Obscenity / Sexuality / Atheism

in Western World Literature

Welcome to a section of Western World Literature that will focus on issues of obscenity, sexuality, sexual orientation, love, education, free thought, and atheism in literary and philosophical works of the so-called "Western" tradition, from Ancient Greece to the present. In this course we will consider the comic, picaresque, fabliaux, folk humor, carnivalesque, bawdy, filthy, scandalous, sacreligious, irreligious, anti-religious, and "popular," as opposed to the tragic, epic, heroic, beautiful, revered, edifying, sacred, morally uplifting, or "cultured."

We will examine texts through the lense of "obscenity," a word in whose Greek origin refers to that which is out of the scene, "off-stage." Drawing on thinkers including Marx, Freud, Bakhtin, and Foucault we will reflect on the social construction of that which should not be known, and the political and psychological purposes and implications of repression.

As the term "literature" is clearly under investigation, so the term "West" or "Western" is recognized in this class as a commonly accepted construct of Orientalist discourse -- although an interrogation of that term is not a focus of this section, suspicion of the category, of the existence of a "Western world" is registered at the outset. Although translation is also not a topic we address, our focus, by catalog description, is on works outside English, British, and American traditions. Indeed, the very idea of a "survey" course, spanning more than 2000 years in one semester, "covering" a variety of cultures, languages, literatures, and traditions is also obviously problematic. Categories such as "Ancient," "Medieval," "Renaissance," "Early Modern," "Enlightenment," "Modern," will be treated with skepticism.

We are interested in the past, and the representation of the past, as a history of the present, in order to understand and act in the present day. We will consider the content and purposes of a course titled "Western World Literature" and of education in general -- those students planning on becoming teachers will have opportunities to prepare for and think critically about their role.

There is no required textbook for the class, though studying textbooks and anthologies and the syllabi of courses similar to and different from this one (see below) may be an activity of interest. Instead, our on-line syllabus serves as an electronic, hyperlinked, textbook, opening to all the resources of the internet and vast on-line (and brick and morter) archives, libraries, and resources. All students will participate regularly in our on-line discussion at Nicenet.org -- posting at least once before every class. There will also be the opportunity to select from a variety of trade texts for group and independent reading.

The reading material in this class is suitable for mature audiences willing to attempt to understand the moral universe of other times and cultures as well as their own. If this class is not right for you, please take a different section.

Our class meets Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:45 in 2209 Sangren Hall. Because class discussion is central to the course, participation is vital -- our learning depends on each other. Attendance will be taken and missing classes will lower your grade. Missing more than four classes may lead to failing. This course will follow WMU policies regarding academic honesty.

WMU has many resources to foster student health and well-being. I support the Safe on Campus environment (387-2123). If at any point in the semester if you feel stress, English 3120 does offer free on-line therapy from Eliza!

My office is 723 Sprau Tower, 387-2605. Office hours are immediately after class and by appointment. You can always reach me via email.

Reading

Extensive reading from digital archives and the internet. One essay involves a $3 fee. Some handouts. In groups students will select and purchase novels and texts from the 19th and 20th Centuries related to course themes. See Literature Circles.

Electronic Syllabus

Jan 8 Tuesday: Introductions Jan 10 Thursday: Educating the Guardians 1. Read: Greek Origin Myth from Theogeny by Hesiod 2. Read: from The Republic by Plato (360 BCE) , section addressing the literary education of the guardians, 2.376c to 3.398b (near end of book 2 into book 3) Perseus Archive or from MIT Classics 3. Comment on Nicenet Class Key: E22436Z378 (Post before every class meeting!)

"Socrates Tears Alcibiades from the Embrace of Sensual Pleasure," by Jean-Baptiste Regnault (1791)

Jan 15 Tuesday A Scandalous View of the Socratic School

Read: The Clouds by Aristophanes (423 BC) Johnston Translation, Perseus Archive, or Hickie Translation (Optional: Critical Essays: "On Satire" Study Resources: Dunkle Study Guide)

Jan 17 Thursday: Sex and War in Ancient Greece

Read: Lysistrata by Aristophanes (411 BC) Perseus Archive, Project Gutenberg, or Eserver (Optional: Study Questions, Study Guide, Modern implications: Lysistrata Project)

Jan 22 Tuesday Celebration of Homoerotic Love

Read: "Symposium" by Plato (385) BC Project Gutenberg (you can skip the long translator's introduction) or Perseus Archive. (Optional: Wikipedia on "symposium" and on Plato's Symposium)

Jan 24 Thursday Blaspheming the Gods & Corrupting the Young Read: "The Apology" by Plato (399 BCE) MIT Classics, Perseus, or WSU (Option: Wikipedia, Commentary)

"The Death of Socrates," by Jacques-Louis David (1787)

Jan 29 Tuesday Roman Decadence

Scene from Fellini's Satyricon

Read: The Satyricon by Petronius (61 AD) Sacred Text Archive, Project Gutenberg I , or Project Gutenberg II
Also: Wikipedia "Homosexuality in Ancient Rome," "Slavery in Ancient Rome, Roman Empire.net "Household Sex" (Optional: Background, Wikipedia, view Fellini's Film)

Jan 31 Thursday Decadence Continued Read: The Life of Nero 37-68 AD by Seutonius (110 CE), U of Chicago, Fordham, or Rolfe (Optional: Wikipedia on Nero, Penthouse film "Caligula" warning -- this film has extreme violence and sexuality)

"The Remorse of Nero after Killing his Mother" by John Waterhouse, 1878