Modern Jewish Writers

3 units

What is Jewish literature? While we begin with -- and return to -- the traditional question of definitions, we will take an unorthodox approach to the course. Reading beyond Bellow, Ozick and Wiesel, we will look for enlightenment in unexpected places: Egypt, Latin America, and Australia. Recent works by Philip Roth, Andre Aciman, Simone Zelitch and Terri-ann White will be supplemented by guest lectures, film, short stories and significant essays. We will focus on issues of language, memory and place. Background knowledge is not required, though it is warmly welcomed.