Religion 225FF - Topics in Religion: 'Buddhism in Fiction and Film'

What can stories about Buddhists teach us about Buddhism, and what can they teach us about ourselves and the human condition? This course explores Buddhist thought and practice through the lens of fiction, as it is portrayed and represented in literature and film. Each week we will focus on a single Buddhist theme through two different media (one film and one novel), considering it through a variety of perspectives, voices, and cultural contexts. With a central aim of highlighting Buddhism's internal diversity, we will enter into the worlds of Buddhist characters through the stories they tell about themselves. We will also analyze-and interrogate-Hollywood's representation of Buddhists.