Global Arc

This course explores the relationship between dolls and girlhood at the intersection of literary and art histories. These small, domestic, and seemingly trivial objects have played surprisingly significant roles in large socio-cultural histories, including the histories of gender, race, modern psychology, commodity aesthetics, colonialism, and technology (from automatons to cyborgs) and its implications for personhood. Every week the syllabus pairs literary works with artworks. We will practice close reading across written and visual texts. Multiple sessions will be held inside PUAM, and there will be a required day trip into NYC to MoMA.

What is the essential building block of all poetry, often called the lyric? And what is its relationship with song? If song is words put to music, the words are often made of short stanzas, featuring strong, stable rhythms and clear rhymes; known in English as the lyrics. The course offers in a weekly seminar the chance to explore in great detail the emergence of lyric traditions across the globe and the dynamics of the interrelationship between the verbal and the musical. Modern songs are not recent inventions, but have longstanding roots, and what came earlier now claims forceful contemporary resonance.

Now that it is no longer necessary to learn to write, we are in a good position to ask what writing is and what it might still be good for. This is a course on the THEORY and HISTORY of writing: where it comes from, and how it works as a medium of reasoning, persuasion, and art. It is also a course on the PRACTICE of writing: at its heart are daily exercises that develop stylistic range, precision, and versatility. Readings gather sources from linguistics, literary theory, and cognitive science, along with examples of electric prose across many genres. This is a course for writers who want to know what they're doing.

Nobody loves a makeover like Americans. Is this powerful dream a yearning for self-improvement or a desire for escape? And how does this longing for change fit into the American attachment to authenticity, our love for "the real thing"? What are the morals and ethics of radical self-transformation? This course explores the various forms of personal, social, sexual, racial, & even spatial transformations that fascinate our culture, sometimes with relish, sometimes with judgmental suspicion. We'll track how the "makeover" fuels or troubles American ideals about beauty, truth, gender, race, social mobility, family, habitats, citizenship, & more.

Pandemics do not simply appear; they emerge through biological, ecological, and socio-political processes and are often anticipated long before they are declared. This course examines how surveillance, modeling, preparedness, and response shape what counts as "emergence," and how diseases are made visible and actionable. Students engage both the science and social life of pandemic emergence and anticipation, pairing epidemiological tools with Science and Technology Studies (STS) to analyze how evidence is produced, circulated, and contested. Open to students across disciplines.

Discuss development of Israeli theater since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1949, focusing on key figures, movements, and themes. Explore foundation and early years of the Habima and Cameri theaters, two of Israel's most prominent companies. Analyze how theater reflected the social and political realities of the state's early years, such as immigration, and nation-building, to name only a few; key elements of theatrical production, including acting, directing, set design, and lighting; and specific Israeli plays in detail and analyze their historical context, thematic content, and artistic significance.

From clay tablets to illuminated manuscripts, from psalms to pop songs, Hebrew letters embody history, mystery, and artistry. Journey through the alphabet, dedicating each class to a single letter. Uncover why Hebrew is written form right to left, why Aleph is not the 1st letter in the Bible's opening, and how letters became keys to mystical traditions. Engage with biblical texts, Kabbalistic writings, art, music, and questions of culture that emerge from the alphabet, while addressing grammatical topics that arise. Appreciate Hebrew as both a linguistic system and a cultural treasure. The course will be conducted primarily in Hebrew.

For students HEB 107 level or higher who want to read the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) in its original language with minimal reliance on a lexicon. In Hebrew as much as possible, build advanced reading fluency across prose, prophecy, and poetry. Learn practical strategies for translation and interpretation. Close attention to how Biblical Hebrew works: its word order, verbal system, style, and register. Ask how Biblical Hebrew relates to other stages of Hebrew, including Modern Hebrew. Close reading, guided translation workshops, short grammar refreshers, and low-stakes activities (games, speaking, and collaborative work).

Introductory Korean (KOR 1001) is designed for true beginners. Conducted at half the pace of instruction compared to a Elementary Korean (KOR 101) the goal is to help students master the Korean alphabet and develop oral and aural proficiency. Upon successful completion of both KOR 1001 and KOR 1002, students will have acquired fundamental reading and writing skills in Korean, along with the ability to engage in basic conversations in the language. After completing KOR 1001 and KOR 1002, students will be well-prepared for the second half of the regular elementary Korean course (KOR 102) in the spring term.

Introductory Korean II (KOR 1002) builds on Introductory Korean I (KOR 1001) and is designed for students who have completed KOR 1001 or have equivalent foundational knowledge. This course further develops proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Korean, with a focus on grammar, vocabulary, and practical communication. Following the same deliberate pace as KOR 1001, students engage in exercises to construct simple sentences and express themselves in everyday contexts. By the end of KOR 1002, students will be prepared for Elementary Korean II (KOR 102).