Comparative Literature 391CN - S-CompLit,CrssCultrlComm,Neuro

Neuroscience is transforming the way we understand perception, memory, learning, attention, and decisions. How do these new discoveries change the ways we understand cross-cultural communication, including literature as it moves across cultural boundaries? This course explores such questions in the context of globalization and the concept of world literature. We will read selected short stories and novels from various cultures in tandem with exploring important discoveries by neuroscientists related to understanding other cultures. Reading: The Lottery, Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Joys of Motherhood, One Hundred Years of Solitude, The God of Small Things, The Secret River. Requirements: Class attendance and participation, 4 short papers (2-3 pages), and a final paper (12-15 pages). No prerequisites: the background on neuroscience will be provided.