Brandeis National Committee

The Access Files is a collection of multidisciplinary teaching guides. Each piece is generic and may be used with any specific discussion within a general topic. The following are available:

• The Enjoyment of Opera (Bonnie Gordon, Music)
• Leading Questions for News in Print (Susan Moeller, American Studies)
• Leading Questions for Television News (Moeller)
• Novels (William Flesch, English)
• Plays on the Page (John Bush Jones, Theater Arts)
• Plays on the Stage (Jones)
• Poetry (Flesch)

Forging Political Opinion Over the Long and Short Haul

This study guide explores the long- and short-term forces that shape public opinion. You'll examine the role of history and institutions in forging individuals' political attitudes, and how the media and political campaigns shape public opinion. (Jill Greenlee, Politics)

Making the Tough Decisions: Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility in the 21st Century (BR63)

Calls for corporate social responsibility take place against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global economy with growing economic, social and environmental inequities. This brieflet asks each of us to become a decision-maker who must consider global perspectives and examine his own motivations and reactions as a "citizen of the world." (Michael M. Appell, MA’79, Brandeis International Business School)

Modern Ideas of America

This study guide explore the new visions of Americanism defined around aspiration and openness, rather than inheritance and tradition. In addition to brief texts (all available online), the guide also offers insights and questions about films, including "The Jazz Singer," "Home of the Brave" and "The Godfather." (David Engerman, History)

Persepolis (S119)

Told in powerful black-and-white comic strip images, "Persepolis" is a poignant memoir about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In addition to the study guide, you'll receive background materials to enrich your understanding and appreciation of this powerful coming-of-age story. (Naghmeh Sohrabi, Crown Center for Middle East Studies)

What Does It Mean to Be an American Citizen? Civic Engagement and the Revival of Democracy (BR62)

What makes a good citizen? What skills, knowledge and attitudes should citizens in an effective democracy have, and where and how are citizens likely to acquire these skills? In the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, we may begin to see signs of a more meaningful role for Americans to play in the political life of the 21st century. User guide and "The Great BNC National Elections Quiz" included. (Andreas Teuber, Philosophy)

What's Going On in the Middle East Today?

"Middle East Briefs," a publication of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, provides a succinct analysis of a single issue or current development at the top of the region's political, social or economic agenda. These briefs give BNC study groups an exciting opportunity to engage in real-time analysis of this strategically important world hot spot. The Crown Center is committed to proving it is possible to produce balanced, objective and dispassionate research regarding all aspects of the contemporary Middle East.

A Novel Murder: The Life and Times of the Detective Story (S55)

The mystery novel permits the serious reader to study such issues as moral codes, the relationship between the individual (criminal, detective, victim) and society, and concepts of law and justice. Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane, John le Carré and others are discussed. (Susan Solomon Forbes, American Studies)

More Different Dicks: Offbeat Contemporary Detective Fiction (S102B)

This thought-provoking syllabus departs from traditional detective fiction, exploring  complex social, cultural and political issues and avoiding overly neat outcomes and conclusions. Included are "Murder in the Collective" by Barbara Wilson; "Study in Lilac"  by Maria Antonia Oliver; "How Town" by Michael Nava; "Murder on a Kibbutz: A Communal Case" by Batya Gur; "The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse" by Mabel Maney; and "Blanche Among the Talented Tenth" by Barbara Neely. (James Mandrell, Hispanic Studies)

Private Dick, Female Detective: The Life and Times of the Female Sleuth (S75)

From Agatha Christie's Miss Marple to Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski, and many more, detective afficionados can explore a familiar genre from a new point of view. (James Mandrell, Hispanic Studies)

Blacklisting and Other Un-American Activities: Movies, Television and the Cold War (BR50)

Did you know that the McCarthy hearings had nothing to do with the entertainment industry? Are you aware that Edward G. Robinson wrote an article for American Legion magazine titled "How the Reds Made a Sucker Out of Me?" This guide opens up an amazing time in history for the study of some of the myths surrounding anticommunism in the entertainment industry. (Thomas Doherty, American Studies)

Dark Vision: The Enduring Appeal of Film Noir (BR61)

Visit the gloomy and gritty films from the Hollywood studios of the '40s and '50s, focusing on classic crime, detective and low-life. Why are films such as "The Maltese Falcon," "Double Indemnity" and "Kiss Me Deadly" so compelling, and what gives them their lasting power and influence? (Laura Quinney, English and American Literature)

Film on Film (S129)

Explore three classic Hollywood films — "All About Eve" (1950), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) and "Rear Window" (1954) — that are themselves, implicitly or explicitly, explorations of film. Classic Hollywood cinema does not normally want us to be aware of the fact that we are watching a film; what happens on the screen is to be taken (or mistaken) for reality. The films you will be discussing are exceptions to the rule, however, and raise interesting and important questions about the very nature of what it means to watch a film. (Paul Morrison, English)

The Screening Room: Brandeis Goes to the Movies — Nine Deadly Films of Hitchcock (F1)

Enjoy film as you never have before! The movies are indelible, the surname is adjectival and the black outline of the portly profile is as recognizable as the Nike logo. More than four decades after his death, Alfred Hitchcock still towers over American cinema. Each in this series of nine Hitchcock classics is introduced by a Brandeis faculty member.

Two Hollywood Classics: "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca" (S123)

"Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca" are almost universally acknowledged as classics of Hollywood cinema, yet the two movies could hardly be more different. "Citizen Kane" is the brainchild of the "boy genius" Orson Welles and violates virtually every convention of classic Hollywood cinema. "Casablanca" is considered the perfect product of "the Hollywood studio system." Yet both movies are considered classics. How can this be? How are we to think of film in relation to established standards of aesthetic judgment? (Paul Morrison, English)

American Jewish Humor (B26)

A provocative — not to mention, entertaining — look at what is distinctive about Jewish humor, especially in its American setting. With the likes of such comedians as Sid Caesar, Danny Kaye, Bette Midler and, of course, the inimitable Woody Allen, the reader is encouraged both to learn and to laugh. (Stephen J. Whitfield, Max Richter Professor of American Civilization)

American Judaism: A Reader's Guide (S117)

"American Judaism" traces Jewish life from the Colonial era through the present day. This reader's guide summarizes the central themes of each chapter and poses stimulating questions for discussion. (Rachel Gordan, under the supervision of Jonathan Sarna, Professor of American Jewish History)

Bekitzur: Twentieth Century Hebrew Short Stories (S107)

Explore five Israeli short stories that open a profound window to the inner life of a country: the displacement of Jews at the beginning of the 20th century, life in Palestine under the British Mandate, the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the burden of army duty in a beleaguered country and the ever-present legacy of the Holocaust. (Yaron Peleg, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)

Images of Jews in American Movies (B28)

This guide traces the depictions of Jews in American films over the last several decades, beginning with the ghetto films of the silent era, progressing through the so-called "assimilation" movies of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and on to a period of ethnic resurgence enjoyed in films of the 1960s and later. The manner in which these trends in Hollywood are connected to the status of Jews in American society is also considered. (Stephen J. Whitfield, Max Richter Professor of American Civilization)

The Impact of Jews in American Popular Culture (BR57)

The role of Jews in American popular culture raises several important, if possibly unanswered, questions. How could so tiny a minority loom so large in the arts? From movies to the dramatic arts, from music to painting and architecture, why have American Jews provided such creativity for such a small population of immigrants? And to what extent is Judaism or Jewish identity and values relevant in understanding and appreciating such cultural achievements? (Stephen J. Whitfield, Max Richter Professor of American Civilization)

Jews in the Musical Theater (S111)

How have Jews helped to shape the heritage of the Broadway musical? This syllabus identifies key figures and works that constitute a tradition that helped make the nation's music a force of unity and a source of joy and creative brilliance. Even more than Hollywood, Broadway represents proof of a Jewish yearning to exercise talent when provided the freedom and opportunity to do so. (Stephen J. Whitfield, Max Richter Professor of American Civilization)

Women in the Bible (B36)

A study of the women of Genesis, Song of Songs, Ruth and Esther, as seen from different outlooks, including anthropological, sociological, literary and gender studies. (Marc Brettler, Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies)

The American Jury: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (S120)

We generally think of our government as having three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. A fourth branch of our democracy is all but forgotten: the jury. It may be because its deliberations are secret and we really do not know exactly how it works, or it may be because its role as been circumscribed, not as a maker of law, but as a servant of law — like a machine or a computer of sorts. Are juries necessary to democracy? This guide should lead you into a discussion of the nature and function of our criminal justice system and how we might improve it, focusing particularly on "proof beyond a reasonable doubt." (Sharon Fray Witzer, Legal Studies)

The Crime That Never Was (S125)

It's a criminal offense to attempt to commit a crime. Knowledgeable legal theorists have long recognized that the law of attempts provides a bumpy route by which the deepest and most central issues in criminal law can be approached. As with most crimes, attempts have both a bad act (actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens reus) component. The mens reus requirement is fairly straightforward — one must have intended to commit the crime that one is charged with attempting; but in attempt cases, the actus reus requirement is more problematic — the actual harm that the defendant has caused is very small, if existent at all.

Getting Away With Murder: The Case of the Speluncean Explorers (B53)

Should killing another always be a punishable crime, or is there some justification that excuses the killer? You'll take your place on the judge's bench with the opportunity to decide.

Guilty for the Crimes of the Father: The Felony Murder Rule (S124)

Ricky and Raymond Tison are sentenced to death for murders that the boys themselves did not commit.

How Nasty Are We Free To Be? Racial Insults and Epithets — Discriminatory Harassment or Protected Speech (BR46)

In the wake of an alarming increase in racial incidents, how far do our First Amendment rights extend? When and under what circumstances do extremely unpleasant and offensive acts actually cause other persons harm for which they can rightly demand legal protection?

Interpreting the Constitution, or How Is the U.S. Constitution Like the Ten Commandments? (B58)

The U.S. Constitution, like the Ten Commandments, is astonishingly brief about issues of great and lasting importance. The First Amendment, for example, simply states, "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." Fourteen words, subjected to endless interpretation and reinterpretation. What makes one interpretation better than another? Why weren't the Founding Fathers more explicit about what they meant? Is the meaning of the Constitution to be found in the words alone? Or should we look beyond the text to the original intentions of the Founding Fathers themselves?

Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual Punishment? (B47)

This guide tackles the issue of capital punishment from two angles. It broadens the issue by asking what the aims and limits of punishment itself ought to be, and it explores the issue by asking whether the imposition of the death penalty is cruel and unusual.

Landmarks of the Fourth Amendment (S136)

Ever wonder what the Fourth Amendment really means and how it has been applied since the Bill of Rights was passed in 1789? Learn that and more as we explore five cases in history that challenged the premise of this promise to American citizens. (Daniel Breen, American Studies and Legal Studies)

Legal Puzzlers

Participants are given cases where the facts of the case are understandable and easy to grasp, but difficult to resolve. Study group members are invited to reach a consensus about how best to decide that case or set of cases after deliberating among themselves, with the guidance of Professor Teuber's enlightening questions. Contained in each puzzler is all the information needed to brainstorm and reach a conclusion about these conundrums in the law. (Andreas Teuber, Philosophy)

Louis Brandeis and the Evolution of the Idea of Privacy (BR54)

An examination of the erosion of privacy rights and Justice Brandeis' insistence on the "right to be let alone." (Mary Davis, American Studies)

Negligent Homicide or a Mother's Love? Crimes Committed for Good Reason and With the Best Intentions (S122)

Should one be equally guilty for crimes committed with good as well as bad intentions?

Omissions and Duty to Rescue (S121)

What Do Kitty Genovese, Princess Diana and Sherrice Iverson have in common?

The Trolley Problem: An Exercise in Moral Reasoning

Imagine that a trolley is hurtling down the tracks. The hill is steep; it has lost its brakes. The driver of the trolley cannot stop its forward motion. But there's more, and you get to decide what to do. This exercise is used in many schools and introductory ethics classes around the country as well as in Great Britain.

Twenty-One Legal Puzzlers: What Is a Crime? (S106)

A series of murder mysteries and short takes in criminal, civil and constitutional law, with accompanying commentaries. The cases — some retellings of actual cases and others hypothetical — are intended to stimulate group discussion and test intuitions.

Victims' Rights: Justice or Revenge? (BR59)

One reason that proponents of victims' rights have sought to obtain a greater voice for victims in the criminal process has been motivated by a desire to help them and their relatives regain a sense of control over their lives. In capital cases, the effect of a relatives' testimony may mean life or death for the defendant. Indeed, the psychological and emotional nature of victim testimony raises the question: Does the admissibility of such testimony during the sentencing phase of capital trials bring justice or revenge?

Between the Generations: Six Contemporary North American Short Stories (S116)

From "The Scribner's Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American Short Stories," edited by Rosellen Brown. Stories include "The School" by Donald Barthelme; "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter; "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" by Sherman Alexie; "Abel Baker Charlie Dog" by Stephanie Vaughan; "Silver Water" by Amy Bloom; and "Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

Caribbean Women Writing: Between Nation and Imagination (S114)

Spanning the 1830s to the 1990s, six Caribbean women writers struggle through fiction to redraw the Colonial and post-Colonial maps that have placed their islands at the center of violent historical processes. Writers Prince, Seacole, Rhys, Condé, Kincaid and Danticat attempt to bring coherence to the worlds they have inherited. (Faith Smith, African and Afro-American Studies)

Catch-22 (S133)

The novelist Joseph Heller donated an extraordinary cache of material about his first and most famous novel, "Catch-22," to Brandeis University. That material includes his drafts of this sprawling, complex, savage and hilarious study of bureaucracy and warfare, as well as letters that Heller received in response to his novel — one of the most popular "serious" works of fiction ever published. Now that "Catch-22" has turned half a century old, Stephen Whitfield considers the historical, political and literary significance of this novel and invites discussion in the form of a study guide. Video of "Close Looking: Catch-22," with professors Michael Gilmore and Stephen Whitfield, is also available. (Stephen Whitfield, Max Richter Chair in American Civilization)

Considerations of Flannery O'Connor (B3)

This guide looks closely at two of Flannery O'Connor's short stories, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" and "Everything That Rises Must Converge." Includes a discussion of the elements of landscape and setting, personal relations and questions of faith and morality as reflected in O'Connor's work. (Bruce McKenna, Graduate Student, English)

The Contemporary Latin American Short Story (S71)

An intriguing look at the Latin American short story explored through discussions and readings of "The Circular Ruins" (Jorge Luis Borges); "The Southern Thruway" (Julio Cortazar); "The Smallest Woman in the World" (Clarice Lispector); "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" (Gabriel Garcia Marquez); and "False Limits" (Vlady Kociancich). (Teresa Mendez-Faith and Maria Elena Carballo, Spanish)

Everyman Through Nemesis: Five Easy (but Sad) Pieces by Philip Roth (S137)

New Jersey's greatest writer, Philip Roth, first entered our homes in 1959 with his many acclaimed novels. Brandeis professor William Flesch surveys the last five of Roth's novels and assesses the author's impact in today's most challenging political environment and controversies. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

Introduction to the Genre of the Short Story (S69)

Discussion guide and representative readings from the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Anton Chekhov, James Joyce, Franz Kafka and Breece D'J Pancake. (Geoffrey Harpham, English and American Literature)

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood (B49)

A new look at the hottest 19th-century writer of the 20th century. Why has Jane Austen become so popular? What does it mean to translate a Jane Austen novel into a very different aesthetic medium (film)? (Paul Morrison, English and American Literature)

Novels of the New Millenium (S131)

Writers in the last half of the century seemed almost exhausted by the demands their predecessors made. But with the new millennium, writers felt a new opening: for characters, for storytelling, for something that would be both serious and gripping. In this syllabus, you'll trace six lively examples of this new opening for serious fiction: Alice Munro's "Too Much Happiness"; James Buchan's "The Persian Bride"; Helen DeWitt's "The Last Samurai"; Geoff Dyer's "Jeff in Venice" and "Death in Varanasi"; Joseph O'Neill's "Netherland"; and Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

Once Upon a Time: A Children's Literature Syllabus (S113)

This engaging syllabus examines children's literature from a child's perspective. It asks: What kinds of books stimulate a child's imagination? What are the roles of such elements as fantasy, adventure, horror and humor in children's books? How do books deal with issues and concerns that are relevant for children? What sort of ethical, social and cultural values do books transmit? (Susan Moeller, Journalism)

Philip Roth's Late Work (S126)

This study guide will consider six of Philip Roth's late novels, starting with "Sabbath's Theater" and ending with "Everyman." It will include "American Pastoral," "The Human Stain" and "I Married a Communist," as well as the amazing speculative novel "The Plot Against America." These novels are astonishing pieces of work, and they show a Roth very different from the brash upstart — no less outrageous, but much deeper. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

Pleasure Under Difficulties: The Fiction of Henry James (S109)

Perhaps the greatest American novelist, Henry James combines mystery, romance, suspense and high art in ways that are always surprising and always fresh. In this syllabus, we consider five of his greatest works — many of them on the shorter side — as well as the diary of his extraordinary sister, Alice. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

The Short Story in Short (S130)

An introduction to the short story that also includes questions; a list of excellent short fiction; other sources of short stories, including how to access The New Yorker fiction podcast; plus four readings on the genre of the short story from "The New Short Story Theories." (Lydia G. Fash, Doctoral Student, English and American Literature)

Six More Contemporary North American Short Stories (S115)

This study guide considers six very different stories from "The Scribner's Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American Stories," edited by Rosellen Brown, and asks you to think about what makes these stories original, interesting and worth reading. Stories include: "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid; "Pet Milk" by Stuart Dybeck; "Errand" by Raymond Carver; "Meneseteung" by Alice Munro; "Emergency" by Denis Johnson; and "The Shawl" by Cynthia Ozick. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

Six Soviet Prose Writers (S46)

Points of view on Soviet life and society: "Collected Stories" (Isaac Babel); "The Master and Margarita" (Mikhail Bulgakov); "Envy and Other Stories" (Yuri Olesha); "Doctor Zhivago" (Boris Pasternak); "The First Circle" (Alexander Solzhenitsyn); and "We" (Evgenij Zamyatin). (Robert Szulkin, Slavic Languages)

Studies in Literary Modernism (S102A)

An exploration of the concept of the "modern" as it informs seminal poems, novels and plays of the early 20th century: Wallace Stevens' "Of Modern Poetry"; T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"; James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"; and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot." Professor Paul Morrison views the formal radicalism of literary modernism as the relentless experimentations with style and genre characteristic of these authors as an attempt to come to terms with the brutal realities of 20th-century experience. (Paul Morrison, English and American Literature)

The 20th-Century Novel (S105)

This introduction to six works of 20th-century fiction considers how the human spirit deals with the breakdown of civilization and its promises. The writers meditate on the problem of the moral and aesthetic place of art and literature in a world where all the old certainties have been destroyed. (William Flesch, English and American Literature)

The Victorian Heroine (SG1)

Many Victorian novels bear the names of their heroines; most follow the movement of a female protagonist toward marriage or death. This study guide is designed as an exploration of five Victorian novels — Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"; Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre"; Mary Elizabeth Braddon's "Lady Audley's Secret"; Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles"; and George Gissing's "Odd Women" — and of how their heroines negotiate their journeys through the text. (Helena Michie, English)

Violence in Literature: American Style (S110)

What is it about American culture, society, history, demographics, geography and civilization that makes violence so much a part of the fabric of American life? Several faculty members contributed to this syllabus and present a common theme discussing issues of class, race, gender and conquest. Readings include "The Handmaid's Tale" (Margaret Atwood); "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang" (Jack London); "The Big Knockover" and "$106,000 Blood Money" (Dashiell Hammett); and "Benito Cereno" (Herman Melville). (Caren Irr, Patrica Chu, William Flesch and Michael T. Gilmore, English)

What's in a Name? A Study of Genesis (B35)

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." In this study guide, the book of Genesis provides the focal point in a wide-ranging discussion of the literary, social and political implications of names and naming. (Paul Morrison, English and American Literature)

Art Isn't Easy: Sondheim on Sondheim in "Sunday in the Park With George" (B12)

A fascinating look of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park With George" from four critical perspectives: the relationships between art and the audience, art and the critics, art and the artist, and art and life. (John Bush Jones, Theater Arts)

Fiddlers on the Roof (S68)

A discussion of six major American plays and musicals by Jewish authors: "Awake and Sing" by Clifford Odets; "The Tenth Man" by Paddy Chayefsky; "Fiddler on the Roof"  Jerry Bock (music), Sheldon Harnick (lyrics) and Joseph Stein (book); "Cabaret" by John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics) and Joe Masteroff (book); "The Price" by Arthur Miller; and "Table Settings" by James Lapine. (John Bush Jones, Theater Arts)

High Flying Adored: Hero and Hero Worship in the Musicals of Rice and Webber (B52)

The theme of hero and hero worshippers are examined in three collaborations of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber: "Evita," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." (John Bush Jones, Theater Arts)

You Are What You Are: Jewish Identity in Recent American Drama (S100)

This work explores questions of Jewish identity in the following plays by Jewish-American dramatists: "Biloxi Blues" by Neil Simon; "Growing Up Jewish" trilogy" by Israel Horovitz; "Driving Miss Daisy" by Alfred Uhry; "A Shayna Maidel" by Barbara Lebow; "Conversations With My Father" by Herb Gardner; and "The Sisters Rosenzweig" by Wendy Wasserstein. A brief introduction with biographical notes on the playwright and a list of study questions is included for each play. (John Bush Jones, Theater Arts)

The Fear of Poetry (and How to Overcome It) (S101)

Overcome your fear of poetry and begin a love affair. A step-by-step walk through tone, metaphor and symbol, sound and sense, sight and sense, and intertextuality for the most poetry phobic. (Paul Morrison, English and American Literature)

Flattery and Contempt: The Presentation of Women in Poetry (BR38)

This brieflet explores the paradox that the flattering of women in poetry is the sincerest form of contempt. Through a close reading of a Shakespeare sonnet, Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" and Edna St. Vincent Millay's "I Dreamed I Moved Among the Elysian Fields," Professor Paul Morrison attempts to substantiate this contention. (Paul Morrison, English and American Literature)

Poetry for People Who Have Given Up on Poetry

We'll consider the basics of poetry: rhyme, meter, line, stanza, form, imagery and tone. But just to give you a sense of how we'll consider those things, we'll spend a lot of time on songs, limericks and ballads (think Rudyard Kipling), as well as more serious but always memorable pieces. Who knows? You just might want to start attending poetry readings again. Or giving them! Most readings will be keyed to "Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Robert Frost," with some supplemental material either reprinted in the guide or available on the web. (William Flesch, English)

American Culture in the 1960s (BR41)

From the election of JFK to Nixon and Kent State, this brieflet and its readings clarify where America has been and helps us to understand where it's going. (Thomas Doherty, Film Studies)

American Film and Culture of the 1940s (SG7)

Thomas Doherty provides a new look at the culture of the 1940s through the "history of film" and "film as history." An extensive list of films, which are readily available on videotape, is provided, along with thought-provoking questions to stimulate and guide discussion. (Thomas Doherty, Film Studies)

Blacklisting and Other Un-American Activities: Movies, Television and the Cold War (B50)

Did you know that the McCarthy hearings had nothing to do with the entertainment industry? That Edward G. Robinson wrote an article for American Legion magazine titled "How the Reds Made a Sucker Out of Me"? And that commercial television was particularly slow about asserting its independence from the anticommunist influences, blacklisting folk singer Pete Seeger until 1967? This brieflet opens up this time in history for study of some of the myths surrounding anticommunism in the entertainment industry. (Thomas Doherty, Film Studies)

Popular Culture of the 1950s (S1)

The syllabus is an eight-session look at America’s yearning for stability and security in the 1950s and the fear of subversion and radicalism that can be noticed in the novels and movies of this decade. For history buffs, this is a wonderful way to view the years from World War II to John F. Kennedy. (Stephen J. Whitfield, Max Richter Professor of American Civilization)

War and the American Imagination (S112)

War is about combat. Combat is the heart of war. It is what young boys glamorize, old men remember, poets celebrate, governments rally around, women cry about and soldiers die in. The three wars covered in this syllabus — the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War — generate real and imagined stories. Our own perspective on each war is shaped by these stories. You will learn about the differences in these wars and understand the similarities of the conflicts through literature and film. (Susan Moeller, Journalism)

Fathers and Daughters: Toward King Lear and Beyond (S104)

A continuation of "Fathers and Sons: Toward Hamlet," this syllabus can also be used independently. As Shakespeare aged, he became more and more concerned with thinking about people whose experiences were different from his own. Every father has been a son, and so has some sense of what it's like to be a son. But no father has been a daughter, and Shakespeare comes to realize how long it has taken him to think his way through to respecting and accepting daughters, and women in general. "Fathers and Daughters" touches upon all the genres in which Shakespeare wrote over the course of his career, concentrating on the plays, including tragedy, history, comedy and romance. (William Flesch, English and American Literature) 

Fathers and Sons: Toward Hamlet (S103)

"Fathers and Sons" is an introduction to a number of grand Shakespearean themes: political, social and familial tension; the intensification or resolution of these tensions over time; the way in which people come to know themselves and take their place in the world; the obstacles they find; and the help they receive. Thus, Shakespeare's themes are those of human life in general. We examine these issues not only for what Shakespeare has to say about them, but also for what they have to say about Shakespeare. What were his beliefs, hopes and fears? How close were they to our own? This syllabus touches on all the genres in which Shakespeare wrote over the course of his career, concentrating on the plays, including tragedy, history, comedy and romance. (William Flesch, English and American Literature) 

Is 'The Merchant of Venice' Anti-Semitic? (B13)

As it strives to answer its title question, this guide engages the reader in a careful and critical analysis of Shakespeare's text. Special attention is focused on the contrast between the portrayals of the characters of Portia, the Christian, and Shylock, the Jew, as the guide explains how these depictions did, in fact, reflect the prejudices of Shakespeare and his times. (William Flesch, English and American Literature) 

American Women in the 1950s: Exaggerated Contradictions (B44)

This study guide examines the paradoxical nature of women's lives in the 1950s by assembling evidence of the so-called return to domesticity apparent in demographic trends, the suburban exodus, fashion, media and educational indices, while providing documentation of the very real gains women were making in employment, politics, civil rights, arts and culture. Includes excerpts from "The Bell Jar," "Marjorie Morningstar," "I Stand Here Ironing" and the notorious "Modern Woman: The Lost Sex," plus media myths and your experiences. (Joyce Antler, Samuel B. Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture)

Double or Nothing: Jewish Families and Mixed Marriage (HBI1)

Will the blessings of American openness cause a distinctive, historically authentic Jewish culture to be virtually loved out of existence in the 21st century? What is the impact of mixed marriages on Jews and Judaism? Through interviews with over 250 mixed-faith couples, this study guide sets the stage for interesting discussions. (Sylvia Barack Fishman, Contemporary Jewry and American Jewish Sociology)

Finding Common Ground: Jewish Women in a World of Difference (SG4)

"Finding Common Ground: Jewish Women in a World of Difference" is the second part of a study guide to Antler's collection "America and I: Short Stories by American Jewish Women Writers." The guide focuses on the theme of difference in four stories from the book: Anzia Yezierska's title story, "America and I"; Gloria Goldreich's "Z'mira"; Joanne Greenberg's "L'Olam and White Shell Woman"; and Leslea Newman's "A Letter to Harvey Milk." In each of these stories, a Jewish protagonist learns a powerful lesson about the meaning of Jewish identity by reaching out to others and attempting to understand difference. (Joyce Antler, Samuel B. Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture)

Jewish Women Shape Modern America: A Study Guide to 'The Journey Home: Jewish Women and the American Century' (B51)

This brieflet is a companion to Part I of Antler's book "The Journey Home: Jewish Women and the American Century," a compelling portrait of thoroughly modern women who believed that by improving American society they were achieving Judaism's highest goal—making the world a better place to live. (Joyce Antler, Samuel B. Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture)

Leaving Leningrad (HBI7)

A widely published writer, Shtern is a resident scholar at Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center. "Leaving Leningrad" is a nostalgic and humorous memoir of life under communism and capitalism. An exceptional storyteller, Shtern chooses perfect anecdotes that connect readers to Tatyana's character and growth while providing rich social background and commentary on both Soviet and American life. Get an almost cinematic glimpse of 1960s Leningrad and delight in Shtern's outrageous, intelligent wit in stories that illuminate the increasingly common experience of resettling across borders. Study guide available. (Ludmilla Shtern, partnership with Hadassah-Brandeis Institute)

Muslim Societies Speak (HBI3)

Jewish women from Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon and Iran share their personal stories of growing up in the shadow of religious fundamentalism and social repression. These essays, told through the medium of vivid personal stories, provide a deeper understanding of the world and an appreciation for Jewish women's history in North Africa and the Middle East. (Partnership with Hadassah-Brandeis Institute)

Our Grandmothers, Ourselves: Were Yiddish Writers the First Jewish Feminists? (B39)

This brieflet deals with the first chapter of Fishman's book "Follow My Footprints: Changing Images of Women in American Jewish Fiction." Were Yiddish writers the first Jewish feminists? You'll find out in "Our Grandmothers, Ourselves" and the many stories that follow. (Sylvia Barack Fishman, Contemporary Jewry and American Jewish Sociology)

The Plough Women (HBI6)

"The Plough Women" reveals a fascinating chapter in the history of pioneer Palestine. First published in 1932—and long out of print—this new edition casts light on the complex arena of Palestine and Zionism as well as the intersection between the early-Jewish nationalist movement and radical feminists at the turn of the 10th and 20th centuries. This fully-annotated edition includes biographies of the book's original contributors, photographs, glossary of terms and a map of pre-state Israeli society. The editors' new introductory essays establish the literary and historical context for these narratives, discuss women in Zionist history and focus on the work and family issues vexing these early pioneers. Study guide and questions for discussion available. (Edited by Mark Raider and Miriam B. Raider-Roth; partnership with Hadassah-Brandeis Institute)

Portrayals of Women in American Jewish Literature (S76)

This course focuses on women from the immigrant days of the early 20th century to contemporary America, where feminism, a tightened economy and expanded roles for women reflect changes in the concept of the "ideal Jewish woman." Works to be studied include: "The Open Cage" (Anzia Yezierska); "Tell Me a Riddle" (Tillie Olsen); "Marjorie Morningstar" (Herman Wouk); "Goodbye, Columbus" (Philip Roth); "The Mind-Body Problem" (Rebecca Goldstein); and "The Cannibal Galaxy" (Cynthia Ozick). (Sylvia Barack Fishman, Contemporary Jewry and American Jewish Sociology)

Princess or Prisoner? Jewish Women in Jerusalem (HBI4)

This is a fascinating journey into the world of women in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community of Jerusalem toward the end of Ottoman rule in the Holy Land. Until now, the story of life in the land of Israel in this period has been told exclusively from the male viewpoint—a story of religious observance and fulfillment confined to the male world of Torah study and prayer. (Mix and match with "Purple Lawns" in 'Deis Flicks). (Margalit Shilo, partnership with Hadassah-Brandeis Institute)

Uncertain Travelers (HBI5)

"Uncertain Travelers" is a book of conversations between the author, Dr. Margorie Agosin, and 11 "travelers" who have emigrated from Europe and Latin America. They are intimate conversations, deep and personal, between friends who have shared the life-changing experience of immigrating. The reader perches on their shoulders, listening and absorbing. (Margorie Agosin, partnership with Hadassah-Brandeis Institute)

Wedding Song: Memoirs of an Iranian Jewish Woman (HBI2)

Farideh Goldin was born to her 15-year-old mother in 1953 in a Jewish community living in an increasingly hostile Islamic state: pre-Revolutionary Iran. "Wedding Song" is Goldin's passionate and painful account of growing up in a poor Jewish household and her emigration to the United States in 1975. (Farideh Goldin)

Women in the Bible (B36)

A study of the women of Genesis, Song of Songs, Ruth and Esther, seen from different outlooks, including anthropological, sociological, literary and gender studies. (Marc Brettler, Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies) 

Women's Stories, Jewish Lives (SG2)

This guide is designed for use with Antler's edited collection "America and I: Short Stories by American-Jewish Women Writers." The guide discusses four short stories by the authors Mary Antin, Fannie Hurst, Hortense Calisher and Lynne Sharon Schwartz. Each of the stories deals with the interrelated themes of Jewish identity and generational conflict, and each pairs a parent and child who, as the story unfolds, come to present differing views about Judaism and Jewishness; it is told, in every case, from a woman's special point of view. (Joyce Antler, Samuel B. Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture)

You Never Call, You Never Write: A History of the Jewish Mother (S118)

Antler examines one of the best known figures in popular culture — the Jewish mother — through decades of American films, novels, radio and television programs, stand-up comedy acts, and psychological and historical studies. (Joyce Antler, Samuel B. Lane Professor of American Jewish History and Culture)