MUSI 180 - Orpheus and Eurydice in the Arts, from Ancient Greece to Hadestown

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

This seminar considers a sampling of the many adaptations and appropriations of the ancient, musically-rich myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. We focus primarily on major literary and musical adaptations from the past few decades, including a novel by Salman Rushdie, a play by Sarah Ruhl, and the current Broadway hit, Hadestown, by Anaïs Mitchell. We also consider the role the myth played in the history of opera. Students engage in small-group projects exploring significant treatments in other media such as film, dance, and the visual arts. Our methods emphasize close reading, discussion, collaboration, writing, and revision. Jonathan Chenette.

Open only to first-year students; satisfies college requirement for a First-Year Writing Seminar.

May not be counted in the requirements for the concentration.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS