Instructor: Svitlana Kobets, PhD, LMS
University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, Continuing Education
svitlana.kobets@utoronto.ca,
svitlana@411.ca
6 Mondays April 14 – May 19 2009
Time: 10-12 am
Location:
Brennan Hall 203
Structure:
lecture-discussion
EPL13S Madness and Civilization II: Folly and
Lunacy in World Literature and Film
Some of the most celebrated works of
literature and art offer intriguing and captivating musings on the topic of
madness and folly, raising time and again burning questions pertaining to our
civilization, ethics, and selfhood. “Why are some people rejected by society
and labeled “mad”? What is madness?” In this course we will contemplate these
questions as we undertake a comparative study of socio-cultural
conceptualizations of madness and folly in several cultural traditions. While
this course pursues the same theme as the one taught in the fall of 2007, its
readings and screenings are different. It will focus on the contemporary rather
than ancient texts and films. There are no prerequisites for this course, yet
it is important that you read the texts and view the films prior to our
meetings. The success of the course will depend on your preparedness and
readiness to discuss our chosen texts and films.
READINGS
and FILMS
Nikolai Gogol, “The Diary
of a Madman” (short story)
Mikhail Bulgakov, “Master
and Margarita” (novel)
Gary
Sinise’s “Of Mice and Men” (film, 1992)
Frank
Darabont, “The Green Mile” (film, 1999)
Robert
Zemeckis, “Forest Gump” (film, 1994)
Pavel
Lungin, “The Island” (film, 2006)
SCHEDULE
Class
1, April 14 2009
Introduction
to the course
Romantic
movement and the theme of madness
Gogol
(1809-1852)
The
Diary of a Madman
Discussion
Questions
Handout 1
Readings: Nikolay Gogol, The
Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector and Selected Stories. London:
Penguin Books, 2005: 174-196.
Class
2, April 21 2009
Mikhail
Bulgakov, Master & Margarita (1929-1940)
Discussion
Questions
Handout 2
Readings: Mikhail Bulgakov,
The Master & Margarita. Diana Burgin & Tietnan O'Connor
(transl.) Dana Point: Ardis, 1995: 3-181 (Part 1).
Acts of Pilate
Class
3, April 28 2009
Mikhail
Bulgakov, Master & Margarita
Discussion
Questions
Handout 3
Readings: Mikhail Bulgakov,
The Master & Margarita. Diana Burgin & Tietnan O'Connor (transl.)
Dana Point: Ardis, 1995: 185-335 (Part 2).
Short-term loan of Gary Sinise's Of Mice and Men: the DVD is on 2-day reserve in the Kelly Library.
Class
4, May 5 2009
Gary
Sinise’s film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men (1992)
Discussion
Questions
Frank
Darabont, “The Green Mile” (film, 1999)
Discussion
Questions
Handout 4
Films:
Of Mice and Men, DVD, Gary Sinise (dir.), 2003; The Green Mile, DVD, Frank
Darabont, 1999
Class
5, May 12 2009
Robert
Zemeckis, Forest Gump (film, 1994)
Discussion
Questions
Handout
Film:
Forest Gumb, DVD, Robert Zemeckis, 2001.
Class
6, May 19 2009
Pavel
Lungin, The Island (film)
Screening
10-12 am; Discussion 12-1 pm
Discussion
Questions
Handout
Film:
The Island, DVD, Pavel Lungin, 2006.
