CMLT 201 2 - Space and Place in Literature and Film

1.00

How does the representation of space and place in literature contribute to our understanding of the social and cultural dynamics of our contemporary world? In the context of current events, space is so often understood in terms of borders, nations, security zones, and territory. Where do spaces of human existence and experience—home, garden, bus, alley, café—fit into the equation? This course will examine fictional and autobiographical works that foreground a poetics of space. Looking at works from the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, we will explore the ways in which authors and filmmakers reference space to reflect on their place in the world around them. In doing so, we will address the following questions: How might we conceptualize spaces of possibility and connection? What types of alternative geographies emerge when emotional attachments and memory are considered in the framework of spatial orientation? Group III Humanities