Law, Jurisp & Social Thought 345 - Law and Literature

(Analytic Seminar)

This course proceeds from the premise that cultural production and legal production co-constitute one another. Films, novels, plays, poetry, and more all contribute to the meaning, legitimacy, and efficacy of legal systems while, at the same time, the laws we live with condition the production and reception of such cultural texts. We will begin by reviewing early examples of Law and Literature scholarship in the United States during the twentieth century before charting the development of such interdisciplinary approaches around the world through  today. To accompany our review of the field, we will be engaging with legal texts (statutes, regulations, judicial opinions, treatises, etc.) alongside cultural ones (film, fiction, poetry, etc.) to trace the interplay among these different modes of representation. Over the course of the semester, we will consider the relationships between legal and cultural interpretation, authorship and authority, legal and literary narrative techniques, cultural genres and legal forms, and more. We will conclude by reflecting on whether a humanities-based analytical approach to law and legality can help us map the conditions not only of our present, but also our future. 

Limited to 15 students. Professor Firmani. Fall semester.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority given to LJST majors at the professor's discretion

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Students should expect a significant amount of reading and intensive writing assignments.