Modernity, Gender, and War COL 250 FA

The Great War inscribed itself on modern memory as a startling demonstration of the far-reaching social, political, and economic changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. By abruptly accelerating industrial transformations of traditional structures and behaviors, the War contributed substantially to the emergence of a modern consciousness characterized by alienation, search for roots, anomie, and ecstasy. This course proposes that the traditions which the War challenged most visibly and profoundly were those associated with gender: modern technology and bureaucracy, expressing themselves in trench warfare and total-war mobilization, threw into question the traditional models of warrior-hero and homemaker-wife. We examine the complex and continually renegotiated responses to the gender question, from the Great War's aftermath to the present, in literature and commentary, visual art and film.

MAJOR READINGS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA COL

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997