01:098:255 Heroism

Are heroes and heroines born or made? What makes ordinary people do extraordinary things? What defines a hero or heroine? Are heroes and heroines defined differently? What role do cultural and historical contexts play in these definitions? How do fictional heroes and heroines compare with historical ones? What turns rebels, agitators, iconoclasts, or even fools into heroes? Considering the Greek etymological origin of the word “hero,” hērōs (literally “protector”), what and who do we see heroes and heroines defending?

This course offers a global and comparative examination of different conceptions of heroism across cultures, time, and gender. Since the beginning of written records, heroic acts and gestures have had an enduring appeal. Shrines and monuments, epics and songs, paintings and films have been dedicated to extoling heroic figures—real, idealized or legendary. What can a culture’s heroes or heroines tell us about its values, expectations, and ideals? What motivates one to go beyond the individual and ordinary to sacrifice for a community, country or humanity? We will explore the cultural conditioning, ethical reasoning, and moral compass behind some of the greatest heroes and heroines in history and literature, from Greek epic heroes to Chinese assassin-retainers, women warriors to samurais, Shakespearean tragic heroes to contestants in the real life Game of Thrones in medieval Europe, civil rights leaders to women’s rights crusaders, and comic superheroes to modern day heroes. By examining heroism from a historicizing, multicultural, and gendered perspective, students can with greater knowledge and power view their choices and determine their actions as global citizens in the 21st century.

Students will explore different examples of heroism and are encouraged to think critically about the past and how that past is mediated through contemporary culture in the forms of Hollywood and international movies, documentaries, and video games. The lectures, recitations sessions, and writing assignments are designed to enable students to connect the past and today in a broadly based examination of heroic action. The six response papers offer students the opportunity to contemplate relevant issues raised by historical or literary cases for today’s society and analyze heroic figures or actions from the past in relationship to their modern or contemporary interpretation or adaptation. In the final paper, students will critically analyze an aspect of heroism in relation to its historical, cultural or gendered contexts.

“Heroism” fulfills the SAS Contemporary Challenges (CC) requirement: Analyze a contemporary global issue from a multidisciplinary perspective (CCO-1); and the SAS Arts and Humanities (AH) requirement: Analyze arts and/or literatures in themselves and in relation to specific histories, values, languages, cultures, and technologies (AHp).

Attending the lectures is expected. During lectures, students will learn historical contexts, background information, and interpretive frameworks that are necessary for critically understanding the assigned texts and films. Assigned film clips will be shown and discussed during lectures. Key discussion questions, which may serve as writing prompts for the Response Papers, are introduced in lectures. After viewing the film clips, students will have the opportunity to discuss the film in relation to the assigned text(s) with their peers in small group discussion. At the end of each lecture, time permitting, students will be asked to participate in a non-graded “quiz” on CANVAS for extra credit, in the form of either a multiple choice or a 1-2 sentence, short-answer question. Please be sure to bring your laptop or electronic device that will enable you to access CANVAS during the lectures.

Students with strong participation (demonstrated by completing the non-graded “quiz” at the end of lecture) will earn bonus points on their final paper grade (enough to elevate the grade by one level; for example, from B to A, or C to B).

*Religious holidays will not be counted as absences; in such cases, please let your instructor know that you will not be attending class.
**To report other absences, please use the Rutgers online system at https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ and contact your instructor with a fuller explanation of the absence.
***Generally, documented illness, intercollegiate athletic events, and court appearances may be excused.

There are to be six response papers uploaded onto CANVAS Assignments by 8:00 am before the Recitation Sessions. Each response paper is worth 10%. For each response paper, students may write about materials covered in class up through the lecture prior to the Recitation Session. The analytical response should consist of close analysis of the assigned texts and selected film clips, with the citation of textual support and reference to film scenes or documentaries to support your main points. These response papers should include your own ideas and questions that arise during your reading of the works. Writing prompts will be provided in lectures, though students may choose to write about other issues raised by the assigned texts and films. Students must demonstrate that they have read the texts carefully and thoughtfully and that they are able to connect it with contemporary issues as raised by recent interpretations or adaptations in popular culture (film, interview, video game, etc.). Therefore, your response paper must discuss the film, interview, or video game in relation to the text(s). Each reflection should be titled, approximately but not exceeding 400 words, using a 12 point font.

There will be recitation sessions, during which students have the opportunity to exchange their ideas from the weekly responses, discuss in greater depth the assigned works and the issues raised by them. Students will also have the opportunity to give an oral presentation during the course of the semester. During each Recitation Session, 3 to 4 students will each present on the assigned texts and films; the oral presentations may elaborate on issues raised in the course lectures and may also express the students’ own interpretation of the works. The oral presentations may answer the writing prompts/discussion questions provided in the lectures and may also address larger issues or make comparisons with other course readings. Everyone is required to come prepared for discussion whether or not s/he is presenting that week.

Students will need to come to class having read and pondered the assigned texts. Participation does not mean just attendance; rather it requires active engagement in group discussion. Students are strongly encouraged to speak at least once during each recitation to demonstrate their engagement. Students may pose questions, express an interpretation or point of view, and/or respond to their classmates.

Clear presentation of interpretations, ideas or questions raised by the assigned works. These 10-minute presentations should be well organized and thought provoking.

Paper should be titled, approximately though not exceeding 1000 words, using a 12 point font. Discuss your understanding of heroism by drawing from the course lectures, assigned readings and film clips, comparing or contrasting different examples, and constructing an argument using support from assigned works. Focusing on an aspect of heroism, your paper should analyze the issues through a careful interpretation of the texts and/or films. A list of thematic aspects and suggested questions to explore will be provided in advance. Students must retain a copy of each paper. Written work for this course must be entirely your own and careful citation of credible sources should conform with a style manual of your choice. For example, APA (American Psychological Association) is used by students in Education, Psychology, and Sciences; MLA (Modern Language Association) and the CMS (Chicago Manual of Style) are used by students in the humanities. Please use consistently the style manual of your choice. Submission of all written work (in Word or PDF) must be made through CANVAS, under Assignments.

Students are expected to turn in written work on time. Late submissions, unless accompanied by a note from a doctor or dean, will be subject to the following penalty: for each day that the work is late, 1/3 of a letter grade for the assignment will be deducted. If the paper is one day late, an A- becomes a B+. If the paper is three days late, a B becomes a C.