Italian designers from il bel paese (the beautiful country) have been at the center of the fashion industry for a long time. More than a business for Italians, fashion is intrinsic to their national identity. The notion of bella figura--appearing elegant and appropriate in any situation--is often considered a crucial aspect of being Italian. We explore cultural and literary trends that brought bella figura into national debate.

This seminar traces the evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through autobiography, novels, and film. It focuses on the birth of Israel and the creation of a Palestinian diaspora, Israel's war in Lebanon, and the mental and physical barriers that separate Israelis and Palestinians today.

We discuss selected film comedies in German from GRMST-231WC taught in English, Haunted Utopia? Weimar Cinema, as well additional films and TV-clips from contemporary German public media. The role of language in comedy should be particularly critical for us because of the issue of (un)translatability. Furthermore, our focus is on in-depth discussion and diverse readings of the films. All students will create a critique as an oral presentation in the form of a brief (1-2 page) position paper.

A study of representative films from Germany's Golden Age such as Wiene's Expressionist film noir, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari; Lang's sci-fi classic, Metropolis, and psycho-thriller, M.; Murnau's Dracula film, Nosferatu; Lubitsch's The Doll; Oswald's first gay film, Different from Others; and Winsloe's first lesbian film, Girls in Uniform.

Ever wonder why there are so many semicolons in Java programs, or what it would mean for a language to not be object-oriented? In this course, we will explore issues related to the design and implementation of programming languages. Along the way, we will discover answers to these questions and more. Topics will include syntax, semantics, runtime support for languages as well as an introduction to functional programming.

This course introduces the many facets of architecture: history, theory, and design of buildings, landscapes, and cities. In addition to surveying architecture from the earliest forms of human habitation to contemporary residences, the course introduces basic analytical skills of architectural representation. Students will develop skills of speaking and writing about architecture, while also learning basic design tools: the sketch, map, plan, elevation, materials study, and landscape setting.