Some students may choose to investigate, for their final project, family histories (and hence their own, personal connection to 'national epics').ĮNGL 0510 Benjamin Franklin Seminar: National Epics (Med/Ren)Ī course that traces how particular literary texts, very often medieval, are adopted to become foundational for national literatures. Most all of us have complex family histories: Chinese-American, French Canadian, Latino/a/x, Jewish American, Pennsylvania Dutch, Lenni Lenape. Can the Song of Roland, once compulsory study for all schoolchildren in France, still be required reading today- especially if I am French Muslim? What about El Cid in Spain? How do some texts- such as the Mahabharata in India, or Journey to the West in China- seem more adaptable than others? The course begins in western Europe, but then pivots across Eurasian space to become gradually more global. How and when might such imaginative texts emerge? Nations change, and old poems may no longer serve. In this course we will consider texts that become 'national epics,' texts that in some sense come to 'represent' a nation. See the English Department's website at for a description of the current offeringsĮNGL 0303 First Year Seminar: National Epics Neuroscientists and we will take these ideas into explorations of art, literature, and Philosophers) we’ll also look at political theorists, including Thomas Hobbes we’llĮxplore psychoanalytic perspectives, historical research, and some of the work of We’ll look at some philosophical reflections onĮmotion (including Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, as well as more recent moral In this seminar we will explore some key methodologies and subject We use for discovering and recounting that history? To what extent does history of theĮmotions borrow from other fields? These include all the fields that relate to what weĬall “emotions studies”: psychology, sociology, political theory, philosophy, and

But do emotions have a history? If so, what methods do The field known as “History of the Emotions” has gained tremendous prominence in

Field trips are likely to include a backstage tour of the National Theatre, and possibly a visit to the theatre collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Readings for the class will include selected plays and contextual material to prepare us for theatre viewing written work will consist of responses to performances. Class meetings will include presentations on the theatres we visit, analysis of plays, and discussions about the productions we have seen. We will also see a diverse selection of pieces staged not only in the historic theatres of the West End, but also in smaller fringe theatres. Students attend three performances each week, produced by companies such as the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and Shakespeare’s Globe. London is one of the most exciting theatre centers in the world, and this course has a focus on live performance, providing an incomparable opportunity to learn about a wide range of dramatic forms, acting styles, theatrical conventions, and playing spaces. As part of this course, you will study with a renowned theatre critic and make frequent theatre visits. This course is the centerpiece of the Penn English London Program. We will also consider the meaning of 'queer,' global sexualities, same-sex marriage, the politics of emotion, and gay normalization.ĮNGL 0137 Penn Theatre in London-Penn English London Program The history we trace will focus on the effects of the 'invention of homosexuality' in the late-nineteenth century the history of butch/femme community the cultural moment of Stonewall and gay liberation the 'Sex Wars' of the 1980s women of color and queer of color critiques responses to HIV/AIDS and the emergence of the transgender rights movement. What is sexuality? Does it exist in the body or in the mind? Is it a collection of actions, desires, and fantasies, or is it rather a disposition, a way of seeing oneself, an identity? Does what we want depend on who we are? Does what we do define who we are? This course will address such questions by introducing students to several classic texts in the history and theory of sexuality and by looking at key moments in the struggle for sexual and gender freedom. ENGL 0050 History and Theory of Sexuality

Ratatouille book read aloud