Monsters mirror the anxieties and fears of the cultures and communities in which they are formed, emerging more vigorously when cultural stresses are keenest. This course examines the Jewish experience in the modern world by exploring both the monsters Jewish artists and writers created and the monsters they were accused of being. Beginning with a survey of traditional beings like the Nephilim and Og of Bashan, the Dybuk and the infamous Golem of Prague, we will then read about Jewish pirates, punk musicians, wrestlers, and wanderers. In closing, we will discuss one of the greatest monster creators of all time, Jack Kirby. Along the way, the demonizing of Jews from Blood Libel to the recent Charlottesville protests will be examined.
Comics Studies Minor
Comics Studies Minor courses present students with an international, historical, and critical perspective on the art of editorial cartoons, comic books, and graphic novels, and how these forms communicate, inform, and emotionally engage their audiences. Students will be required to think outside of accustomed disciplinary boundaries, and to analyze and experiment with the interaction of both visual and linguistic systems of meaning.
