Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and Racism in Contemporary Times

Catalog description

In a world saturated with competing narratives about anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, it can be hard to sort through the mess. Often, it's difficult to even understand what we're talking about. Where do these forms of discrimination come from? Are they about race? Religion? Ethnicity? Perhaps something else entirely? In this course, we'll address these questions using a variety of disciplines and by looking at a range of sources, from literature and films to works of philosophy and political theory. We'll turn our attention back to medieval Spain and move all the way through contemporary debates about the Holocaust, the State of Israel, and the War on Terror. By the end, students will have a rich knowledge of the various forms these ideas have taken, how and why they are intrinsically related to one another, and how they have evolved in the present. If you’re interested in understanding more about our current world and how it came to be, this class will build a strong foundation for engaging in historically informed critical dialogue on today’s pressing social issues.