Comparative Literature Courses

COLT 101. Introduction to Comparative Literature. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the comparative study of literature. Emphasis on literary genre, world literature, historical period.

COLT 102. Introduction to Comparative Literature. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the comparative study of literature. Emphasis on significant works of world literature in their social and political contexts.

COLT 103. Introduction to Comparative Literature. 4 Credits.

Study of visual culture from around the world.

COLT 198. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-2 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 211. Comparative World Literature. 4 Credits.

Explores literature from a global standpoint. Examines movement of literary forms (e.g., genres, motifs, rhetorical modes) from one culture, region, historical epoch to the next.

COLT 212. Comparative World Cinema. 4 Credits.

Introduces the principles of comparative analysis, exploring the aesthetic, ideological, and socio-economic exchanges between national cinematic traditions. Themes vary by instructor. Recent themes include Melodrama, Zombies, Queer Cinema.

COLT 213. United States Culture in Comparative Contexts. 4 Credits.

Introduction to comparative analysis of literature and culture with emphasis on multilingual US-based writers reflecting on history, memory, identity, and place. Emphasis on the representation of race, gender, power, identity, difference. Introduces core methodologies: close-reading, analysis, comparison, and critique.

COLT 231. Literature and Society. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of literature in relation to society and politics. Draws on perspectives from political science, law, sociology, and related fields.

COLT 232. Literature and Film. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of literature and film. Draws on perspectives from cinema studies, media aesthetics, and related fields.

COLT 301. Approaches to Comparative Literature. 4 Credits.

Introduction to theory and methods in comparative literature, with some attention to the history and problems of the discipline.

COLT 302. Theories of Poetry. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the study of poetry and poetic form from a world perspective. Offered alternate years.

COLT 303. Theories of the Novel. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the study of narrative and the novel from a world perspective. Offered alternate years.

COLT 305. Cultural Studies. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the interdisciplinary study of cultural discourses and practices.

COLT 360. Gender and Identity in Literature. 4 Credits.

Introduction to the study of gender in literature, from Asia to Europe to the Americas, and from the classics to the late 20th century.

COLT 370. Comparative Comics. 4 Credits.

Examines genre of narrative from a comparative and global standpoint, reviewing the impact of comics and other visual media on questions of national, regional, and ethnic identity. Offered alternate years.

COLT 380. Comparative Media: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Critical analysis of a range of media from a transnational and/or intercultural perspective. Taught as a hybrid course blending face-to-face and online learning. Recent topics include Tokyo Cyberpunk, Asian Horror, Listening to Cinema. Repeatable thrice for a maximum of 16 credits.

COLT 390. Comparing Identities, Agencies and Differences. 4 Credits.

A critical reflection on contemporary US power imbalances and systems of race, ethnic, gender and religious privilege, as viewed through the lens of poetry. Students analyze U.S. poetry in comparative contexts (Europe, Asia, Africa). Depending on instructor, comparison may be across historical periods.

COLT 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 403. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 405. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 415. Capstone Seminar. 4 Credits.

Senior seminar for all comparative literature students includes development and presentation of an original research project. Repeatable three times for a maximum of 16 credits.

COLT 440. Studies in Genre: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Analysis of specific literary genres, modes, or both (e.g., lyric poetry, comedy, allegory). Offered every two to three years. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes.

COLT 450. Comparative Studies in Cinema: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Advanced consideration of the aesthetic (including literary) and cultural contexts of world film. Repeatable twice when topic changes for maximum of 12 credits.

COLT 460. Major Theorists: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Concentrates on the work of a single literary or cultural theorist (e.g., Walter Benjamin, Jacques Derrida, Gayatri Spivak). Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes. Offered every two to three years.

COLT 462. Cultural Intersections: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Studies designated issues between literatures and societies remote from one another, e.g., "minor" and "major" cultures, Asia and the West. Repeatable twice when topic changes for maximum of 12 credits.

COLT 470. Studies in Identity: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Advanced study of gender, ethnicity, and other identity formations in literature. Offered every two to three years. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes.

COLT 503. Thesis. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 540. Studies in Genre: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Analysis of specific literary genres, modes, or both (e.g., lyric poetry, comedy, allegory). Offered every two to three years. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes.

COLT 550. Comparative Studies in Cinema: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Advanced consideration of the aesthetic (including literary) and cultural contexts of world film. Repeatable twice when topic changes for maximum of 12 credits.

COLT 560. Major Theorists: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Concentrates on the work of a single literary or cultural theorist (e.g., Walter Benjamin, Jacques Derrida, Gayatri Spivak). Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes. Offered every two to three years.

COLT 562. Cultural Intersections: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Studies designated issues between literatures and societies remote from one another, e.g., "minor" and "major" cultures, Asia and the West. Repeatable twice when topic changes for maximum of 15 credits.

COLT 570. Studies in Identity: [Topic]. 4 Credits.

Advanced study of gender, ethnicity, and other identity formations in literature. Offered every two to three years. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 12 credits when topic changes.

COLT 601. Research: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 603. Dissertation. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 605. Reading and Conference: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 607. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 608. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 610. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.

Repeatable.

COLT 613. Graduate Studies in Translation. 4-5 Credits.

Approaches to literary translation in its theoretical, practical and pedagogical dimensions.

COLT 614. Graduate Studies in Comparative Literature. 5 Credits.

Overview of the state of the discipline. Treats historical and theoretical developments in literary studies including philology and cultural studies; reconsiders the place of comparative literature in a global, pluralistic curriculum.

COLT 615. Graduate Studies in Comparative Literature. 5 Credits.

Survey of contemporary literary theory.

COLT 616. Transmedial Aesthetics. 5 Credits.

Approaches to the analysis of film, photography, video, and new media. Emphasis on intersections between comparison and media theory.

COLT 618. Histories, Theories, and Cultures of New Media. 5 Credits.

Our class considers different traditions in media theory spanning generations, regions, languages, and methodological approaches to a range of media.