CLAC Offerings For 2025-2026
Fall 2025
CGST 223: French Literary Masterpieces on Screen (CLAC.50) [French] Prof. Michael Meere
This CLAC course is linked to the FYS RL&L 252F: French Literary Masterpieces in Translation and on Screen. In this CLAC course, conducted entirely in French, students will have the opportunity to read the texts in their original language, and to hone their French speaking, listening, and writing skills. Assignments will include written commentaries (i.e., close readings) and short presentations on the material. As for the films, students in the CLAC course will be expected to watch and discuss French-language adaptations. This CLAC course is intended for students who have at minimum an advanced intermediate level of French. Learners of French as well as native and heritage speakers of French are welcome. Credit: 0.5.
Regardless of students' previous exposure to the French language, including AP and IB courses, students interested in the CLAC course must take Wesleyan's French placement test and score into at least FREN 215 (Advanced Intermediate French). Should they place into FREN 215, they must enroll in this class in order to be eligible for the CLAC course. Students who place into FREN 112 or below will not generally be eligible due to the degree of difficulty, though students may submit a petition. Moreover, all students must meet with the instructor before enrolling in the CLAC course for an oral comprehension and expression evaluation. This CLAC course, in combination with the FYS in English, will count toward the French Studies Major or Minor, as well as the Romance Studies Major.
CGST 235: Brazilian Culture and Identity Through Media (CLAC.50) [English, Portuguese] Prof. Nadejda Marques
If asked about Brazil, chances are one may answer by invoking stereotypes that once conveyed Brazil's global image: samba and futebol (soccer). While music, carnaval, and soccer are central elements of the national identity, these aspects of Brazilian culture fail to do justice to the complexity of a country of ever-increasing global impact, with a top-ten economy, a massive, continental territory. and some 200 million inhabitants who constitute what may be the most diverse population on the planet.
In this course we will critically examine how the media has helped shape Brazilian identity and how the country is perceived from outside. We will cover topics such as social relations, race, poverty, gender, violence and human rights. Readings will draw upon theories and concepts in media studies and cultural studies. Class discussion will consider cultural texts, television shows, films, music, poetry, fashion, and social media posts. This course will be taught in English and Portuguese (introductory or intermediate level is sufficient).
CGST 240: Introduction to Tamazight: The Native Language of North Africa and Beyond (CLAC.50) Prof. Amir Aissa
This course will introduce students to the language (sounds and script) and culture of the Amazigh people, an ethnic group (commonly known as Berbers) native to North Africa and West Africa, specifically Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, northern Mali, and Niger, with some oases in Egypt and the Canary Islands.
The Tamazight language--the alphabet of which is called Tifinagh--has been a written language for almost 3000 years, although it was disrupted throughout history due to various invasions and conquests of the area. The Tuareg people of the Sahara desert in Northern Africa, and as of late Morocco and Algeria, have been using the Tifinagh alphabet (oldest dated inscription from about 200 BC) and the Tamzight language as a secondary national language.
The objectives of this course are: 1. To introduce students to the sounds and script of Tifinagh; 2. To teach students basic conversation and essential elements of the Tamazight language; and 3. To familiarize students with the culture of the different Amazigh peoples.
CGST 281/HIST 281: Global Economy: Germany and the World in an Age of Extremes, 1870-1957 (CLAC .50) [German], Prof. Erik Grimmer-Solem
This Center for Global Studies discussion course explores the experience of globalization in the German-speaking world from the war of German unification in 1870 to the emergence of the European Community in 1957. It will analyze German imperialism and overseas investment before 1914; the deglobalization of the German economy in the First World War; the problem of reparations and other economic challenges faced by the Weimar Republic; and the impact of global protectionism and the Great Depression, the economic forces allowing the rise of Hitler, the economics of war, and the Nazi "New Order." We will explore the reasons for the ultimate failure of the German war effort and the country's catastrophic destruction and defeat in 1945, as well as Germany's postwar division and occupation as well as the gradual reconstruction and reintegration of the West German economy into a European and global division of labor beginning with the Bizone Agreement and GATT (1947), the Marshall Plan (1948), and the London German External Debt Agreement (1953), culminating in the Treaty of Rome (1957) creating the European Economic Community. The course will be using select German-language historical primary sources to explore this topic, supported by short secondary source narratives in both German and English pitched to intermediate to advanced German speakers/readers. Unlike the parent History lecture class (HIST 280: The Origins of Global Capitalism, 1800-present), this is a discussion course aimed at expanding vocabulary and practicing fluent discussions in the fields of history, politics, and economics.
CGST 323/CJST 315: Hebrew in the Media: From National Literature to International Films and TV Shows (CLAC .50) Prof. Dalit Katz
This new language course is offered as an enrichment opportunity to students with intermediate or advanced Hebrew skills who are interested in improving all their language skills and/or acquiring additional linguistic and cultural preparation for study abroad in Israel. Cultural activities including participating in the series Contemporary Israeli Voices and Lunch and Learn meetings with native speakers are part of the course. The course explores the changes in Israeli society as it moves from national ideological literature to the exploration of new multi-cultural media such as films and TV shows and thus gaining swift international fame.
Spring 2025
CGST 236: Music, Culture and Social Justice in Latin America (CLAC.50) [English, Spanish, Portuguese] Prof. Nadejda Marques
This course examines influential Latin American musicians and the relationship between their artistic production and the battles for human rights, democracy, and social justice in the hemisphere. The seminar will focus on the periods of dictatorial rule and transition to democracy in the Americas (mostly, from the 1960s through the late 1980s). We will study the main musical trends and leading artists in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries in those decades, assessing the role of their music in battles for free expression, democracy, and social justice in human rights. Among the artists whose work we will consider are Victor Jara (Chile), Mercedes Sosa (Argentina), Los Guraguao (Venezuela), Catano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Chico Buarque (Brazil). Students will be encouraged to analyze music through lyrics and song form, while understanding the historical, political, and social climates in which these artistic productions developed. Students will understand how music and culture can be powerful tools of resistance, assessing their impact in educating, inspiring, and creating social awareness and commitment in Latin American societies. This course will be taught in English, Portuguese, and Spanish (introductory or intermediate level is sufficient).
CGST 243: Die Grenzen meiner Sprache bedeuten die Grenzen meiner Welt (CLAC.50) Prof. Daniel Smyth
This CLAC will explore the practice of translating philosophical German by focusing on Wittgenstein's Tractatus, its recent translations, and its (often unnamed) sources and influences -- including writings by Gottlob Frege and Immanuel Kant as well as by various Viennese intellectuals such as Karl Kraus and Otto Weininger. The Tractatus is a particularly productive focal point because it advances a theory of language and meaning that has immediate relevance for conceptualizing what is involved in translating from one language into another. In practicing translation, students will be testing the theory that they are attempting to translate. This will provide them an additional dimension in which to wrestle with the content of the text. Enrollment in the associated seminar, PHIL389/COL386, is encouraged but not required. The course is open to students at all levels of German study. Discussions will be conducted in a mixture of English and German, since we will be discussing the nuances of words and phrases in both languages. By preparing (and discussing) their own translations of texts, students will become familiar with the sorts of challenges that arise in rendering philosophical German into English and will develop strategies for negotiating these challenges. Students will also be encouraged to consider translations into other languages in which they are competent.
CGST 252/CHIN 303: Chinese Calligraphy (CLAC.25) [Chinese] Prof. Mengjun Liu
This 0.25 CLAC course will provide students with a brief understanding of the art of Chinese calligraphy through calligraphy practice. They will learn about the characteristics of Chinese calligraphy from the "Four Treasures of the Study," as the tools of calligraphy (writing brush, ink stick, ink stone, and paper). They will understand the development history of Chinese calligraphy from five basic scripts of Seal (zhuanshu), Clerical (lishu), Standard (kaishu), Semi-cursive (xingshu), and Cursive (caoshu). The course focuses on imitation and practice of the Standard script kaishu. Prerequisite: Current or future Chinese class students are preferred.
CGST 304/HIUR 303: Urdu Literature and Poetry (CLAC 1.0) [Hindi-Urdu], Prof. HM FazaleHaq
This course is specifically designed for students who have advanced skills in the Urdu language. The syllabus includes readings that range from classic to current traditions. You will read Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Iqbal, Nasir Kazmi, Sadat Hassan Manto, Ishfaq Ahmad, Bano Qudsia, Abdullah Hussein, and many more. The main goal of the course is to familiarize you with Urdu literary traditions. You will also have opportunities to improve your expository and creative writing skills in Urdu by completing various projects and assignments. Course topics include the development of Urdu, Urdu poetry, and Urdu prose.
CGST 320: La cultura y la historia de la España islámica (CLAC .50) [Spanish], Prof. Abderrahman Aissa
This course will be taught in Spanish, and spans a timeline between 711 and 1492, i.e., from the date of the conquest/invasion of Iberia by Muslim troops to the fall of Granada and the expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain. Before starting discussion of the course material, students will be introduced to Arabic sound and script, as well as some common vocabulary and lexical concepts shared between Spanish and Arabic. This makes sense because Muslim culture and the Arabic language were present in Iberia for the better part of 800 years.
We will discuss not only the main events that took place during the Muslim occupation of parts of Iberia but also the cultural legacy Muslims and Jews left behind in the peninsula after they were expelled in 1492, especially in the realms of art, science, language, architecture, and le savoir-vivre. We will look at the different theories put forth by scholars about the conquest/invasion of the peninsula, in regard to the ease and speed with which the peninsula was overrun by Muslims. We will examine the hereafter and the consequences of the expulsion of Muslims and Jews on the Iberian peninsula as well as the neighboring territories. Finally, we will make a jump to the 21st century and try to connect some dots by looking at the current situation in and around the Strait of Gibraltar, particularly the influx of illegal immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan countries, and the ensuing issues.
CGST 414/CJST 414: Israeli Cinema (CLAC 1.0) [Hebrew], Prof. Dalit Katz
This Hebrew course will be linked to the a parent film course, taught in English. This course is targeted toward students with very advanced knowledge of the Hebrew language. Students will mostly view the same films as the parent class, with special attention to the Hebrew language. We will analyze, discuss, and write on each of the films. The focus of the course will be to map the cultural and social changes in Israeli society reflected in the transformation in format and themes of Israeli films. Scholar visits will be part of the course, and students will attend cultural enrichment activities as part of the course curriculum. This course may be repeated for credit.