REL 322.001

Tales from Asia: Told and Retold in Film and PopularCulture

W | 3:30-5:50

MA 210

View Online Syllabus

Core Writing course analyzes retellings of ancient tales within contemporary popular culture, investigating versions of two specific stories, the Ramayana and Journey to the West, to address issues surrounding myths and cultural identity and the ways people adapt stories for various ideological purposes, including the politics of translation, adaptation, and classification.  W

 

Welcome to REL 322 Tales From Asia. I look forward to working with you throughout the Fall semester.

Because of the current circumstances in Alabama and across the globe, this semester will proceed in a different fashion. Anyone who has concerns about their own health or the health of those whom they are around will be able to complete the semester successfully in a remote fashion. Moreover, with the current rates of COVID-19 in Alabama and the social distancing requirements in place, meeting in the classroom will not provide the best learning experience. As it stands, only 1/3 of the enrolled students can be present at any one time, based on university guidelines for the assigned classroom. The learning experience will be enhanced by having everyone online and thus better able to hear and interact with each other. We will adjust as the semester continues based on assessments of both risk and learning opportunities.

The typical class session will involve a brief writing assignment to start each class. A video conference session will begin about 3:45 each Wednesday (after everyone has completed the writing assignment) and will continue for most of the class session, and we typically will conclude with either a video or reading section to discuss collaboratively online. More details to come. I anticipate posting the syllabus soon.

Steven Ramey

  • Office hours: 

    Tuesday, 11-12 noon PRH 211 and by appointment.

    Email for an in-person appointment or a Zoom meeting if another time is needed.

  • (205) 348-5271
  • steven.ramey@ua.edu
TV series poster Sagar's Ramayaan

Readings

Cover of The Ramayana

 

Narayan, R. K.
The Ramayana
Penguin, 1972
978-0-14-303967-9

Cover of The Monkey and the Monk

Yu, Anthony C
The Monkey and the Monk
University of Chicago 2006
978-0226971568

Cover of American Born Chinese graphic novel

Yang, Gene Luen
American Born Chinese
Square Fish, 2008
978-0312384487

Books are available at the SUPe Store and online through vendors such as amazon.com.

Online Readings

Blackboard Other texts will be available through the Blackboard course site.