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. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Hannah Arendt is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and thought-provoking thinkers of the 20th century. However, she is also a controversial figure for various reasons. This course will delve into two crucial periods of Arendt’s life and work: her most renowned work, “The Origins of Totalitarianism”, and her time as a New Yorker journalist covering the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem.

We will explore her main ideas and writings that have made her an intriguing intellectual and philosopher, as well as the reasons behind the criticisms she faced, including the notorious false allegation that she blamed the Jews for the Holocaust.

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 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

Course material is included in the cost for this course. 

About the teacher

Lior Becker, PhD, is a modern historian, teacher, and interdisciplinary scholar. His areas of expertise are Holocaust history, historiography and memory, 19th and 20th-century intellectual history, genocide studies, and Eastern-European Jewish history and culture. He has long experience teaching teens and adults in both Sweden and Israel. 

Photo: Hannah Arendt (1906-1975), AP/TT taken from sverigesradio.se.

Frequently asked questions

During this course, you will learn to play and sing Jewish songs from different traditions: Ashkenazi music (from Eastern Europe), Sephardi music (from Spain and North Africa), Israeli folk songs, and nigunim, (songs without words).

Our starting point is based on the talents you already have: maybe you play an instrument and want to learn even more, or you like to sing. Any level of instrumentalist and singer is welcome! We will work with music sheets and recordings.

 

Course structure

The course takes place on various days of the week throughout the semester.

  • 2 meet-ups at the school on Wednesday evenings (29/1 and 5/2).
  • 1 meet-up at the school on a Monday evening (3/2).
  • 3 meet-ups at the school (in March and May/June, exact days of the week and time to be set during the course).

More information about the course structure will be sent in the admission letter if you are offered a place on the course.

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. The course welcomes both former and new participants.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course. Participants bring their own instruments.

About the teacher

Ayala Gottlieb Alter is a Cantorial student, singer, and cellist from London, currently serving in the role of Cantor at Stora Synagogan i Stockholm. An accomplished concert artist and function musician, she holds a BA in Music from the University of Bristol. She began studying with Israeli operatic soprano Chen Reiss in 2022, and is working towards the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy’s Baal T’filla Diploma. You can hear her on Masorti Judaism UK’s Shema Koleinu project: http://masortiprayer.org.uk/. Her website: AyalaGottliebAlter.com.

Photo: Canva/AI. 

Frequently Asked Questions

This course explores the evolution, stereotypes, and pluralism of Jewish identity in 20th and 21st-century American and European popular cinema. We will examine how Judaism is represented in these films and how this representation has shaped a sense of American and European Jewish identity.

The questions guiding our analysis include: What does it mean to be Jewish? Is Judaism a religious, ethnic, and/or cultural identity? How are gender and sexuality related to Jewish identity, and how do these aspects shift or become subverted over the decades? How do Jews navigate their dual Jewish and national identities? What is the relationship between Jews and other minority groups? What are the ethics and anxieties surrounding assimilation, particularly in relation to intermarriage or ethnically/religiously mixed romantic relationships? How are American Jewish identities depicted differently from European Jewish identities in these films?

The American film material will consist of, but not be limited to, early Hollywood classics addressing the complexities of Jewish identity, such asThe Jazz Singer(1927), “Gentleman’s Agreement(1948), and more. It is hard to overstate the role of Woody Allen and Mel Brooks in questioning and constructing Jewish identity for both American and global audiences. Therefore, we will dedicate extra time to their works from the 1970s and ’80s. Allen’s and Brooks’ films will be supplemented by a look at other essential Jewish films of the era. Moving into the 1980s and ’90s, we will study “The Chosen (1981) and Jewish romantic comedies. The American section of the course will conclude with a look at films by the Coen Brothers, as well as by Spike Lee. Some films will be shown in full, while others will be excerpted. 

We will then turn our attention to Europe, where we will analyze a selection of films that explore the nature of European Jewish identity, including films by Jean Renoir, Aleksandr Askoldov, Hugh Hudson, Mike Leigh, István Szabó, Karin Albou, Elie Wajeman, Pawel Pawlikowski, and Nadav Lapid. We will explore how these European films reframe the question of Jewish identity in the diaspora and examine their continuity and divergence from their American counterparts. Finally, we will discuss not only the identities of the characters in these films but also the identities of the films themselves. Can we read these works as Jewish films, and if so, in what way?

 

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. 

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Zoe Kelly-Nacht holds a Ph.D. in religious thought from Boston University, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University. She specializes in the intersections of religion, literature, and film. Her dissertation, Nathaniel Dorsky: Religion, Buddhism, and Film, examines the life, films, and manuscript “Devotional Cinema” of American Jewish Buddhist experimental filmmaker Nathaniel Dorsky. 

Zoe grew up in New York City and, before moving to Sweden, taught religious studies courses at Hunter College, City University of New York, and Marymount Manhattan College. She now lives in Stockholm with her partner and two young children.

Photo: Canva.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if you could talk to Moses and ask him about his view of the ten commandmentsor discuss with Abraham how he feels about the binding of Isaac? Would you like to recreate a story from Jewish history or texts with photorealistic images? Can we apply key philosophical and ethical questions from the Jewish heritage to the dilemmas of using artificial intelligence?

This course will explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Jewish texts, stories, and culture. Using AI tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E 3, Midjourney and Suno, among other tools, participants will gain hands-on experience while applying modern technology to traditional Jewish narratives and ethical discussions. The course will provide a creative and reflective journey into how AI can reshape our engagement with Jewish heritage, providing new lenses for storytelling, ethical inquiry, and cultural exploration.

With the help of AI we will recreate stories and characters from Jewish scripture and history, engage in interactive debate with those texts and personas, and find ways for a contemporary interpretation and creative expression of Jewish concepts and tradition with the help of this technology.

We will also get to learn about, and probably experience, some of the challenges and risks of using AI (such as bias or hallucinations, or limited controllability), and will acquire methods and tools to use this technology responsibly.

The aims of the course are to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of generative AI and its applications.
  • Recreate and reinterpret Jewish and biblical stories using AI tools.
  • Explore the ethical dimensions of AI through the lens of Jewish philosophy and perspective.
  • Create new educational and cultural experiences by blending AI capabilities with Jewish heritage.

 

Course structure

The following methods will be used:

  • Lecture: Introduction to concepts and tools.
  • Chevruta (paired study): Participants will work in pairs/small groups to explore texts and discuss interpretations with AI assistance.
  • Hands-on Practice: Using AI tools to create art, text, and music.
  • Group Discussions: Reflective conversations on ethical, cultural, and philosophical topics.
  • Showcase: Participants will present their work to the group for feedback and reflection.

Prior knowledge

All curious about AI and Jewish culture are welcome!

No technical experience or previous experience with generative AI is needed. Just a curiosity to explore and try new things. However, it is expected that you have basic skills in using the web and online tools. An interest in storytelling, creativity and cultural heritage is encouraged.

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course. Participants need to bring their own laptop/tablet and create free accounts on the AI tools we will use (e.g. ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney) on their own device. It is optional to subscribe to the premium version of some tools for enhanced features, if desired.

About the teacher

Amir Elion was born and raised in Israel and moved to Stockholm in 2020. He is an experienced innovation and digital transformation consultant with over 25 years of expertise in applying creative methodologies, including generative AI, to cultural and educational projects. He worked at global companies, including Amazon, Motorola, and Teva, as well as startups and non-profits. He also worked and led unique education programs in Israel – including teaching elementary school children various skills through board games, helping youths succeed in final exams, and using virtual and augmented reality in education. He specializes in integrating AI for a variety of use cases, including learning and development, product development, storytelling, and more.

Photo: AI / Amir Elion. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Tribe” on ”Prime Time”: Jewish Representation in Popular Television Shows

 

This course explores the portrayal of Jewish identity and culture in some of the most popular TV shows of the past few decades. Each session focuses on a different show, analyzing how Jewish characters and themes are presented and their impact on broader cultural perceptions. Shows include Seinfeld, Friends, Transparent, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Schitt’s Creek, Sex and the City, The Simpsons, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The X-Files. Through clips, discussions, and readings, we will explore themes such as Jewish humor, family dynamics, identity, and faith, as well as the intersection of Jewish representation with other identities. This course is ideal for TV lovers, pop culture enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the evolution of Jewish representation in mainstream media.

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

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Stav Meishar is an award-winning queer performance maker, multidisciplinary stage artist, academic researcher, and educator. Their work explores the intersection of history and current affairs using tools from the worlds of theater, circus, and contemporary performance. Stav majored in Musical Theater with double minors in Jewish Culture and Gender Studies.  

Photo: Collage by Stav Meishar. 

Frequently asked questions

In this course we examine the meaning of Jewish prayer. The aim is to give participants knowledge, tools and increased understanding in order to find their own way to relate to Jewish prayer. We will together examine topics like Beracha (blessing), Kavanah (intention), and Amida (the standing silent prayer). The prayer system is designed to express and develop a relationship with the Divine. We will explore the meaning of this relationship and examine how we can put some of what we have learned into practice and as well as set some goals to achieve.

 

Prior knowledge

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. 

Course material

Course material is included in the cost for this course.

About the teacher

Eiran Davies is a rabbi with roots in London, England. He has studied at Montefiori endowment in London, Midrash sepharadi in Jerusalem and Yeshivat hamivtar in Efrat. He is also an artist, beekeeper and trained goldsmith. 

Photo: Canva.

Frequently Asked Questions