Women and Literature in Southeastern Europe

(Same as Comparative Literature M120.) Examination of changing roles of women in Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey) in last forty years. Emphasis on cultural, social, political, and economic factors affecting women’s roles during countries’ transition from agricultural to industrial economy and from communism to post-communism (in former communist countries). Sensitizes students to complexity of issues in region and helps them better understand multiplicity of causes of present situation. Interdisciplinary study, drawing on sociological/women’s studies, articles, and short fiction by women writers for analysis. Discussion of topics covered in articles, positions taken by authors, and ways in which aspects of Southeast European realities are rendered in fictional form by women writers from region.

P/NP or letter grading.