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Course Info for GRMN - 260 - 01, Spring 2024
Class number: 2882 Title: The Legend of Faust Department: Language and Culture Studies
Career: Undergraduate Component: Seminar Session: Regular
Instructor's Permission Required: No Grading Basis: Regular Units: 1.00
Enrollment limited to 19 Current enrollment: 5 Available seats: 14
Start date: Monday, January 22, 2024 End date: Friday, May 10, 2024 Mode of Instruction: In Person
Schedule: TR: 1:30PM-2:45PM, HHN - 105 Instructor(s): Assaiante, Julia
Prerequisite(s): None
Distribution Requirement: Meets Humanities Requirement
Course Description:
From the epic exploits of Gilgamesh to the myth of Prometheus to the serpent's whisper to Eve, the desire for knowledge and the dire consequences of its attainment is one of humankind's oldest conflicts. This course will take up the legend of medieval scholar Johann Faustus, to examine questions of access, control and power relating to knowledge. The primary sources will be literary versions of the tale, beginning with its medieval chapbook origins and then moving through Christopher Marlowe, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Thomas Mann. In addition to these texts, this course will also engage with various philosophical, theological and sociological readings to contextualize and expand upon how literary versions of the tale frame issues of authority, gender, politics and faith in relation to knowledge.