Humor and Irony in 20th and 21st Century Jewish Narratives
This course samples from narratives by Jewish authors employing humor and irony in their representation of various Jewish identities through the 20th and 21st centuries. After a short introduction on basic theories of irony and humor, students will read stories and watch films addressing essential issues of Jewish life in the period.
All texts will be in English, either originally, or in translation. Discussions will explore themes frequently represented with humor and irony as well as the diverse rhetorical devices with which the authors achieve such effects. Students completing this course will have an overview of the relevant theories and they will be able to identify and analyze in depth humor and irony in numerous media and on multiple levels.
The course is given in collaboration with Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden.
Prior knowledge
No prior knowledge about the subject is needed.
To apply for this course, you need basic computer skills and knowledge of how to use the digital platform Zoom. The school offers Zoom manuals and a training opportunity before the start of the course.
Course material
Extra costs for literature, that you purchase yourself, may be applicable for this course. You will receive more information in your admission letter, if you’re accepted to the course.
About the teacher
Katalin Szlukovényi is a senior lecturer at the Department of English Studies, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. She was a Bruno Schulz Fellow at Paideia (2015-2016). The Hungarian book version of her PhD dissertation in English (Irony, Self-irony, and Humor in 20th Century Jewish American Literature) was published in 2018. Apart from her academic career, she also works as an award-winning poet, literary translator, and editor.
Photo: Canva.