Comparative Literature 006 Spring '09: Existential Themes

The Pennsylvania State University at Altoona
CMLit 006: Existential Themes
Thursday 7:30-10:10PM
Devorris Downtown Center

Instructor: Peter Wolf, Ph.D.
Email: pmw117@psu.edu
Office hours: Before class: 7:00PM in Aaron 008 (or by appt.)

Required Texts
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Grand Inquisitor (tr. H. P. Blavatsky), Filiquarian Publishing, 2006.
Cogswell, David. Existentialism for Beginners, For Beginners Publishing, 2008.
Kaufmann, Walter. Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre, Meridian, 1975.

Recommended Text
De Botton, Alain. Status Anxiety Vintage Books International, 2005.

Course Overview
CMLIT 006 Existential Themes takes a look at ‘existentialism’ and ‘existential themes’ in Literature, Philosophy and Art. The course is divided into three main sections: Existential Themes in Literature: Dostoevsky, Ecclesiates and Albert Camus; Existential Themes in Philosophy: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Sartre. Finally we look at existential themes in art and music: Van Gogh, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.

We will follow Kaufmann’s book and Cogswell’s book in our interpretations of the existential themes and literary and philosophical figures. In order to earn full credit for this class students must complete typed lecture notes, respond to questions on reading assignments, take quizzes and complete a book report.

Course Description (from the Penn State Bulletin)
CMLIT 006 (Comparative Literature 006) Philosophy and Culture in Western Culture explores fundamental issues of human existence through the traditions of western literature and philosophy. This course is designed to introduce students to the various interpretive approaches to literature and philosophy. The class will explore key philosophic themes as these are exhibited in imaginative literature, and in doing so will practice both philosophical interpretation of literature and literary treatment of philosophy. The central themes of this course could include, for example, self-knowledge and self-deception; self-isolation, alienation and community; conflict of moral responsibilities; the use and abuse of language; the meaning of art; the ideal of a "simple life;" normalcy and madness. The class will ask such questions as what counts as literature, what purpose it serves, what is the relationship between literature and ideology, and whether a text can be considered independently from what the author wanted to say in it. Students may be graded by a variety of methods, including exams, papers, and individual and group projects. This course is a non-major General Education Humanities course. It may be used to fulfill minor requirements in philosophy. This course may be used to fulfill an additional-course requirement in either the minor or the major in Comparative Literature, although it is geared primarily towards non-majors. This course deals with literature and philosophy in the western tradition, and thus helps to complete the range of our other courses on western literature, such as Comparative Literature 001 and 002 (survey courses of Western Literature to the Renaissance, and Western Literature since the Renaissance), and Comparative Literature 401W and 402W (upper level chronological courses on Western Literature). This course differs from those however, by its strong emphasis on philosophical texts.


Course Schedule
1/15: First class. Meet class, set forth course goals. Introductory lecture on existential themes in literature and philosophy.
1/22: First lecture notes due. Read pp.1-38 in Existentialism for Beginners and Notes from the Underground pp. 52-82 in Kaufmann and respond to questions in a 2 pp. typed double-space paper.
1/29: Second lecture notes due. Read Kaufmann’s Preface pp.11-52 and respond to question. Read “The Grand Inquisitor” and respond to question.
2/5: Read the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Respond to questions.
2/12: Film. “The Seventh Seal.” Take notes.
2/19: Two page reflection on the existential themes in the film. Lecture: Albert Camus
2/26: Typed lecture notes #3 to be collected. Overview of existential themes thus far.
3/05: Quiz. Film.
3/12: Spring Break
3/19: Reflection on film due. Existential Philosophy: Kierkegaard
3/26: Lecture notes due. Nietzsche
4/02: Lecture notes due. Sartre
4/09: Lecture notes due. Quiz. Film.
4/16: Reflection on film due. Lecture: Existential themes in art: Van Gogh and the Impressionists.
4/23: Paul Simon: The Sound of Silence
4/30: Bob Dylan film. I’m Not There.
5/07: Final exam

Grading Rubric
4 reaction papers to films: 400 pt.
Attendance and Participation: 800pts.
Reading Assignments (questions): 400 pts.
Lecture Notes: 300pts.
Quizzes: 100pts.
Term Project (book report, in class presentation with powerpoint): 300pts.
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Total 2300 pts. [the ‘92’ grade (A-)---.92 x 2300=2116 pts and so on…]

Assignments are due on the teacher’s desk at the beginning of each class session. Late work is due no later than one week following its due date, and will lose 25%.

Academic Integrity
Students who cheat, plagiarize, commit fraud, etc…will suffer harshly. Consequences in light cases may include failing grade on an exam, essay or course. In serious cases, academic dishonesty may result in permanent expulsion from the university. For details see The Student Guide to University Policies and Rules.

Class Cancellation
In the event of snow or other inclement weather forcing a delay or closing on campus, class may be cancelled. If this happens, contact me at my e-mail address above and I will inform you about the cancellation.

Attendance Policy
Excused absence includes serious illness of student, death in the immediate family, or some extracurricular activity or sport (I need to be notified up front with the schedule).
You will be allowed a total of one unexcused absence during the semester. Any absences beyond this will result in the loss of 75 points.

Disclaimer
Please be advised that we will encounter material in this course that may seem offensive to some students in terms of strong language or subject matter.

Letter Grades
94-100 A
90-93 A-
87-89 B+
84-86 B
80-83 B-
77-79 C+
70-76 C
60-69 D
0-59 F

Papers
All papers must be typed, double-spaced and follow MLA guidelines as outlined in the 6th ed. of the MLA Handbook. Late papers are severely discouraged and will result in a loss of 20 points deduction from grade for each day the paper is late. You are responsible for completing all assignments in this course in order to receive a passing grade.