NEW COURSES SCHEDULED FOR FALL 2009

This course examines various aspects of history and culture in modern East Asia as represented in film. We will analyze changing constructions of political administration, economic systems, religious institutions, foreign encounters, and social relations depicted in texts and movies from China, Japan, and Korea in order to gain insights into the national memories of these countries. We will also consider the central influence of gender, class, ethnicity, and generation on the development of distinct regional identities. A comparative perspective will be employed to examine the links and differences between these three countries of East Asia.

The course will also introduce students to a variety of methodologies for the study of non-Western cinema. While a highly significant form of media in shaping any society, East Asian cinema has a long, creative, and influential history. By screening and assessing some of the region’s greatest films directed by eminent storytellers, we will further evaluate the value of film to depict historical narrative.

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HIST 477: The Spanish Civil War in its International, Literary and Visual context.

Instructor: Cliona Murphy

The Spanish Civil War occurred between 1936 and 1939 and inspired contradictory reactions around the world. For some it was a war between Fascists and Communists. For others it was about protecting democracy from those who wished to overthrow the Popular Front government. It inspired religious fervor in many, and Catholics around the world prayed that Franco would "beat the Reds" Yet more saw it as a romantic adventure with volunteers, including poets, artists and writers, flocking to Spain to fight. Some went for ideological reasons, others went to escape boring jobs and bad marriages. The dictatorships and democracies in Europe and the Americas reacted with a variety of official and unofficial positions regarding the war, which ranged from non-intervention to active support with the sending of guns, weapons, and manpower to a chosen side. A question that has occurred to many is why it did not evolve into the Second World War?

The course will focus especially on the international context of the war, with a particular emphasis on the reactions of France, Germany, Italy, Britain, the Soviet Union, Ireland, the United States and Mexico. Each student will focus on and research a particular aspect of the international context, and all students will also study the literary and visual representations of the Civil War. There will be a strong emphasis on student participation, research, and presentation.