Angels in America, Devils Wearing Prada - How Jews Became (Almost) Mainstream
CJST 225
Fall 2025
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01
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For many years, the mantra in American showbiz was "write Yiddish, cast British." The writers were Jewish, as were the humor and sensibilities of their work, yet the characters were often depicted as WASPs. This dynamic began to shift between the late 1980s and early 2000s, marking a transformative period for Jewish representation in American media. Adam Sandler performed "The Chanukah Song" on SNL; Seinfeld became the first sitcom with a Jewish lead character to top the Nielsen ratings; the Jewish American epic Angels in America won a Tony Award before being adapted into an Emmy-winning limited series; and a Jewish scientist helped save the world in the blockbuster Independence Day. Jewish protagonists and themes became increasingly prominent in other iconic shows and films of the era. However, this transition was neither smooth nor absolute. For example, network executives pushed Seinfeld to minimize the Jewishness of all its characters except the lead; Friends obscured the Jewish identity of its protagonists; and the best-selling novel The Devil Wears Prada lost its Jewish elements when adapted for the screen. This course examines how and why Jews became mainstream, cool, and "sexy"--but only to a certain extent--while exploring the limits of Jewish acceptance in American culture. We will analyze how media representations grapple with themes such as assimilation, interfaith marriage, faith, and guilt. These discussions will also serve as a basis for addressing broader issues of representation and stereotyping. Most importantly, the course will center on two critical questions: What does it mean to be Jewish? And what does it mean to be Jewish in America? |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS CJST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
David Zurawik. THE JEWS OF PRIME TIME.
Vincent Brook. SOMETHING AIN'T KOSHER HERE: THE RISE OF THE 'JEWISH' SITCOM.
Lauren Weisberger. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Bi-Weekly (twice a week) comments: 50 %
Creative mid-term assignment: 20 %.
Final project: 20 %
Participation: 10 %
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts toward the minor in Jewish and Israel Studies.
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| Instructor(s): Shavit,Avner Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 5 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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