rst

Fall 2021

Fall 2021 GRADUATE COURSE OFFERINGS

**all topics courses can be repeated for credit

REL 230D (52907): Subjectivities of Sexuality (Naomi Janowitz)- Tuesdays 1:30-4:30

Sexual Subjectivities: Transgender Approaches to Religion and Psychoanalysis
Recent studies in religion draw attention to a series of figures who are sometimes cast as precursors of the contemporary transgender movement. These include the hijra in India, two-spirit individuals in native American communities and the Hawaiian mahu. We will examine the modern interpretation of these figures especially in relation to the question of special religious roles. Alongside these investigations we will review recent psychoanalytic studies of sexuality, gender and identity. Freud rejected then-standard physical moorings of sexual identity, substituting the concept of malleable object choice and complex fantasies about embodiment. Recent psychoanalytic studies specifically investigate transgender embodiment and issues of sexual difference. We will consider whether these theories offer insights into the range of sexual subjectivities religious practices appear to entail.

Readings include
Hinchy 2019 Governing Gender and Sexuality in Colonial India
Nanda 1999 Neither Man No Woman: The Hijras of India
Gherovich 2017 Transgender Psychoanalysis
Gherovich 2010 Please Select your gender
Jacobs (ed.) 1997 Two-Spirit People: Native American Gender Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality

REL 230C (52906): Medicine, Alchemy, Science (Lynna Dhanani)- Mondays, 3:10-6:00- COURSE CANCELED.  PLANNED FOR FALL 2022

This course examines the widespread pre-modern science of alchemy in various periods across three major civilizations: Indian, Islamic, and European. Alchemy, currently labeled a pseudo-science or precursor to modern chemistry, involved a range of ideas and practices that went beyond transmuting base metals into gold. We will examine a range of alchemical texts that demonstrate a marked interest in medicine and other medieval sciences and will explore the views of self and the material world present in these readings. Towards the end of the course, we will situate our study within the larger context of the history of science and religion and changing theories of knowledge. 

REL 230E (53792): Value, Ethics, Human Rights--Religion and Environment (Yael Teff-Seker)- Wednesdays 10:00-1:00

In this course, we will discuss the connection between environmental ethics, values, and behaviors and different religions, faiths, or belief systems. It will explore religious themes and narratives that address nature, plants, and animals in different traditions and texts, and delineate the complex and at times contradictory role of humans as stewards of nature, and their simultaneous place inside and outside, and in some cases above, the natural world. In their projects, students will discover these narratives, as well as examine past, present and future role religions have, or can have, in regard to environmental problems and their potential solutions. Projects will focus on case studies of various connections between religion and environment from around the world, and will include student-led and project-based learning, where students will be able to focus on topics and cases in which they find special interest, encourage peer learning, and experience a free, supportive, and in-depth discussion of their findings. The course will be conducted in person (health guidelines permitting), and will include sessions of outdoor learning at the UC Davis Arboretum.

COM 298: Forms of Professional Writing-(Archana Venkatesan)-Wednesday 2:10-3:30 p.m.- CRN: 27145

 This course will train graduate students in different genres of professional writing with a focus on book reviews, public scholarship, and grant writing. We will also work on students’ CV-s. The course will involve peer-review and workshopping of drafts. At the end of the quarter, students will have produced one book review, one piece of public scholarship, and completed one grant proposal. We will also discuss how to place articles, reviews, and items of public scholarship, and the venues available for publication.

This is a two-unit course. Students will register for this course as COM 298: Directed Group Study. Grading is S/U.