GRST 180 - Narratives of Personal Transformation, from Ancient Greece to the 21st Century

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This course explores narratives of personal transformation, starting with works from Greek and Roman antiquity before turning to literary works and popular media from other cultures and time periods. We examine various aspects of personal transformation, including changes in beliefs, behaviors, societal roles, bodily states, psychological experiences, and personal expression. Attention is given to transformations and constructions of gender identity, recognizing the relevance of such topics in not only our own cultural moment, but also in several Greek and Roman texts that present gender as a construct that is fluid and/or ambiguous. Possible readings include selections from Plato’s Symposium, the poems of Catullus, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Apuleius’ The Golden Ass, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex, and Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad. Possible television/film materials include the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) and episodes from the television show Transparent (2014-present). 

Open only to freshmen; satisfies the college requirement for a Freshman Writing Seminar.

Two 75-minute periods.