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Modern Languages

International Lit and Culture

This interdisciplinary major emphasizes the acquisition of an advanced level of proficiency in a foreign language and its application to the study of the literary and non-literary cultural manifestations of a nation or region.

The student will acquire a broad background in cultural theory, which s/he will apply to the study of the literature and culture of a particular nation or region of the world, such as France and the francophone countries of Africa, Asia and the Americas; Spain and Latin America (including Brazil); Germany and other German-speaking countries; Italy; Japan; and China. Students who follow this major are also encouraged to have a thematic, period, and/or genre focus, which will culminate in a research thesis written during the senior year. Such a focus may include but is not limited to: gender, ethnicity, the environment, the arts, literature, history, or film. Recent and current majors have combined Hispanic Studies with a tourism and hospitality industry focus; French Studies with film studies; and Latin American culture studies with a focus on Brazil.

The Senior Thesis may be written either in the foreign language or in English, but in either case, it is expected that a major portion of the research will involve texts in the foreign language.

Prerequisites for an ILC Major

  1. A foreign language through the 202 level or its equivalent
  2. Anthropology 105, Introduction to Anthropology

Requirements for the Major

All students majoring in ILC will take courses from the following categories:

  1. Anthropology - At least TWO of the following courses
    • ANT 200 Introduction to Language
    • ANT 208 Traditional Ecological Knowledge
    • ANT 215 Sex, Gender, & Culture
    • ANT 235 Cultures of Latin America
    • ANT 320 Race & Ethnicity
  2. Foreign Language, Literature, & Culture
    At least FOUR courses in literature and/or culture in a foreign language, of which at least TWO must be 400-level seminars. (For students who choose to focus on Japanese or Chinese Studies, adjustments may be made in this requirement, allowing more courses to be taken in English.)
  3. THREE other courses chosen in consultation with the adviser from the ILC course listings and/or the course offerings of other departments as appropriate to the focus of the student’s program.
  4. Senior Thesis
    The capstone experience of the major is a senior research project which successfully brings together the language and thematic focus of the major. While the thesis may be written in English, a substantial portion of the research must be drawn from texts in the foreign language.

International Literature & Culture Courses

(Taught in English)

ILC 305 Introduction to the Film
The study of film as an art form. Special attention will be given to the various dimensions of film structure and criticism, with emphasis upon foreign language films (with English subtitles). Selected films will be viewed and analyzed.

ILC 306 French Literature in Translation
Study of a selected author, movement, genre, or theme. Open to all students.

ILC 307 German Literature in Translation
Devoted to selected themes in German literature. Recent topics have included the study of the myth of Dr. Faustus; a reading of texts by Marx, Nietzsche and Freud; literature of the holocaust; and treatment of German literature in the medium of German film. Open to all students.

ILC 308 Spanish & Latin American Literature in Translation
A study of a selected author, movement, genre, or theme from the literature of Spain, the Spanish-speaking republics of Latin America, and Brazil. Topics taught in this course have included the works of Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra, Hispanic Women Writers, The Quest for Identity in Latin American Literature, and War and Revolution in the Literatures of Spain and Latin America.

ILC 311 Contemporary France
Taught in English, this course provides an introductory historical and cultural study of contemporary France. Students will be provided tools for cultural interpretation via critical texts and the analysis of French films and their American remakes; they will then apply them to the cultural history of France. We will explore the impact of World War II, of the student protests of May ‘68, and of women’s emancipation movements. We will examine France’s position in the world-its past as a colonizing nation, its present post-colonial actions, and its multicultural identity enriched by different waves of immigration. We will study the political and economic roles of women, their place in the family, health concerns, and struggles for autonomy through works by women. This course counts toward the French major and minor if the journal entries, mid-term exam, and final paper are written in French.

ILC 312 The Contemporary Francophone World
Taught in English, this course provides an introductory historical and cultural study of the contemporary Francophone world. Designed as a survey of the non-European Francophone world, the course will offer for study both literary and cultural documents from the Caribbean, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada. Initially they will be provided tools for cultural interpretation via critical texts, media analysis (including print and internet sources) and the analysis of Francophone films; they will then apply them to the cultural history of the Francophone world. We will explore French colonization, the process of decolonization, and subsequent independence movements. We will examine social, political, and economic roles of both women and men, changing gender roles, and contemporary divisions of labor. Finally, we will reflect on the political, historical, and socio-cultural situations of post-colonial Francophone nations.

ILC 317 Mexico, Ancient & Modern
A study of the historical, political, and literary evolution of Mexico from the Pre-Colombian period to the present. In addition to historical texts, the course will include readings from Pre-Colombian poetry (Maya and Aztec), The True History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the poetic and autobiographical writings of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, The Itching Parrot by Fernández de Lizardi, The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela, and works by such contemporary writers as Rosario Castellanos, Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, and Laura Esquivel. Also included is Octavio Paz’s classic analysis of Mexican national character and culture, The Labyrinth of Solitude.

ILC 391,392 Topics in International Literature & Culture & the Environment
A study of literary and other cultural reflections on the interaction between human beings and their environment. Topics will vary and may focus on a single national culture or a cross-cultural comparison. A recent offering dealt with Literature, Culture & the Environment in Latin America.

ILC 413 The Film in Spain & Latin America
A study of the film as art form and as social and cultural document in Spain, Spanish America, and Brazil. The thematic focus of this course and the films included will vary. Important topics include gender issues, the quest for identity, and freedom vs. repression. Prerequisite: ILC 305 or permission of the instructor.

ILC 491,492 Special Topics in International Literature & Culture
Study of a selected topic within a single national literature or culutre, or a comparative study across cultures. Recent and planned offerings include: Perspectives on International Film, Shakespeare and Cervantes (Honors); Love and the Ideal in European Literature and Film; The Reception of the Middle Ages; Chinese Literature, Chinese Culture & Life; and Modern Brazil.

Course Offerings Outside the Department Which May Be Applied to the ILC Major

  • ANT 416 Seminar in Anthropology
  • ART 315 Northern Renaissance and Baroque Art
  • ART 316 European Art from the Baroque to NeoClassicism
  • ART 318 Nineteenth-Century Painting
  • ART 320 Painting & Sculpture in the Twentieth Century
  • BIO 401 Ecology & Environmental Biology (BIO 102 prerequisite)
  • BUS 410 International Business (Prerequisites: BUS 322, ECN 111,112)
  • BUS 430 Regional Business Studies (Prerequisite: BUS 410)
  • DRA 201 Theatre & Drama: Ancient Greece, Rome, and Medieval Europe
  • DRA 202 Theatre & Drama: The Renaissance & Neo-Classicism
  • DRA 203 Theatre & Drama: Romanticism & Realism
  • DRA 304 Theatre & Drama: The Modern Age
  • DRA 307 Contemporary Theatre
  • ECN 217 Environmental Economics
  • ECN 218 Economic Development
  • ECN 410 International Economics (Prerequisites ECN 111,112)
  • EDU 303 Comparative Education
  • EDU 311 World Geography
  • HIS 209,210 Latin American History
  • HIS 348 Gender in Western Civilization to 1600
  • HIS 353 Medieval Europe
  • HIS 354 Renaissance & Reformation
  • HIS 355 Women in Medieval Europe
  • HIS 360 Twentieth-Century Germany
  • HIS 362 Europe Since 1945
  • HIS 370 History of East Africa
  • MUS 306 Medieval & Renaissance Music
  • MUS 307 Baroque Music
  • MUS 308 Classic & Romantic Music
  • MUS 309 Music in the Twentieth Century
  • MUS 310 Music, Gender and Society
  • PHL 307 Philosophy of Art
  • PHL 313 History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval
  • PHL 314 History of Philosophy: Modern
  • PHL 410 Existentialism (Prerequisite: two semesters of philosophy or permission)
  • PHL 414 Philosophy of Marxism (prerequisite same as above)
  • PHL 416 Twentieth-Century Philosophy
  • PHL 418 Sem. in Epistomology & Metaphysics
  • POL 315 Comparative Government: Western Europe (prerequisite: POL 201)
  • POL 331 History of Political Thought (Prerequisite: POL 201 or permission)
  • POL 341 Politics of the Third World
  • POL 356 History & Politics in Africa
  • POL 381 Government & Politics in Latin America
  • POL 382 U.S.-Latin American Relations
  • POL 384 Revolution, Violence, & Terrorism

Senior Project

Each student will complete a Senior Project or thesis related closely to the focus of the major. The project or thesis may be presented in English or in the foreign language; however, the research on which it is based will involve use of the foreign language.

Additional Info

Students pursuing the interdisciplinary major in International Literature and Culture will complete nine upper-level courses chosen in consultation with their advisor from among course offerings in this department or related courses in other disciplines as outlined below. In addition they will successfully complete the Senior Capstone seminar (See below.) The prerequisites for the major are completion of ANT 105 Introduction to Anthropology and study of a foreign language through the 202 level (or demonstration of proficiency at that level). The major courses must include two of the following Anthropology courses: ANT 215, ANT 235, ANT 320 and ANT 355. Of the remaining seven, at least four should be selected from the upper-level offerings in a foreign language, literature or culture in this department or at study abroad sites. At least two of these must be at the 400-level.

If students are pursuing study in a language in which Washington College does not offer upper-level courses, culturally relevant courses in other disciplines taught in English may be substituted as necessary. The remaining three courses may be chosen from among the International Literature and Culture courses (ILC) offered by this Department or appropriate courses from other departments or programs (such as History, Art, Music, Drama, Philosophy, Humanities). With the help of the advisor, students will design their major to focus on a language or culture, a particular theme (such as gender or ethnicity), a historical period, or a particular literary genre or form of cultural expression (such as the novel, poetry, drama, film, art, or music). Students may choose Italian, Japanese, or Arabic cultural studies as the central focus of their major in International Literature and Culture by combining appropriate study abroad with courses that are available on campus in those fields.

Majors must successfully complete the Senior Capstone Experience, during which they will produce a thesis or other project related closely to the focus of the major. The project or thesis may be written in English or in the foreign language. Students will also give a formal oral presentation of their thesis or project before their peers and faculty, again either in English or the foreign language. The Senior Capstone Experience will be graded Pass, Fail or Honors. International Literature and Culture majors are strongly urged to engage in a study abroad experience.

Courses Taught In English

       

305. Introduction to the Film

The study of film as an art form. Special attention will be given to the various dimensions of film structure and criticism, with emphasis upon foreign language films (with English subtitles). Selected films will be viewed and analyzed.

       

306. French Literature in Translation

Study of a selected author, movement, genre, or theme. Open to all students.

       

307. German Literature in Translation

Devoted to selected themes in German literature. Recent topics have included the study of the myth of Dr. Faustus; a reading of texts by Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud; literature of the holocaust; and treatment of German literature in the medium of German film. Open to all students.

       

308. Spanish and Latin American Literature in Translation

A study of a selected author, movement, genre, or theme from the literature of Spain, the Spanish-speaking republics of Latin America, and Brazil. Topics taught in this course have included the works of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Hispanic Women Writers, The Quest for Identity in Latin American Literature, and War and Revolution in the Literatures of Spain and Latin America.

       

311. Contemporary France

This course provides an introductory historical and cultural study of contemporary France. Students will be provided tools for cultural interpretation via critical texts and the analysis of French films and their American remakes; they will then apply them to the cultural history of France. We will explore the impact of World War II, of the student protests of May ‘68, and of women’s emancipation movements. We will examine France’s position in the world—its past as a colonizing nation, its present post-colonial actions, and its multicultural identity enriched by different waves of immigration. We will study the political and economic roles of women, their place in the family, health concerns, and struggles for autonomy through works by women. This course counts toward the French major and minor if the journal entries, mid-term exam, and final paper are written in French. Prerequisite: FRS 202 or permission of the instructor.

       

312. The Contemporary Francophone World

This course provides an introductory historical and cultural study of the contemporary Francophone world. Designed as a survey of the non-European Francophone world, it will offer for study both literary and cultural documents from the Caribbean, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada. Initially students will be provided tools for cultural interpretation via critical texts, media analysis (including print and Internet sources) and the analysis of Francophone films; they will then apply them to the cultural history of the Francophone world. We will explore French colonization, the process of decolonization, and subsequent independence movements. We will examine social, political, and economic roles of both women and men, changing gender roles, and contemporary divisions of labor. Finally, we will reflect on the political, historical, and socio-cultural situations of post-colonial Francophone nations. Prerequisite: FRS 202 or permission of the instructor.

       

317. Mexico, Ancient and Modern

A study of the historical, political, and literary evolution of Mexico from the Pre-Colombian period to the present. In addition to historical texts, the course will include readings from Pre-Colombian poetry (Maya and Aztec), The True History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Dìaz del Castillo, the poetic and autobiographical writings of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, The Itching Parrot by Fernàndez de Lizardi, The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela, and works by such contemporary writers as Rosario Castellanos, Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, and Laura Esquivel. Also included is Octavio Paz’s classic analysis of Mexican national character and culture, The Labyrinth of Solitude.

       

413. The Film in Spain and Latin America

A study of the film as art form and as social and cultural document in Spain, Spanish America, and Brazil. The thematic focus of this course and the films included will vary. Important topics include gender issues, the quest for identity, and freedom versus repression. Prerequisite: ILC 305 or permission of the instructor.

                            

194, 294, 394, 494. Special Topics in International Literature and Culture

Study of a selected topic within a single national literature or culture, or a comparative study across cultures. Recent and planned offerings include: Perspectives on International Film; Food in Film, Literature and Culture; Shakespeare and Cervantes (Honors); The Big City in Literature and Film; Love and the Ideal in European Literature and Film; and The Reception of the Middle Ages.

       

SCE. Senior Capstone Experience in International Literature and Culture

The senior capstone seminar is required for graduation and is devoted to the completion of a thesis or other project in the field of International Literature and Culture. Senior ILC majors register for this course in the last semester in which they have full-time status at the College. While much of the work is done by each student independently in consultation with a faculty advisor, there are occasional group meetings in which students discuss their respective theses or other projects. All students will give a formal oral presentation of their thesis or project before their peers and the faculty at the end of the seminar. Both written and oral work may be presented in English or in the foreign language. The Senior Capstone Experiencewill be graded Pass, Fail or Honors.

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