The Jewish Mother
CJST 280
Fall 2023
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01
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What is a "Jewish Mother"? Is it a technical definition--a mother who is Jewish, a Jew who is a mother? Or is it a more abstract notion--a character trait, a mindset, an attitude? What are the qualifiers required to be crowned (or not) as a "Jewish Mother"? This course will examine how the "Jewish Mother" depiction evolved and became a stock character in American culture. We will engage with different forms of content, from different periods and perspectives: feature films, TV series, pop music, novels, and non-fiction books. Through these texts, we will discuss how daughters and sons view and confront their mothers, and how they reflect on the mother's presence or absence with anger, frustration, confusion, longing, admiration and gratitude. Finally, we will compare the depiction of the "Jewish Mother" to other non-Jewish matriarchs and ultimately ask: in current popular American culture, are all mothers actually "Jewish Mothers"? |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS CJST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Less than 50% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Vivian Gornick, FIERCE ATTACHMENTS
Joyce Antler, YOU NEVER CALL! YOU NEVER WRITE!
Melissa Broder, MILK FED
Dan Greenburg, HOW TO BE A JEWISH MOTHER
Seth Rogen, YEARBOOK
Faye Moskowitz. HER FACE IN THE MIRROR: JEWISH WOMEN ON MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS
Jennette McCurdy, I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED
Michelle Zauner, CRYING IN H MART
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Examinations and Assignments:
Bi-Weekly (twice a week) comments: 40 %
Participation: 20 %
Final project: 20 %
Creative mid-term assignment: 20 %.
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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: ..T.R.. 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: FISK121; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: -3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 7 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 6 | FR: 1 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 11 | 1st Ranked: 4 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 3 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 1 |
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