The Five Rachels: Jewish Women in Contemporary American Culture
CJST 252
Spring 2021
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
RELI 252 |
The course will focus on five iconic contemporary female TV characters, actors, and creators; American, Jewish, and incidentally--or not--sharing the same name: Rachel. Rachel Green ("Friends"), Rachel Berry ("Glee"), Rachel Menken ("Mad Men"), and Rebecca Bunch ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"), played by Rachel Bloom, and Midge Maisel ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"), played by Rachel Brosnahan. These five complement each other and offer us a panoramic view of the American Jewish female experience: discrimination, inclusion, the generational gap, and their relationship with Israel. In addition, they allow us to explore the three most common stereotypes associated with the Jewish woman: the Jewish nose, the Jewish mother, and the Jewish American princess. We will discuss the conflicts and the societal shifts these characters embody, and how they define themselves, their Jewishness, their femininity, their unique surroundings, and place in history. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS CJST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CJST-MN)(RELI-MN)(RELI) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Less than 50% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Joyce Antler. TALKING BACK: IMAGES OF JEWISH WOMEN IN AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE
Joyce Antler. YOU NEVER CALL! YOU NEVER WRITE!: A HISTORY OF THE JEWISH MOTHER
Lisa Ansell. FROM SHTETL TO STARDOM: JEWS AND HOLLYWOOD
Vincent Brook. SOMETHING AIN'T KOSHER HERE: THE RISE OF THE 'JEWISH' SITCOM
Roberta Mock. JEWISH WOMEN ON STAGE, FILM, AND TELEVISION
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Examinations and Assignments:
Analysis of passages from TV programs 1: 20%
Analysis of passages from TV programs 2; 20%
Final Paper: 30%
Participation: 30%
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts toward the minor in Jewish and Israel Studies |
| Instructor(s): Shavit,Avner Times: .M.W... 11:10AM-12:30PM; Location: HALL84; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: -2 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 5 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 9 | 1st Ranked: 3 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 2 | Unranked: 1 |
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