Apocalypse When? Envisioning the End from Antiquity to the Present
This course explores the origins of apocalyptic thought in Judaism and Christianity and its expression in various forms and contexts over time. We will begin with a focus on the emergence of the literary genre of apocalypse in early Jewish and Christian traditions. As we examine this literature, we will be especially attentive to its historical context, its communal function, and its ideological basis. The remainder of the course will consider how this foundational literature informs later expressions of apocalyptic ideology in both religious and secular contexts. Toward this end, we will address examples from literature, visual art, and film and examine how they employ biblical tradition and adapt apocalyptic ideology to particular contexts.
In this course, you will develop as an academic writer by interacting with a range of texts, including ancient and modern depictions of the apocalypse, as well as recent scholarly writings from the fields of historical, religious, and literary studies. In approaching such texts, we will focus on the development of critical reading and analytical skills, which will, in turn, enhance your writing skills. As you engage in writing as an interactive and progressive process, you can expect to prepare multiple drafts of various writing projects, offer and accept peer critique, and actively participate in classroom discussions and workshops. For your first major writing project, you will apply ideas from assigned scholarly readings to an early Christian or Jewish apocalypse; through a close reading of the text, you will craft a claim that is rooted in specific textual evidence. A second major writing project will allow you to consider how classic apocalyptic currents resurface in a contemporary work of literature, film, or visual art that interests you. For this project, you will engage in independent research, develop an original claim, and share your findings with your fellow seminar participants. A number of shorter writing assignments throughout the semester will contribute to these major projects and help you practice various aspects of academic writing.
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