Why do people find trashy books so delicious? This course will take up one of the most popular kinds of trashy books – the romance – and investigate how and why it emerged. We will explore what romances are about -- lovers, quests, overcoming obstacles, lost children returned to their parents, fantastical beings, and magical objects – and what they do for their readers – satisfy fantasies, act as propaganda, and conceal reality. Our readings will include Arthurian romances, such as the Lais of Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes' Arthurian Romances; Shakespearean romances, such as the Winter's Tale; and meta-romances (books about romances), such as Walpole's Castle of Otranto, and Flaubert's Madame Bovary. We will also read some actual trashy, supermarket romances and watch some movies, such as the Fisher Kingand Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Taught by Dr. Katie Little.
Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours.
Requisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
Additional Information:Arts Sci Gen Ed: Distribution-Arts Humanities
Departmental Category: Advanced Theory, Genre Studies and Popular Culture