Antisemitism in Popular Culture
CJST 230
Fall 2024
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01
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This course will explore how popular culture engages with antisemitism. We will study a wide range of texts from different periods, including short stories and sitcoms, silent films and Netflix hits. We will examine how they engage with antisemitism, challenge and combat it, reflect on it, and sometimes, consciously or subconsciously, reflect it and perpetuate antisemitic stereotypes. Among others, we will discuss how the Austrian novel City Without Jews predicted the Holocaust; why Hollywood was so hesitant to produce Gentleman's Agreement and School Ties, two of the only films that directly confront antisemitism, and how it portrayed Deborah Lipstadt's battle against Holocaust deniers; and how Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, and French comedians use humor and self-deprecation to tackle attacks against their community. We will also see how popular culture views antisemitism in the broader context of White supremacy and violence directed at other minority groups. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS CJST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Dara Horn. THE WORLD LOVES DEAD JEWS.
Jean-Paul Sartre. ANTI-SEMITE AND JEW.
Hannah Arendt. THE ORIGINS OF TOTALITARIANISM.
Shmuel Yosef Agnon. THE LADY AND THE PEDDLER
Philip Roth. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA.
Hugo Bettauer. THE CITY WITHOUT JEWS.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Bi-Weekly (twice a week) comments: 40 %
Participation: 20 %
Creative mid-term assignment: 20 %.
Final project: 20 %
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts toward the minor in Jewish and Israel Studies
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| Instructor(s): Shavit,Avner Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: FISK208; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 8 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 4 | FR: 2 |
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