Parody: Humor, Artistic Evolution, and Restoration of the Sacred
RUSS 267
Fall 2021 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
REES 267, RULE 267 |
| Course Cluster and Certificates: Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory Certificate |
Parody is a form of artistic expression that has played a major role in literary history, largely through its power of critical revision. According to Russian formalist theorists of the early 20th century, parody is a driving force in literary evolution. Linda Hutcheon's formulation, that parody is "repetition with critical distance, which marks difference rather than similarity," provides perhaps the broadest and most fruitful point of departure. The course will consider various definitions of parody offered by Russian and Western theorists. After examining parody as pure humor (Woody Allen, MAD magazine, Hot Fuzz) and parody as a tool of literary evolution (Gogol and Dostoevsky), we will study the more complicated case of "restorative parody," as exemplified in the medieval practice of parodia sacra (sacred parody), discussed by theorists Mikhail Bakhtin and Olga Freidenberg. We will look at the modern manifestation of parodia sacra in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar, and of restorative parody in Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. The course will also include discussion of legal issues raised by parody, in the case of 2 Live Crew / Roy Orbison (which led to a 1994 Supreme Court decision, Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, in which Justice David Souter offered his own definition of parody). At the end of the semester, students will present their own research or creative projects related to parody. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA REES |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CSCT)(REES-MN)(REES-Lang/Lit/C) |
Major Readings:
MAD magazine parodies from 1960s (from instructor's collection)
Linda Hutcheon, A THEORY OF PARODY
Simon Dentith, PARODY
Nikolai Gogol, SELECTED PASSAGES FROM CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRIENDS
Fyodor Dostoevsky, THE VILLAGE OF STEPANCHIKOVO
Yury Tynyanov, "Dostoevsky and Gogol: Towards a Theory of Parody"
Fyodor Dostoevsky, DEVILS (excerpts)
Susanne Fusso, "Maidens in Childbirth: The Sistine Madonna in Dostoevskii's The Devils"
Concept album, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Broadway cast album, 1776
Ron Chernow, ALEXANDER HAMILTON (excerpts)
Original Broadway Cast Recording, HAMILTON
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Examinations and Assignments:
2 papers, in-class presentation, final project. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Attendance and participation required. Conducted in English. Counts for the Theory Certificate. |
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