professor:deborahneedlemanarmintor
classroom & meeting times: LANG 205, MWF 10:00-10:50
contact info: /369-5018
office hours: lang 409b, by appointment
representing the holocaust in literature & FILM (engl 4660, Fall 2013)
the holocaust:
“the holocaust refers to a specific genocidal event in twentieth-century history: the state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of europeanjewry by nazigermany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945. jews were the primary victims—6 million were murdered; gypsies, the handicapped, and poles were also targeted for destruction or decimation for racial, ethnic, or national reasons. millions more, including homosexuals, jehovah’s witnesses, soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents, also suffered grievous oppression and death under nazi tyranny.”
(from the u.s. holocaust memorial museum)
course description:
thegerman philosopher theodoradorno once said, “after auschwitz it is barbaric to write poetry.” misguided as adorno’s statement might be (adorno later retracted it), the questions it raises continue to resonate in literature and film about the holocaust. how do nonfiction or fiction writers and documentary or narrative filmmakers attach words and images to the holocaust and its aftermath? how do differences in genre (memoir, narrative fiction, documentary film, narrative cinema), style, subject matter, and issues of authorial identity affect—or not affect—the “meaning” of holocaust literature? through close readings of various literary and cinematic texts, we will discuss these and other questions about language and trauma, literature and genocide, storytelling and history. the course is divided thematically into 2 sections:
I. Memoir and documentary
ii. narrative fictions
course requirements & grading
- Essay 1 (Due Week 7): (50% of course grade) 1 original formal essay, 4-5 double-spaced pages, advancing an original argument (yours, of course) about any two of the literary, critical, and/or cinematic texts we’ve read or viewed thus far in the course. Your paper must be structured around a clearly stated, thought-provoking, original thesis, and must demonstrate an understanding/awareness of all relevant topics and texts covered thus far in the course. I will primarily be looking to see how you go beyond the obvious (and beyond what we’ve already discussed in class) in your arguments, analyses, and close readings of the literary and/or cinematic texts you have chosen to write about. Be sure to stick to the topic and argument at hand, avoiding unnecessary plot summary, sermonizing, autobiographical information, and other kinds of rhetorical “filler” at all costs. All papers must be well written, and double-spaced, in a reasonable font (Times New Roman 11-12, for instance), with 1-inch margins all around. Pre-writing meetings with me are recommended but optional, to be scheduled at our mutual convenience.
-Essay 2 (Due Monday, December 9th)(50% of course grade); see format and writing instructions for Essay 1 above. For this paper, you may either write about any two of literary, critical, and/or cinematic texts we’ve read or viewed since week 6, or you may choose to develop an argument around a chapter from Indelible Shadows (one we’ve read or haven’t read for the class, your choice) and a film discussed in that chapter (one we have or haven’t discussed in class, your choice).
attendance policy: attendance is mandatory and will be taken each class. your absence will be considered “excused” if you notify me by email before your absence or shortly thereafter. any student responsible for two or more unexcused absences will be asked to withdraw from the course.
compliance with americans with disabilities act: any student with a disability requiring assistance is encouraged to register with the office of disability accommodation. please provide me with a written request by the fourth class day so i will know how best to accommodate you.
syllabus
required texts :
YosefaLoshitzky (editor) / Spielberg’s Holocaust: Critical Perspectives on Schindler’s List / 1997 / Indiana University PressEli Wiesel / The Night Trilogy: Night, Dawn, Day / 2008 / Hill and Wang
Primo Levi / The Drowned and the Saved / 1989 / Vintage
Primo Levi / Survival in Auschwitz / 1996 / Touchstone
Lawrence Langer / Preempting the Holocaust / 2000 / Yale University Press
Annette Insdorf /
Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust
/ 3rd edition (November 25, 2002) / Cambridge University Press;section i: Memoir & Documentary
Week 1:
W, 8/28: Introduction to the Course
F, 8/30: Langer, Preempting the Holocaust, pp. xi-58
Week 2:
M, 9/2: LABOR DAY (NO CLASS)
W, 9/4: Indelible Shadows, Chapters 2 & 12 (Documentary & Meaningful Montage), plus begin In-Class Screening & discussion of Night and Fog
F, 9/6: Continue In-Class Screening & discussion of Night and Fog
Week 3:
M, 9/9: Langer, Preempting the Holocaust, pp. 59-198
W, 9/11: Levi, Survival in Auschwitz, pp. 9-64
F, 9/13: Levi, Survival in Auschwitz, pp. 65-130
Week 4:
M, 9/16: Levi, Survival in Auschwitz, pp. 131-187
W, 9/18: Levi, The Drowned and the Saved, pp. 11-69
F, 9/20:Levi, The Drowned and the Saved, pp. 70-126
Week 5:
M, 9/23: Levi, The Drowned and the Saved, pp. 127-203
W, 9/25: Wiesel, Night, pp. 5-40
F, 9/27: Wiesel, Night, pp. 41-83
Week 6:
M, 9/30: Wiesel, Night, pp. 84-133
W, 10/2: In-Class Screening & discussion of scenes from Shoah
F, 10/4: In-Class Screening & discussion of scenes from Shoah
section iI: NaRRATIVE FICTIONS
Week 7: Essay 1 due any day this weekvia “turnitin” on course Blackboard
M, 10/7: In-Class Screening & discussion of Schindler’s List
W, 10/9: In-Class Screening & discussion of Schindler’s List
F, 10/11: In-Class Screening & discussion of Schindler’s List
Week 8:
M, 10/14: Finish Schindler’s List
W, 10/16: Spielberg’s Holocaust: Introduction – Chapter 4
F, 10/18: Spielberg’s Holocaust: Chapters 5-8
Week 9:
M, 10/21: Spielberg’s Holocaust: Chapters 9-12
W, 10/23: Wiesel, Dawn, pp. 139-176
F, 10/25: Wiesel, Dawn, pp. 177-221
Week 10:
M, 10/28: Wiesel, Day, pp. 229-285
W, 10/30: Wiesel, Day, pp. 285-339
F, 11/1: Indelible Shadows, Chapter 1 (Hollywood & the Holocaust)
Week 11:
M, 11/4: Indelible Shadows, Chapter 5 (The Jew as Child) and in-Class Screening & discussion of Au Revoir, Les Enfants
W, 11/6: In-Class Screening & discussion of Au Revoir, Les Enfants
F, 11/8: Finish discussingAu Revoir Les Enfantsand Indelible Shadows, Chapter 5
Week 12:
M, 11/11: Indelible Shadows, Chapter 4 (Black Humor); In-Class Screening & discussion of The Great Dictator
W, 11/13: In-Class Screening & discussion of The Great Dictator
F, 11/15: Finish discussing The Great Dictator and Indelible Shadows, Chapter 4
Week 13:
M, 11/18:Indelible Shadows, Chapter 3 (Styles of Tension) & Chapter 1 (Disfunction as Distortion); In-Class Screening & discussion of Life Is Beautiful
W, 11/20: In-Class Screening & discussion of Life Is Beautiful
F, 11/22: Finish discussing Life Is Beautiful and Indelible Shadows readings
Week 14:
M, 11/25: Evaluations, Conclusions (attendance taken, no reading assignment)
W, 11/27: Class Cancelled (Day before Thanksgiving break)
F, 11/29: No Class (Thanksgiving Break)
Week 15: Prefinals Week (NO CLASS, optional pre-writing conferences in office, LANG 409B, during class hours)
Finals Week: No final exam for this course.
Essay 2 due Monday, December 9th via “turnitin” on course Blackboard
**********APPENDIX: ON PAPER PREPARATION AND PLAGIARISM POLICY***************
1. Preparation for your papers starts on the 1st day of class, so from day 1 be sure to:
a) Keep up with the readings, enjoying them as much as you possibly can, while marking up your books and handouts with underlinings, questions (or simply question marks), ideas (whole or fragmented), connections, and potential paper topics.
b)Take notes during class and participate in class discussion, sharing both your questions and ideas with your instructor and peers.
2. Plagiarism policy for this course:Any student suspected of plagiarism will be asked to meet with me. If I determine that plagiarism has occurred, I will report the student to the office of academic integrity and will recommend the maximum penalty (failure of the course). All students have the right to appeal. for more on unt’s academic integrity policy & its definition of plagiarism: