Comparative Literature

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

Overview

The Department of Comparative Literature is a vibrant place for the research and study of literatures and cultures in an interdisciplinary framework, from a transnational and cross-cultural perspective.

We have particular strengths in Latin American literatures, French and German, Hebrew and Yiddish studies, classics, critical theory, East Asian literatures and arts, performance studies, postcolonial theory, film and media, poetry and poetics, English and American literatures, Early Modern and Renaissance studies and Slavic literatures and cultures. Though undergraduates often read in translation, we focus on close readings as well as critical study of works in context.

Undergraduate Program

Comparative Literature : BA

Graduate Program

Comparative Literature : PhD

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Courses

Comparative Literature

COM LIT H1A English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. Limited to 10 qualified freshmen and/or sophomores who meet for round-table discussions and attend weekly tutorial sessions. Individual assignments provide each student with the opportunity to exploit his or her linguistic and literary training. H1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and H1B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT H1B English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. Limited to 10 qualified freshmen and/or sophomores who meet for round-table discussions and attend weekly tutorial sessions. Individual assignments provide each student with the opportunity to exploit his or her linguistic and literary training. H1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and H1B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT N1A English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 3 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement.

COM LIT N1B English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 3 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement.

COM LIT R1A English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT R1B English Composition in Connection with the Reading of World Literature 4 Units

Expository writing based on analysis of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT R2A English Composition in Connection with Reading of World and French Literature 5 Units

Expository writing done in connection with the reading of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature and the study of selected French texts read in the original. Course will prepare students for more advanced work in French. R2A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R2B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT R2B English Composition in Connection with Reading of World and French Literature 5 Units

Expository writing done in connection with the reading of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature and the study of selected French texts read in the original. Course will prepare students for more advanced work in French. R2A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R2B satisfies the second half.

COM LIT R3A English Composition in Connection with Reading of World and Hispanic Literature 5 Units

Expository writing done in connection with the reading of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature and the study of selected Spanish texts read in the original. Course will help prepare students for more advanced work in Spanish. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition Requirement.

COM LIT R3B English Composition in Connection with Reading of World and Hispanic Literature 5 Units

Expository writing done in connection with the reading of selected masterpieces of ancient and modern literature and the study of selected Spanish texts read in the original. Course will help prepare students for more advanced work in Spanish. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition Requirement.

COM LIT 20 Episodes in Literary Cultures 4 Units

An introductory level exploration of a specific author, work, theme or literary movement in an international context. Emphasis on the ways in which literature has played (and continues to play) a crucial role in the relationship between different cultures, traditions, and languages. Readings and topics to vary from semester to semester.

COM LIT 24 Freshman Seminar 1 Unit

The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to fifteen freshmen.

COM LIT 39H Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

COM LIT N40 Women and Literature 3 Units

A study of women as portrayed in literature, and of women writers. Selected readings on a topic which varies from summer to summer, detailed consideration of both literary techniques and the problems of women.

COM LIT 41A Introduction to Literary Forms: Forms of the Epic 4 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT 41C Introduction to Literary Forms: Forms of the Novel 4 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT 41D Introduction to Literary Forms: Forms of the Drama 4 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT 41E Introduction to Literary Forms: Forms of the Cinema 4 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT N41 Introduction to Literary Forms 0.0 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT N41A Introduction to Literary Forms: The Epic 3 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT N41B Introduction to Literary Forms: The Lyric 3 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT N41C Introduction to Literary Forms: The Novel 3 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT N41D Introduction to Literary Forms: The Drama 3 Units

Comparative study of masterpieces of world literature.

COM LIT 60AC Topics in the Literature of American Cultures 4 Units

Study of the ethnic diversity of American literature. Topics will vary from semester to semester, but may include such themes as Cultures of the City, Gender, Race, Ethnicity in U.S. Literature, Race and Identity. Students should consult the department's course bulletin well before the beginning of the semester for details.

COM LIT N60AC Topics in the Literature of American Cultures 3 Units

Study of the ethnic diversity of American literature. Topics will vary from summer to summer but may include such themes as gender, race, ethnicity, marriage, sexuality, identity, and the supernatural. Students should check the department's bulletin boards for summer course listings and further details.

COM LIT 98 Directed Group Study for Freshmen and Sophomores 1 - 4 Units

Group study in a field that may not coincide with that of any regular course and must be specific enough to enable students to write essays based upon their studies.

COM LIT 100 Introduction to Comparative Literature 4 Units

An introduction to problems of the comparative study of literature and culture. Emphasis on principles of comparative methods and analysis with focus on selected literary, critical, and theoretical texts from antiquity to the present. Readings in English and at least one foreign language.

COM LIT 112A Modern Greek Language and Modern Greek Composition 4 Units

Modern Greek pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and syntax studied. The forms of writing (prose, poetry, drama) and the reading of literary texts as auxiliary to the acquisition of compositional skills.

COM LIT 112B Modern Greek Language and Modern Greek Composition 4 Units

Modern Greek pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and syntax studied. The forms of writing (prose, poetry, drama) and the reading of literary texts as auxiliary to the acquisition of compositional skills.

COM LIT 120 The Biblical Tradition in Western Literature 4 Units

Examination of selected aspects of the Biblical tradition and their relevance to the study of later literature.

COM LIT 151 The Ancient Mediterranean World 4 Units

The literature of Greece, Rome, the Biblical lands, and other ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean basin.

COM LIT 152 The Middle Ages 4 Units

The literature of the Middle Ages.

COM LIT 153 The Renaissance 4 Units

European literature of the Renaissance.

COM LIT 154 Eighteenth- and 19th-Century Literature 4 Units

Literature of the 18th and 19th centuries.

COM LIT 155 The Modern Period 4 Units

Literature of the 19th and 20th centuries.

COM LIT 156 Fiction and Culture of the Americas 4 Units

Comparative study of American, Native-American, Spanish-American, Caribbean, and Brazilian literature and culture. Readings chosen to illustrate diverse attitudes of Americans toward their culture, politics, and environment.

COM LIT 165 Myth and Literature 4 Units

Study of the earliest myth texts and of the progressive growth of literature out of myth to the present day. Myth and oral composition. Emphasis on the meanings of myth as reflected in varying idioms.

COM LIT 170 Special Topics in Comparative Literature 1 - 4 Units

An independent studies course designed to fulfill a need intrinsic to the undergraduate major's program which cannot otherwise be satisfied because it involves either a literature not covered in regularly scheduled course offerings or a special methodological framework or bias of selection.

COM LIT 171 Topics in Modern Greek Literature 4 Units

This course frames methodologically selected topics in Modern Greek Literature and places them in their historical, social or cultural context.

COM LIT 190 Senior Seminar in Comparative Literature 4 Units

Seminar-style treatment of a major topic in Comparative Literature. Substantial paper required.

COM LIT H195 Honors Course 1 - 4 Units

Preparation and writing of an honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the faculty.

COM LIT 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 4 Units

Group study in a field that may not coincide with that of any regular course and must be specific enough to enable students to write essays based upon their studies.

COM LIT 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 4 Units

Enrollment restrictions apply.

COM LIT 200 Approaches to Comparative Literature 4 Units

Lectures on literary theory, on the study of criticism, and on the methods of comparative literary theory.

COM LIT 201 Proseminar 1 Unit

This course is designed to give all new graduate students a broad view of the department's faculty, the courses they teach, and their fields of research. In addition, it will introduce students to some practical aspects of the graduate career, issues that pertain to specific fields of research, and questions currently being debated across the profession. The readings for the course will consist of copies of materials by the department's faculty.

COM LIT 202B Approaches to Genre: Lyric Poetry 4 Units

Application of the methods of Comparative Literature to the study of genres.

COM LIT 202C Approaches to Genre: The Novel 4 Units

Application of the methods of Comparative Literature to the study of genres.

COM LIT 210 Studies in Ancient Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in ancient literature between the eighth century B.C.E. and the fourth century C.E. with some attention to subsequent developments.

COM LIT 212 Studies in Medieval Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in literature and culture between the fifth and the fourteenth centuries.

COM LIT 215 Studies in Renaissance Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in Western literature in the Renaissance period.

COM LIT C221 Aesthetics as Critique 4 Units

A close reading and discussion of the major texts of modern aesthetics, from the 18th century to the present, with emphasis on the Continental tradition of Kant, Adorno, and Derrida.

COM LIT 223 Studies in the 19th Century 4 Units

Comparative investigation of major themes in nineteenth-century literature and culture.

COM LIT 225 Studies in Symbolist and Modern Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in literature and culture of the modern period.

COM LIT 227 Studies in Contemporary Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in contemporary literature and culture.

COM LIT 232 Studies in Near Eastern-Western Literary Relations 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a literary topic requiring the study of both Near Eastern and Western documents.

COM LIT 240 Studies in the Relations Between Literature and the Other Arts 4 Units

Comparative study of the historical and systematic relations between literature and other arts such as the visual arts, music, and film.

COM LIT 250 Studies in Literary Theory 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in the theory of literature.

COM LIT 254 Studies in East-West Literary Relations 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a literary topic requiring the study of both East Asian and Western documents.

COM LIT 258 Studies in Philosophy and Literature 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in the relationship between philosophy and literature.

COM LIT 260 Problems in Literary Translation 4 Units

Theory and practice of translation. Students will complete a project in literary translation.

COM LIT 265 Gender, Sexuality, and Culture 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic related to the study of gender and/or sexuality in literature and culture.

COM LIT 266 Nationalism, Colonialism, and Culture 4 Units

Comparative investigation of a topic in ideology, politics, and identity and its relation to the formation of national, colonial, and/or post-colonial literatures and cultures.

COM LIT 298 Special Study 1 - 4 Units

Primarily for students engaged in preliminary exploration of a restricted field, involving the writing of a report. May not be substituted for available seminars.

COM LIT N298 Special Study 2 - 4 Units

Primarily for students engaged in preliminary exploration of a restricted field, involving the writing of a report. May not be substituted for available seminars.

COM LIT 299 Directed Research 1 - 12 Units

Writing of the doctoral dissertation.

COM LIT 300 Supervised Teaching in Comparative Literature 1 - 4 Units

Course credit for experience gained in academic teaching through employment as a graduate student instructor.

COM LIT 375 Methods of Teaching Literature and English Composition-Comparative Literature 2 Units

Discussion of the theory and practice of teaching composition at the college level in a department of comparative literature.

COM LIT 601 Individual Study for Master's Students 1 - 8 Units

Individual study for the comprehensive or language requirements in consultation with the Graduate Adviser. Units may not be used to meet either unit or residence requirements for the master's degree.

COM LIT 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 1 - 8 Units

Individual study in consultation with the Graduate Adviser intended to provide opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D. May not be used for unit or residence requirements for the doctoral degree.

Faculty

Professors

Sharon Aronson Lehavi, Professor.

Judith Butler, Professor. Feminist theory, rhetoric, sexuality studies, comparative literature, 19th and 20th century continental philosophy, social and political thought, philosophy and literature.
Research Profile

Victoria Kahn, Professor. Rhetoric, comparative literature, Renaissance literature, poetics, early modern political theory, the Frankfurt School.
Research Profile

Francine R Masiello, Professor. Gender theory, culture, globalization, comparative literature, Spanish, Latin American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, comparative North and South literatures.
Research Profile

Miryam B. Sas, Professor. Japanese literature, Japanese arts and culture, Japanese film, Japanese theater, Japanese avant-gardes, 20th century critical theory, experimental visual and literary arts, cultural memory, critical gender studies.
Research Profile

Associate Professors

Anne-Lise Francois, Associate Professor. Popular culture, English, comparative literature, the modern period, comparative romanticisms; lyric poetry; the psychological novel, novel of manners; gender, critical theory; literature, philosophy; fashion.
Research Profile

Robert G. Kaufman, Associate Professor.

Sophie Volpp, Associate Professor. East asian languages and cultures, history of performance, gender theory, the history of sexuality, material culture, material objects in late-imperial literature.
Research Profile

Lecturers

Maria Kotzamanidou, Lecturer.

Professors

Francine R Masiello, Professor. Gender theory, culture, globalization, comparative literature, Spanish, Latin American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, comparative North and South literatures.
Research Profile

Contact Information

Department of Comparative Literature

4125 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-2712

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Department Chair

Miryam Sas, PhD

4405 Dwinelle Hall

mbsas@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Adviser

Anna Del Rosario

4118 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-1202

complituga@berkeley.edu

Graduate Adviser

Sandra Richmond

4117 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-2629

complitga@berkeley.edu

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