UBC Okanagan

Course Descriptions

World Literature, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies

WRLD: World Literature

WRLD 100 (3) A World History of Horror

Introduction to the idea of horror across historical times, geographic regions, and genres, with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary methodologies and theories of World Literature. [3-0-0]

WRLD 150 (3) Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Current intercultural communication theories and their critiques. Key concepts are applied to popular culture texts from around the world, providing a context for practice with a variety of intercultural communication skills, development tools, and self-reflective writing techniques.

WRLD 151 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Mandarin Chinese

Basic introduction to modern spoken Mandarin Chinese, and key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts from the cultures where Mandarin Chinese is spoken. Not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 152 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Korean

Basic introduction to modern spoken Korean, and key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts from the cultures where Korean is spoken. Not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 153 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: French in Canada

Basic introduction to French spoken in Canada, and key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts from the cultures where French is spoken. Not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 154 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Farsi (Iranian)

Basic introduction to modern spoken Iranian Farsi, and key Iranian intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts. Not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 155 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Maya

Basic introduction to modern spoken Yucatec Maya, and key Indigenous intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts. Not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 156 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Punjabi

Basic introduction to modern spoken Punjabi, and key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts from the cultures where Punjabi is spoken. For beginners; not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 157 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Arabic

Basic introduction to modern spoken Arabic, and key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts from the cultures where Arabic is spoken. For beginners; not available for students with a CEFR level (or equivalent) of A1 or higher.

WRLD 158 (3) Introduction to Language and Culture: Modern Japanese

Introduction to key intercultural and sociolinguistic concepts that affect social interaction in a Japanese-speaking environment, using basic spoken Japanese.

WRLD 200 (3) Introduction to World Literatures

A thematically organized introduction to world literatures, interconnecting a range of cultures and historical periods. Texts will be studied in English translations. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: 3 credits of first year English

WRLD 240 (3) World Sacred Scriptures: The Hebrew Bible

Survey of the Hebrew Bible as a literary text, with special consideration of influence across cultures and historical contexts.
Prerequisite: 3 credits of first year English.

WRLD 304 (3) World Theatre and Cultural Performance

Explorations of world theatre and cultural performance traditions and practices from South, Southeast and East Asia; Oceania; Sub-Saharan Africa; the Middle East; and the Americas; includes Indigenous theatre. Credit will be granted for only one of THTR 304 or WRLD 304.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
Equivalency: THTR 304.

WRLD 310 (3) Mythologies in Motion

Literary study of a selection of transcultural myths and their influence across time. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 313 (3/6) d Dramatic Literature in Performance

Explores the performance of dramatic literature through a combination of interactive lectures and acting/directing training for a selected dramatic repertoire. Rehearsals outside class time required. Culminates in a public presentation. With different topics, the course can be taken more than once for credit. Credit will be granted for no more than a total of 6-credits of THTR 313 and WRLD 313.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
Equivalency: THTR 313.

WRLD 330 (3) War in Literature

An intercultural exploration of the literary representation of war in various textual forms.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 331 (3) 'Best' International Feature Films

An intercultural exploration of films that have been included in the American Academy Award for Best International Feature Film Category
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 332 (3) Nobel Prize Literature

An intercultural and interdisciplinary exploration of literary texts by authors who have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 340 (3) Tales of Resistance: Indigenous Voices in Central America

Indigenous literature (including oral traditions, myths, legends, stories, songs testimonial narratives) from Indigenous nations in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. Students may be evaluated in Spanish with instructor's permission. Available for credit towards a Minor in Spanish only for students evaluated in Spanish.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 351 (3) Mediterranean World in Cinema and Literature

Changing depictions of the ancient Mediterranean world in media, such as novels, plays, paintings, movies, and television series. Credit will not be granted for both WRLD 351 and WRLD 399f.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 353 (3) Ancient Mediterranean Science and Technology

Significant contributions to science and technology made by civilizations of the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Development of critical thinking skills through analysis of ancient texts, artefacts, and monuments in their social and historical context. Credit will be granted for only one of WRLD 353, WRLD 399h or HIST 353.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 354 (3) Greek and Latin Scientific Terminology

Study of vocabulary of technical terms derived from Greek and Latin terminology in scientific disciplines.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 360 (3) Literature and Power

Explores the intersections of literature and power, featuring poems, short stories, and novels from nations as geographically, politically, and ethnically diverse as Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Italy, and Great Britain. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 370 (3) Story and Image Across the Islamic World

Selections from the arts of the book across the Islamic world (8th to 19th C) showing how literature inspired painters and calligraphers to weave together word and image. Digital art historical approaches will normally be used, though no computing experience is required. Credit will be granted for only one of ARTH 370, DIHU 370, or WRLD 370.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
Equivalency: ARTH 370, DIHU 370.

WRLD 375 (3) Encountering India: The Age of the Mughals

An examination of interrelated arts, visual cultures and texts in South Asia (15th to 19th C) within their historical and cultural contexts. Topics include the rise of the multicultural Mughal Empire, the roles of Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism, and encounters with Renaissance and Colonial Europe. Digital art historical approaches will normally be used, though no computing experience is required. Credit will be granted for only one of ARTH 375, DIHU 375, or WRLD 375.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
Equivalency: ARTH 375, DIHU 375.

WRLD 382 (3) Cross-cultural Travel Narratives

Experiential learning course combining introduction to intercultural communication theory and the literary study of cross-cultural migration narratives.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 388 (3) Modern Memoirs and History: China, Japan, and Korea

Comparative exploration of life-history memoirs and films from East Asia, with a focus on relationships between modern history, public and personal memory, daily life, and the literary construction of individual voice. Credit will not be granted for both WRLD 388 and WRLD 399b.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 399 (3/9) d Special Topics in World Literatures

Trans-cultural or cross-regional topics, with a focus on a specific genre and/or historical period. With different topics this course may be taken more than once for credit.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 403 (3) Global Surrealism

The development of Surrealism from its roots in 20th-century French thought to its global proliferation in film, literature, visual culture and contemporary theories. Credit will be granted for only one of ARTH 403 or WRLD 403.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.
Equivalency: ARTH 403.

WRLD 428 (3) Anti-Semitism: Then and Now

Roots, developments and transformations of anti-Semitism in literature, and culture.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 480 (3) Modern Japanese Literature and the Invention of Japaneseness

The modern Japanese literary canon (in translation) and its relationship to Japanese nationalism. Credit will be granted for only one of WRLD 480, WRLD 399A, JPST 364.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 482 (3) Voices from the Margins: Minority Writing from Japan

Literary representations of Japanese national identity via an analysis of writing by minority and Indigenous authors from Japan, in English/translation. Credit will be granted for only one of WRLD 399E and WRLD 482.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 497 (3) Community Service Learning

Experiential learning course where volunteer work in a local, regional, or international community organization is combined with guided critical self-reflective writing, critical reading and discussion of related social issues, and the analysis of intercultural and/or interpersonal communication. Consult instructor for a list of the current projects.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

WRLD 498 (3) Work-Integrated Learning

Experiential learning course where intercultural communication and other related professional skills are practiced via a practicum or period of volunteer work in a local, regional, or international workplace. Consult instructor for list of current projects.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing

WRLD 499 (3/6) d Project-Based Learning

Experiential learning course where students plan their own individual or small-group projects in world literatures and/or intercultural communication. This course may be taken more than once with different projects, or once for six credits for a larger project.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing and a 75% average across a minimum of 6 credits of upper-level WRLD courses. Permission of instructor is required. See WRLD website for application materials.