Tutorials

Alexander the Great in Manuscript Arts from the Medieval to the Early Modern Periods

mlillywhite@middlebury.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:52:30 +0000

Alexander the Great in Manuscript Arts from the Medieval to the Early Modern Periods HARC 0701 mlillywhite@mi… Mon, 07/15/2024 - 10:52 Tutorials Classics History History of Art & Architecture Autumn 2025 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

This tutorial course is going to dwell on a single figure—Alexander the Great, or Iskandar Maqdūnī (the Macedonian) as he is known in Persian—in select manuscripts produced across Central Asia and Central Europe in the medieval (1000-1500) and early-modern (1450-1750) periods. Alexander was significant in different ways to different dynasties administering different regions and in different eras. Different versions of his biography had different appeal, and at different times. By associating themselves with the hero, different rulers emphasized different facets of Alexander in their patronage of manuscripts.

In addition to being a part of popular culture and common knowledge for millennia, Alexander’s recounted exploits have particularly resonated with royals and nobles sitting in English through Indonesian courts. The course highlights a few select illustrated texts—produced between the 13th through 16th centuries—in Greek, French, Latin, Armenian, Turkish, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian. It is essential to consider each text within its own tradition, but placing them together also allows for a broader geographic and chronological scope that can also produce interesting comparisons of cross-cultural and trans-imperial significance.

Sessions will explore the interplay of a narrative’s ancient (often imagined) past taking place in the Greek Empire (ca. 4th century BCE), with the accreted layers of time periods in which the illustrated text is produced, read, or seen. Dwelling on Alexander’s reception in various courts and dynasties professing Christian and Islamic confessions (Franco-Flemish, Italian, Byzantine, Mongol, Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, Abu’l-Khairid [Uzbek]), the course challenges the binaries of east and west, Christianity and Islam, through the universal appeal of the famous world conqueror. It will be of interest to students of literature, art history, religious history, culture and translation studies, medieval and early modern cultures, European and West/Central/South Asian history.

Sample Topics

Alexander as interpreted in the oldest texts and contexts: Greek, Syriac, Latin language sources, Biblical and Qur’anic versions.
New Persian and Old French—European Medieval traditions (13th-14th centuries) and early Persian literary versions (in the Shahnama, ca. 1010)
Alexander in the Byzantine and Mongol realms (13th-14th centuries.
Alexander in the Islamicate (Ottoman, Iranian, and Central Asian) realm (15th century), Turkish and Persian versions.
Alexander in the Islamicate (Ottoman, Iranian, and Central Asian) realm (16th century), Turkish and Persian versions.
Why Alexander? The appeal of superheroes.
Trip to the Weston Library to view manuscripts ((European and Turco-Persianate copies of the Alexander Romance).
Trip to British Library in London to view Old French Alexander manuscripts owned by Henry VIII, and Persian manuscript versions.

Social and Sexual Transgressions in Late Medieval and Early Modern European Literature (1200‒1700)

mlillywhite@middlebury.edu — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:40:45 +0000

Social and Sexual Transgressions in Late Medieval and Early Modern European Literature (1200‒1700) CMLT0030 / GSFS 0030 mlillywhite@mi… Fri, 01/20/2023 - 09:40 Tutorials Comparative Literature Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

The literature of late medieval and early modern Europe is replete with social and sexual transgressors who have often been overlooked by scholars. This course explores a range of characters on the margins of social and sexual acceptability in order to re-evaluate preconceptions held about matters of gender, sexuality, and social roles in the period 1200–1700. It places particular emphasis on issues of homosexual desire, sexual trickery and seduction, and progressive female characters and writers. Students may choose to study a selection of literary texts in the areas of prose, the short story, poetry, and drama.

Sample topics:

Saints and Sinners in Alfonso X’s Songs of the Virgin Mary.
Sexual Escapades in Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron.
The Outspoken Wife of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
Forthright Women in Gil Vicente’s Farce of Inês Pereira.
Sexual Seduction and Trickery in Juan Ruiz’s The Book of Good Love.
Go-Betweens and Sorceresses in Fernando de Roja’s Celestina.
Transgenderism and Transvestism in António Ferreira’s Bristo.
Sexual Misbehaviour and Deceptions in Marguerite de Navarre’s Heptameron.
Homosexual Desire in Richard Barnfield’s The Affectionate Shepherd and Cynthia.
The Female Rogue of Francisco López de Úbeda’s The Lives of Justina.
Swindlers and Tricksters in Francisco de Quevedo’s The Swindler.
Immorality Exposed in Francisco de Quevedo’s Dreams and Discourses.
Female Agency in María de Zayas’s Amorous and Exemplary Tales.
The Strong-Willed Nun of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s The House of Trials

These texts are available in English translations. However, if you do have some of the relevant language skills then the course can also be taught using the original texts: contact the Senior Tutor to discuss this.

Epic Tales of Rivalry. Non-European Encounters in Iberian Epic Poetry and New World Plays (1500‒1700)

mlillywhite@middlebury.edu — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:26:03 +0000

Epic Tales of Rivalry. Non-European Encounters in Iberian Epic Poetry and New World Plays (1500‒1700) CMLT 0020 / SPAN 0020 / PGSE 0020 mlillywhite@mi… Fri, 01/20/2023 - 09:26 Tutorials Comparative Literature Portuguese Spanish Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

The early modern Spanish and Portuguese literary traditions contain a wealth of epic poems inspired by the classical Greek and Latin epics of the likes of Homer, Virgil and Ovid and by recent historical events related to crusade, conquest, and empire building. There are also a number of Spanish and Portuguese plays by Gil Vicente, Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Ricardo de Turia and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz that deal with the relationship between the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in India, Africa, and the New World. Collectively, these works explore aspects of cultural exchange and conflict that arose from the encounters of conquistadors, pioneers and governors with other cultures, races and religions. By choosing to study a selection of these texts, students will explore how early modern Spain and Portugal related to the peoples that they encountered, and they will discuss the multiple perspectives held on issues relating to crusade and conquest. The module aims to challenge some of the long-standing assumptions made about colonization and empire building and re-evaluates the texts through a postcolonial lens where appropriate.

Sample topics:

Race and Religion in Luís de Camões’s Os Lusíadas.
Confrontation between the Portuguese and Ottaman Empires in Jerónimo Corte-Real’s Segundo cerco de Diu.
Patriotism and Sympathy in Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga’s Araucana.
Portrayals of the Indigenous in Pedro de Oña’s Arauco domado.
The Exploits of Hernán Cortés in Gabriel Lasso de la Vega’s Mexicana.
Non-European Encounters in the Final Voyage of Sir Francis Drake in Lope de Vega’s La Dragontea.
European Quarrels in a New World Context in Lope de Vega’s Brazil restituído.
Medieval Religious Conflict in Gaspar García Oriolano’s Murgetana.
Allegory and Symbolism in Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s El divino Narciso.

A good number of the texts to be studied are available in English translations and, therefore, knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese is not a prerequisite for the course. However, if you do have the relevant language skills then it should be taught using the original texts: contact the Senior Tutor to discuss this.

Spanish

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Spanish SPAN 0010 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Spanish Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

Tuition in Spanish can be arranged to accommodate a wide range of needs and interests. For example, a stress can be laid on reading or conversational Spanish depending on what is required.

Note that modern languages are offered only at intermediate and advanced levels, not for beginners or near-beginners. Use the same course code for both levels, you will be asked to clarify your linguistic skills during the admissions process.

SOAN Special Topic

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

SOAN Special Topic SOAN 0700 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Sociology/Anthropology Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

It is sometimes possible to arrange teaching in Anthropology and/or Sociology beyond the tutorials listed. This provides the opportunity to explore a particular subject in depth, through one-to-one tutorials and writing weekly essays.

This will usually be of interest to students who have already taken classes in Anthropology and/or Sociology, and have a specific interest that they wish to pursue, and/or a specific requirement that they need to fulfil.

Please note that this is subject to agreement by both the programme and the applicant’s home institution.

Applicants interested in this possibility should contact the Senior Tutor directly.

Russian

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Russian RU 0010 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Russian Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

Tuition in Russian can be arranged to accommodate a wide range of needs and interests. For example, a stress can be laid on academic or conversational Russian depending on what is required.

Religion Special Topic

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Religion Special Topic RELI 0700 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Religion Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

It is often possible to arrange teaching in Religion beyond the tutorials listed. This provides the opportunity to explore a subject in depth, through one-to-one tutorials and writing weekly essays.

This will usually be of interest to students who have already taken classes in Religion, and have a specific interest that they wish to pursue, and/or a specific requirement that they need to fulfil.

Please note that this is subject to agreement by both the programme and the applicant’s home institution. Applicants interested in this possibility should contact the Senior Tutor directly.

Modern Catholic Thought

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Modern Catholic Thought RELI 0610 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Religion Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

This course introduces students to the development of modern Catholic Thought from the period after the First Vatican Council (1870) to the present day. Students will look at the different ways in which Catholic Thought has engaged with the rise of modernity/post-modernity and with the changing religious, political, social and scientific landscape. We will focus on some of the most influential documents produced by the Church’s magisterium in this period and at the contributions of some of the major figures in Catholic theology, such as de Lubac, Rahner, Von Balthasar and Küng. We shall also look at the development of feminist, political and other theologies.

Set texts:

The Documents of the Second Vatican Council: Lumen Gentium

Papal encyclicals: Rerum novarum, Pascendi dominici gregis, Humani generis, Fides et Ratio

Hans Urs von Balthasar, Love alone: The way of revelation

Yves Congar, True and False Reform in the Church

Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation

Elizabeth Johnson, She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse

Hans Küng, ‘What is an ecumenical council?’ in The Living Church

Henri de Lubac, The Mystery of the Supernatural; Catholicism

Karl Rahner, The Trinity

Edward Schillebeeckx, Jesus: An experiment in Christology

Sample topics:

1.   Pius X and the Modernist crisis

2.   Nouvelle Theologie and the Humani generis controversy (de Lubac, Pius XII)

3.   Rethinking Catholic doctrine: God as Trinity in modern Catholic thought (Rahner)

4.   Rethinking Catholic doctrine: The Divinity and Humanity of Christ in modern Catholic thought (Schillebeeckx)

5.   Rethinking Catholic doctrine: The Church in modern Catholic thought (Second Vatican Council, Congar, Küng)

6.   Faith, reason and the rise of modern science (John Paul II)

7.   The place of feminism and post-modernism in modern Catholic thought (Johnson)

8.   Catholic Social teaching from Rerum novarum to liberation theology (Leo XIII, Gutiérrez)

Christianity and Science

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Christianity and Science RELI 0600 / HIST 0600 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials History Religion Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

This course examines relations between Christianity and the sciences in the western world, from the seventeenth century to the present. Christianity and science have often been presented as mutually hostile or incommensurable entities. However, a more nuanced and scholarly approach – drawing on readings in science, history and theology – reveals complexities that go beyond adversarial over-simplifications. Key scientific figures such as Galileo, Newton and Darwin cannot be understood independently of their Christian context, while Christian thinkers have responded creatively (as well as, at times, defensively) to the challenges of modern science.

Introduction to Buddhism

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 20:20:53 +0000

Introduction to Buddhism RELI 0300 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 16:20 Tutorials Religion Autumn 2022 Autumn 2023 Autumn 2024 Autumn 2025 Spring 2023 Spring 2024 Spring 2025 Spring 2026

This course provides students with a solid foundation in early Buddhist thought, covering the core teachings of the historical Buddha. The course begins with a consideration of the social and religious milieu of fifth century BCE India, against which such teachings as (for example) no-self and non-violence are properly contextualised and understood. Students will also gain a sense of the diversity of traditions within Buddhism and a sense of the enormity of the Buddhist canonical literature. In addition to the central teachings in metaphysics, this course explores the soteriological underpinnings of Buddhist teaching and gives students an opportunity to explore issues in moral philosophy from an alternative point of view.

Sample Syllabus:

The theory of no-self (an?tta): its context, coherence and purpose.
Karma and Rebirth: literalistic vs. metaphorical interpretations.
Causes and Conditions in early Buddhism: the pervasiveness of change and the existential angst it engenders.
Soteriology: competing conceptions of nirv??a.
Meditational Practices: the objective, methods and types of meditation (with a focus on early Buddhism).
The community of monks and nuns: the sa?gha as an institution, its formation and its rules.
Canonical literature: the P?li canon and the concept of ‘word of the Buddha’ (buddhavacana).
Ahi?s? and Karu??: non-violence and compassion as the guiding principles of Buddhist ethics.