Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit presents aspects of current Israeli culture as depicted in cinema and related literary works. Focus will be given to the social and cultural fault lines of Israeli society, such as Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, ashkenazi and sepharadi, city and periphery, ideology and reality, old and young. We will follow the history of Israeli culture through viewings and texts of films and documentaries and read some of the belletristic and critical literature associated with them. The format of the unit will include lectures, partly by video conference from Israel, and film viewing.

Objectives

Upon completion of the unit students will be expected:

1. To be acquainted with representations of Israeli history and culture as depicted in modern Israeli cinema and related literary works;
2. To gain a sense of current debates and discussions on Israeli culture and identity;
3. To familiarize themselves with the major issues addressed by contemporary Israeli cinema and literature;
4. To understand aspects of cinematic rendering of literary works, both in the Israeli and in broader cultural contexts; and
5. To be able to analyse and discuss the complexities of contemporary Israeli society and culture.

Assessment

Written work: 90% (4500 words)
Participation: 10%

Contact hours

This course is taught in a concentrated teaching format.
There will be two contact hours per week, involving a lecture and class discussion, for eight weeks (weeks 1-3, 6-8, 11-12) and an additional four contact hours for three weeks (weeks 2, 3 and 11). Students will have the option to view films as a group, or privately in the library. Four of the lectures will be via video conference from Israel.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Jewish civilisation
History

Prohibitions

JWC3540