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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL 261"
COURSE NAME: "Sexuality, Eroticism and Gender in Myth and Literature of Greece and Rome"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2017
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Govero
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above. Co-requisites: Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This multi-disciplinary (philosophy, literature, history, law, art and archeology) course will examine sexuality and eroticism in antiquity, looking in particular at their role as an initiation to higher levels of thought and cognition; their impetus in defining gender roles; their existence as physiological/psychological needs versus social constructions; how they have invested modern thought, research, and become enduring models interpreting human behavior. Students will carry out a close study of selections from Greek and Roman lyric poetry, Greek drama, philosophy and essays, Roman satire and Ovid’s epics on love and extensive writing to analyze the context and content of the readings and lectures.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This multi-disciplinary (philosophy, literature, history, law, art and archeology) course will examine sexuality and eroticism in antiquity, looking in particular at their role as an initiation to higher levels of thought and cognition; their impetus in defining gender roles; their existence as physiological/psychological needs versus social constructions; how they have invested modern thought, research, and become enduring models interpreting human behavior. Students will carry out a close study of selections from Greek and Roman lyric poetry, Greek drama, philosophy and essays, Roman satire and Ovid’s epics on love and extensive writing to analyze the context and content of the readings and lectures.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This multi-disciplinary (philosophy, literature, history, law, art and archeology) course will examine sexuality and eroticism in antiquity, looking in particular at their role as an initiation to higher levels of thought and cognition; their impetus in defining gender roles; their existence as physiological/psychological needs versus social constructions; how they have invested modern thought, research, and become enduring models interpreting human behavior. Students will carry out a close study of selections from Greek and Roman lyric poetry, Greek drama, philosophy and essays, Roman satire and Ovid’s epics on love and extensive writing to analyze the context and content of the readings and lectures.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Games of VenusPeter Bing & Rip CohenRoutledge0-415-90261-4 Almost Corner   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
8 - 10 rèsumès of artlicles or in response to promptsFrequent résumés written in class and then discussed on a prompt such as a selection from the literature read or the context of a literary selection or myth.20%
Midterm paperFive page paper critically discussing a topic from erotic literature or myth. Guidelines and criteria will be handed-out20%
ParticipationParticipation in discussions with comments on class material and questions.20%
PresentationOral presentation of the erotic character of a selected text 15 minutes in length with outline20%
Final PaperWritten discussion of a text as per the midterm paper. Five pages.20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY







You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Class Session

Content of the Session

Readings and/or Résumés

Assignments & Exercises

1.1

Introduction to the Course:  Rationale, Procedures, Protocals, Evaluation

C. Cavafy, “Ithaca”  W. Curran, "Only Connect"

Games of Venus, Introduction  pp. 1 -50, due

1.2

Methodologies and Caveats:  anachronism, heuristic approaches, definition of terms:  eros, agape,philia, eromenos, erastes , hetaira

 

 

 2.3

Images of the femnine: the faithful wife, the siren, the seductress, the witch

Homer, “Odyssey”:

(In-class selections)

Sappho corpus.

Due: 3.6

 2. 4

The wise prostitute:  “Gilgamesh” discussion.

(In-class readings and discussion)

Résumé

.

 

 3. 5

 Introduction to Greek lyric:  feminist

and  homosexual voices;  Eroticism and paideia

 

Theogonis, Ibycus, Callimachus.  Due: 4.7

 3. 6

Sappho corpus discussion

Criteria and Guidelines for midterm paper.

Plato: “Symposium” ""Aristophanes speech"

Due:  6. 10

 4. 7

Theogonis, Ibycus, Callimachus discussion

Résumé

 

 4. 8

Zeus progenitor:  sex among the gods

 

Midterm paper topics due. 

 5. 9

Eroticism and sexuality in philosophy

and rhetoric:  Gorgias and Plato

Gorgias,  “Enconium to Helen”

Plato:  “Phaedrus”

Due:  7. 13

 6. 10

Plato, “Symposium” discussion

Résumé

 

 6. 11

Plato, “Symposium” (con’t):  Women

and Wisdom:  Diotima

 

Aristophanes, “Lysastrata”.  Due: 9. 16

 7. 12

Eroticism in classical Greek art

Visuals

 

 7. 13

Plato,  “Phaedrus”:  Eroticism and  rhetoric.

 

 

 8.  14

Plato, “Phaedrus” (con’t)

 

Euripides, “Alcestis”, “Medea”  Due:  10. 17

 8.  15

Plato, “Phaedrus” (con’t)

Résumé

 

 9.  16

Discusion, Aristophanes, “Lysistrata”: Women on Strike

Short, oral reports on papers







Lucian, Erotes

Midterm papers due.

10. 17

Discussion of Eurpides:  “Alcestis”, “Medea”

 

Plutarch, “On Love”,

“On Marriage” Due: 11.20

10. 18

New social  perspectives:  Hellenism







Discussion of Lucian, Erotes

Criteria and Guidelines for final paper

 

 11  19

And now the Romans….the new face of women; a new sexual code.

Résumé

The XXII Tables

Livy: the “Lupa”,  Lucretia, the Rape of the Sabines, Verginia.

 11. 20

Marriage and sexuality in Roman law

Selected laws and inscriptions

Selections from Catullus, Horace, Propertius, Vergil and Juvenal

 12. 21. 

Latin erotic poetry:  Catullus and Propertius  Reason and passions

Selections

Final paper topics due

 

 12. 22

Latin erotic poetry: Horace and Vergil

 (Ecologue 2), “Aeneid” Book IV

Selections

Tertullian, Jerome,

“Letter 22”, Gregory of Nyssa, “On Virginity”, Augustine, “On Marriage”,” On Virginity” Due: 13.26

 12- 23

Latin erotic poetry: Ovid, “Art of Love”

Selections

 

 13. 24

Latin erotic poetry: Juvenal:  Misoginy

Résumé

 

 13. 25

Christian perspectives:   Denial as Holiness, Institutional control of sexuality. Influence of Manichism

Paul, selections from

“Letters”

 

 13. 26

Discussion of Tertullian and Jerome

 

 

 13. 27

Discussion of Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine

 

 

 13  28

Review and Overview

 

 

 13. 29

Final exam

Final Papers due. Short, oral reviews of papers.