ANELL 200: Women Writers of the Near and Far East
Fall 1999

Profs. Berg, Copeland, and Keshavarz

This course is intended to introduce students to the comparative methodologies of studying literatures and cultures outside of the Anglo-European traditions.  This semester we will focus on women writers of Iran, Israel and Japan as we explore their literary creations in the context of their respective cultures as well as in the larger context of women's culture.  Each of the literary traditions considered this term is supported by long and rich histories - histories that have seen both fracture and continuity in the twentieth century.  We will investigate how women of these cultures write within and against tradition.  Of particular concern will be analysis of the ways women express themselves as artists, the ways they depict themselves against the fabric of society, and the ways they use writing as sustained rebellion.
 

Requirements


No prerequisites; requirements include: active participation (15%), three [5-7 page] papers and revisions (65%), weekly [one well-written page] thought pieces (20%).
All assignments are due on time; all work must be completed in order to receive credit for the course.  Students are strongly encouraged to review the "Statement of Student Academic Integrity" (University Course Listings, p.57 ).

Texts


Books are available for purchase at the University Bookstore. Additional readings are on reserve at Olin Library. (Please be considerate of your classmates.)  Occasionally short pieces will be distributed in class. All readings are to be completed before the class in which they are to be discussed.

Questions and Office Hours


For general course information & about Hebrew writers:
        Prof. Berg - Wed 9:00-10:00, Thurs 2:30-3:30 & by appt.               nberg@artsci.wustl.edu
        Busch 112, x4451
For questions about Japanese writers:
        Prof. Copeland -  TBA                                                                    copeland@artsci.wustl.edu
        Busch 124G, x4903
For questions about Iranian writers:
        Prof. Keshavarz - TBA                                                                     fatemeh@artsci.wustl.edu
        Busch 114B

ANELL 200
Schedule (subject to change)

Week 1
August 26  Introduction to the course: women's writing

Week 2
August 31  Israeli poets - women's place (handouts)

September 2  The personal voice - Rahel, Baron (on reserve)

Week 3
September 7  Tamura Toshiko, "A Woman Writer," "Glory," To Live and To Write, Yukiko Tanaka, ed. Seal Press.

September 9  Hirabayashi Taiko, "Self Mockery,"  in Tanaka.

Week 4
September 14  Uno Chiyo, "A Genius of  Imitation," in Tanaka.

September 16  Nakamoto Takako,  "The Female Bell-Cricket," in Tanaka.

Week 5
September 21  film
FIRST PAPER DUE

September 23  Amia Lieblich, (Conversations with) Dvora, University of California Press,  First - Twelfth Encounters.

Week 6
September 28  Lieblich, Dvora, Thirteenth Encounter - Epilogue.

September 30 Baron, "Fradl," in Lieblich.

Week 7
October 5  Forough Farrokhzad, selections - on reserve.

October 7  film

Week 8
October 12  Farrokhzad, selections - on reserve.

October 14  Farrokhzad, selections - on reserve.

Week 9
October 19  Yona Wollach, selections - on reserve.

October 21  Wollach, selections - on reserve.

Week 10
October 26  Amalia Kahane-Carmon, "Bridal Veil" and Dalia Rabikovitch, "A Slight Delay" - on reserve.

October 28  Kahane-Carmon, "Naima Sasson Writes Poetry," - on reserve.
SECOND PAPER DUE

Week 11
November 2  Sawako Ariyoshi, The River Ki, Kodansha.

November 4  Ariyoshi, cont'd.

Week 12
November 9  Orly Castel-Bloom, Dolly City, Loki Books.

November 11  Castel-Bloom, cont'd.

Week 13
November 16  Banana Yoshimoto, Kitchen, Pocket Books.

November 18  Yoshimoto, cont'd.

Week 14
November 23  film

November 25  Thanksgiving, no class

Week 15
November 30  Sharnoush Parsipour, Women Without Men: A Novella, Syracuse Press.

December 2  Parsipour, cont'd.

Week 16
December 7  Conclusion
THIRD PAPER DUE