ENGL 3255

Revolution or Reform?

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024. Courses of Study 2023-2024 is scheduled to publish mid-June.

This course explores the relation between literary and utopian Enlightenment cultures in Western history.  For each moment of rapid change, from Plato to the Communist revolutions of the twentieth century and beyond, we will focus on two texts: one which promoted the enlightened and revolutionary utopian social blueprint; and one offering an alternative model of transformation or a dystopian account of the utopian model. You will come away from this course having a chronologically wide and intellectually deep immersion in 2500 years of European philosophical and literary history. Throughout, you are encouraged to think about what resources we use to imagine social transformation and to ask if revolution is in fact the best way to effect social transformation. This class may be used toward the pre-1800 requirement for English majors.

When Offered Fall.

Breadth Requirement (HB)
Distribution Category (ALC-AS, HST-AS, LA-AS)
Satisfies Requirement This course may be used toward the pre-1800 requirement for English majors.

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