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Course Info for ENGL - 231 - 02, Spring 2026
Class number: 2686 Title: The Rom Com Department: English
Career: Undergraduate Component: Lecture Session: Regular
Instructor's Permission Required: Yes Grading Basis: Regular Units: 1.00
Enrollment limited to 25 Current enrollment: 24 Available seats: 1
Start date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 End date: Friday, May 8, 2026 Mode of Instruction: In Person
Schedule: TR: 1:30PM-2:45PM, AAC - 320 Instructor(s): Wheatley, Chloe
Prerequisite(s): None
Distribution Requirement: Meets Humanities Requirement
Note: For majors, this course fulfills the requirement of a post 1800 requirement/elective/additional literature or film course.
Course Description:
On the page and on the screen, the genre of the Rom-Com is today seen as fluffy and feminine, a realm of pure escape. This course takes the Rom-Com more seriously, as a genre that reflects and critiques the conventions that govern gender, sexuality, and marriage. We will examine two pivotal periods in the development of the genre: the turn of the 17th century, focusing on William Shakespeare, and the turn of the 19th century, focusing on Jane Austen. Each author's works will be paired with film adaptations that, in reimagining their source material, challenge audiences to rethink the connections between gender, desire, race, class, and social convention.