A Question of Identity: The Case of Judaism (3 cr)
Judah Cohen
COLL-C 103 Critical Approaches to Arts & Humanities (6950)
MW 11:15-12:05 (MY 130)
Plus discussion: F 1:25-2:15 (6951); F 1:25-2:15 (6953); F 2:30-3:20 (6952); F 2:30-3:20 (8730)
GenEd A&H; CASE A&H; CASE CAPP
The world seems to turn on questions of identity: who is in, who is out; who is with you, and who you oppose; who is authentic, and who is faking it. Identity factors in all aspects of life, from politics, to war, to ethical practice, to decisions about personal affiliations and relationships. This course is designed to introduce you to the study of identity as a social practice, involving rich case studies exploring Judaism and Jewish life. Ideas about how people perceive and respond to history will constitute an important part of our discussion; we will focus, however, on how discussions of innovation, tradition, and belonging contribute to contemporary social debates. Readings will be supplemented by primary materials and where possible applied to current events.
