History 212 - Antisemitism: Jews and/as Others

Few terms are as loaded in our current political environment as antisemitism. This course will introduce students to the history of anti-Jewish thought and its shifting nature and definition across time. Beginning in the ancient Middle East and running through to contemporary politics, it will cover key tropes and responses to them from physicalities to blood libels through a wide range of primary source readings and media. In examining hatred, intolerance, and representation of Jews, we will ask: what do different societies’ visions of Jewish otherness tell us about their culture, politics, power dynamics, and anxieties? We will explore this question and more by considering how imaginations of Jews intersect with other forms of marginalization, prejudice, and oppression along the lines of race, gender, sexuality, and ideology across the political spectrum. No prior study of Jewish history necessary.  Meets twice weekly.

Fall semester. Professor Amir.

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Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close analysis of historical evidence, which may include written documents, images, music, films, or statistics from the historical period under study. Exploration of scholarly, methodological, and theoretical debates about historical topics. Extensive reading, varying forms of written work, and intensive in-class discussions.