Antisemitism: History and Contemporary Reality

(4 Credits)

History is replete with examples of minority groups being subjected to persecution, stereotyped, and treated as undesirable others by the majority culture. While by no means the only group that has experienced discrimination and suffered violence, Jews have repeatedly been made into objects of hate and targets of brutality. We explore the development of antisemitism from antiquity through modernity, looking in depth at texts, ideas, and historical conditions that fostered unflattering and derogatory stereotypes and motifs about Jews. We try to understand how expressions of antisemitism have evolved or persisted. Through studying antisemitism, we aim for a greater appreciation and understanding of how derogatory rhetoric and stereotypes about any group can inflict lasting damage.