia in the West continues to cast Muslims societies as anti-modern, resistant to modern innovations including media technologies. But a closer look reveals a vibrant array of media productions that are vital to the formation of Muslim communities and identities. What is particularly “Islamic” about these media forms, and what is so “new” about their forms of expression? In this course, we explore theories of cultural representation and media on order to survey how Muslims in diverse historical and cultural contexts have employed media technologies for religious expression and preservation of tradition. We consider handwritten and printed media, works of visual art and architecture, radio and television broadcasting, and the internet, including social media. This holistic perspective will encourage students to think critically about how Muslim media actors construct novel understandings of “Islam,” while also accounting for historical continuity and the “traditional” roots of mediated forms of Islam.
HIST-UA 93 Topics:
Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in American History
4 units | Class#: 4729 | Session: 6W2 07/08/2019 - 08/18/2019 | Section: 001
Component: Lecture.
Mon, Wed 2:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Islamophobia and anti-Semitism have perhaps become more prominent in American discourse than any time in recent memory. Neither are new phenomena in U.S. history, however. Both anti-Jewish and anti-Islamic sentiments have origins that predate the United States’ founding. This course examines that long history with a focus on the 20th century, during and after the mass immigrations of Jews, Arabs, and Muslims precipitated periods of heightened anxiety and discrimination. It will explore the way in which conceptions of race and religion shaped anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in America, conceptions that were fostered and advanced by academics, politicians, and the media. Finally, the course will discuss the interplay between these prejudices and American policy, including foreign policy and domestic issues such as immigration, policing, and government surveillance.
HIST-UA 629 Medieval Interfaith Relations: Tolerance or Persecution?
4 units | Class#: 4262 | Session: 6W1 05/28/2019 - 07/07/2019 | Section: 001
Component: Lecture. Instructor: Ilana Ben-Ezra
Tuesday, Thursday 2.00 PM - 5.00 PM
Appreciating the nuance inherent in medieval relations between faith groups is this course’s goal. This course examines how Christians, Jews, and Muslims interacted in medieval Europe, especially focusing on the twelfth through fifteenth centuries. Throughout the course students will engage with the complex views religious groups held about each other and explore how beliefs translated into physical, verbal, and conceptual exchanges on the lay and elite level, as well as between religious and political leaders. These exchanges will illustrate the complexity and nuance present in relations between the groups. Central themes in the course will include “otherness” – conceptions of groups different from one’s self – religious conversion, types of cross-cultural influence, religious debate, and power and authority. The course aims to also teach students how to closely read and analyze primary documents. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand differences between faiths, their beliefs, and how their beliefs and historical experiences shaped their approach to groups different from themselves. By understanding and studying medieval interfaith relations, students can better appreciate issues, motifs, and stereotypes impacting relations between groups that still circulate and have an impact today.