Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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CLAS0420A-S11

Seminar in Classical Lit
Sem in Classical Lit: Culture

Senior Seminar: Medea: 2,500 Years of a Tragic Heroine
From Euripides’ play to the contemporary films of Pier Paolo Pasolini and Lars von Trier, Medea’s story has been retold for two and a half millennia. In this course we will investigate some of the avatars of Medea, from drama (Euripides and Seneca), to epic (Apollonius and Ovid), to philosophical discussions of her plight (Epictetus). We will also consider her role in early modern drama (Macbeth) and modern film. What does Medea represent? The overwhelming power of love and madness? The triumph of barbarism over civilization? The fragility of culture when confronted with the Other? How can we explain her continued presence through the centuries? All readings will be in English, but students with Greek or Latin will read selections from the original texts.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
20554
Subject Code:
CLAS
Course Number:
0420
Section Identifier:
A

Course

CLAS 0420

All Sections in Spring 2011

Spring 2011

CLAS0420A-S11 Seminar (Star)