LLC Courses
All courses in programs in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures are taught in the target language, with the exception of courses listed under the LLC rubric. Elementary and intermediate language courses integrate vocabulary and grammatical structures with cultural materials in order to build students’ linguistic and cultural proficiency. Courses at the 300-level focus on a range of topics: from conversation and composition to culture, civilization and literature. The 300-level literature courses fulfill the field of study literary studies (FSLT) general education requirement and enhance students’ reading ability and analytical skills while also providing deeper insights into the languages and cultures of the regions under study. Courses at the 400-level usually focus on specific topics and periods, with an emphasis on more advanced reading and analytical skills. Through the study of literary texts, films and other documents, students explore historical and contemporary questions in a cultural context.
All courses under the LLC rubric are taught in English with the exception of the self-directed language learning courses which are currently offered in Farsi, Modern Hebrew, Swahili, and Turkish. Approved LLC courses may be counted as elective credit toward a French, German Studies, Italian Studies or Russian Studies major if taken in conjunction with a Language across the Curriculum component (.25 unit).
Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
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LLC 135 All About America
Units: 1
DescriptionExplores beyond "what" differs in U.S. culture to "why" it differs through exploration of cultural dimensions and aspects of U.S. culture. Through readings, discussion, simulations, and experiential learning, we explore topics such as how culture evolves, cultural features, identity, U.S. history, family life, social relationships, communication styles, culture in the workplace, and much more. The course uses an experiential learning approach to explore U.S. culture through fieldtrips in the community and region. Focuses on strengthening intercultural competence, critical thinking, and English oral communications skills such as speaking and listening.PrerequisitesOpen only to international and exchange students.
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LLC 140 How to Write Everything
Units: 1
DescriptionDesigned for international and exchange students to strengthen skills in informal and formal university academic writing. Assignments reflect the kinds of academic writing University of Richmond students need, such as research papers, presentation writing, effective timed writing, critiques, among others. The class focuses on skills such as critical thinking, synthesis, documentation, logic, and structure. Special attention to style and culture in writing. Time is included for students to engage in individualized instructionPrerequisitesOpen only to international and exchange students.
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LLC 198 Teaching ESL Through Literature and Film
Units: 1
DescriptionIntroduction to methods of teaching English as a Second (ESL) and Foreign (EFL) Language. We learn the basics of language teaching, lesson preparation, delivery, and assessment. In the last third of the semester, students apply their acquired skills to teach English language students via an online platform. Emphasis on using literature and film as texts to enhance the English learning experience. -
LLC 210 Women, Virtue and Temptation in Literature
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionRepresentation of feminine virtue and vice in world literature.
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LLC 211 Reading to Live
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionExplores the extent to which fiction can enhance (and often inform) our understanding of complex political, social, and economic issues. Students will learn new categories of analysis that will help them understand why fictional depictions of social values, modes of behavior, and moral choices can make both practical and theoretical contributions to the question of how we, as readers and social actors, might more fully live our lives.
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LLC 215 Foreign Thinking
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionStudy of what it means to see the world from a foreign perspective. Development of intercultural and critical-thinking skills by studying literary texts, films, and works of critical theory that are decidedly not “American.” Focuses on questions of gender, race and identity, and class and on environmental issues.
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LLC 220 Contemporary Chinese Popular Culture
Units: 1
DescriptionRead pop fictions, watch blockbusters, sitcoms, and reality TV shows, and listen to songs that topped Chinese pop music list over the last twenty years. Connect these cultural forms to current conversations and debates concerning youth culture, political participation, identity formation, intensifying globalization, and the loss of tradition. Students may select class readings/viewings and create their own pop culture products.
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LLC 225 Chinese Culture and Civilization
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Historical Studies (FSHT))
DescriptionInterdisciplinary introduction to Chinese society and culture from earliest times to the present. Explores topics on ancient philosophy, religion, literature, art, architecture, customs, and other aspects of China's rich and diverse heritage, and introduces social transformation from a pre-modern empire to a modern nation state. Questions such as social changes, urban life, popular culture, and the values and ideas that captivate contemporary Chinese people's attention will also be addressed.
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LLC 227 The Action Genre in East Asian Cinema
Units: 1
DescriptionThe action genre is a persistent film genre with a strong literary, theatrical, and operatic tradition in East Asian cinema. This course traces the historical and cinematic evolution of the action genre from swordplay to kungfu to gunplay in Hong Kong, Japanese, and Korean cinema from the 1960s to the digital age. Students will acquire a critical vocabulary in visual analysis such as classical Hollywood narration, montage, continuity editing, and the "pause-burst-pause" pattern that are central to the punctuation of kinesthetic shocks in the action genre. We will explore how culturally specific codes of honor, loyalty, masculinity, and femininity (rooted in literature and theatrical codes) are lost or gained in translation as a result of film adaptations, international co-productions, and cross-cultural readings. Taught in English. All films are subtitled in English.
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LLC 243 Political and Social Movements in Modern Middle Eastern Literatures
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionDiscussion of literary works by writers from the Middle East during the past few decades with an emphasis on the social and political issues these texts address. Examination of these texts as literary products first and foremost and it is within such a status that they can be our entry point to the societies of the Middle East and their problems.
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LLC 256 Psychoanalysis, Literature, and Culture
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionGeneral introduction to use of psychoanalytic techniques to analyze literature and culture. Readings from Freud and post-Freudian theorists used to interpret variety of literary texts, as well as films, ads, and other examples from popular culture.
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LLC 260 Literature and Social Change in Eastern Europe
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionSelected readings in 20th century Czech and Polish literature. Analysis of primary texts (in translation) focuses on the representation of both science and socialism as powerful ideological forces.
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LLC 261 Travel Writing in the Caucasus
Units: 1
DescriptionTurn your travel adventures into memorable pieces of writing that other people will want to read. This course is an intensive on-site introduction to skills and practices that allow you to capture the uniqueness of your own experience in written form, moving from rapid journaling and “engaged observation” to more polished pieces of travel writing. Offered during SSA: Caucasus.
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LLC 262 Literature and Empire
Units: 1
DescriptionThis course outlines the relationship between literary studies and the study of empire, colonialism in the Russian sphere of influence, and the contemporary effects of both. Offered during SSA: Caucasus, this course examines the orientalizing literature of 19th century Russian Romanticism, Soviet and Georgian films, and contemporary novels by female authors from the region. On site fieldtrips to relevant sites included.
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LLC 265 German Cinema
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionSurvey of German cinema from the 1930s to the present emphasizing the historical and cultural context in which the films were produced. (Same as FMST 265.)
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LLC 283 Cinema Around the World
Units: 1
DescriptionGlobal survey of contemporary cinema. Approaches the cutting edge of audio-visual media production in national and transnational contexts with a focus on their aesthetic, socio-cultural, political, philosophical, and historical significance.
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LLC 321 Introduction to Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionIntroduction to Russian literature and critical literary analysis. Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and others.
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LLC 322 Introduction to Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Russian Literature
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionWhat makes literature seem real? Deep? Mind-blowing? Funny? In the Soviet Union, people read literature as if their lives depended on it. Official sources of information were heavily censored, so the “voice of the people” was channeled instead through short stories, science fiction, satire, and other imaginative forms of truth-telling. This course focuses on Russian and Ukrainian authors from the Soviet and contemporary post-Soviet period. In translation, no prerequisites. Fulfills FSLT.
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LLC 325 Revolution and Modernity in Chinese Literature
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionExploration of modern Chinese literature, visual culture, and critical thought from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the Mao era (1911-1976). Focus on the use of literature in "saving the nation" as a response to imperialism and the challenge of the West in the early twentieth century. Discusses how various writers and genres such as the short story, prose poetry, novella, and film convey and advocate ideas about "revolution" and "modernity".
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LLC 329 Francophone African Novel
Units: 1
DescriptionExploration of selected novels from Francophone speaking countries in Africa. Critical and interpretive theoretical strategies to engage texts and films. Readings and discussions in English; students may opt to register for a C-LAC component in the French language for French elective credit.
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LLC 331 Russian and East European Film
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionAn introduction to 20th century Russian and East European film raising questions on ideology, propaganda, violence, identity, authenticity, and representations of history. Discussion of how various cinematic narrative techniques influence and build viewers’ understanding of historical events and the larger implications of film genre, production, censorship, and cultural setting. Selected films from the former Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Soviet republics will be screened, as well as post-Soviet films from various countries. Taught in English; all films have English subtitles.
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LLC 335 Bolsheviks, Bombs, and Ballet: Soviet Culture and Civilization
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Historical Studies (FSHT))
DescriptionSurvey of intellectual and scientific life, artistic movements, and popular culture under communism in the Soviet Union. Interdisciplinary focus on the arts, music, science, and literature with attention to complicated relations between official and private culture.
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LLC 341 Gender and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century France
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionExamines representations of gender and sexual identity in 19th-century France as demonstrated in literature, film, and historical documents.
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LLC 346 Insiders and Outsiders: Arabic Encounters with the West
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionStudy of texts from throughout Arab history since the expansion of Islam until today, in which travelers and thinkers, academics and politicians, everyday people and people with religious or other ideological agendas describe their encounters with the world outside their own cultural environment. These texts will be analyzed less for the information they contain about the world they describe, but for what the views and thoughts their writers reveal about their own world and frame of mind. The texts will be read in translation and will cover material from the earliest Islamic travelers such as Ibn Fadlan to figures of current history such as Usama bin Laden.
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LLC 347 Islam, Nationalism, and the West: Modern Thought in the Arab World
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Historical Studies (FSHT))
DescriptionHistorical survey of the main thinkers and ideas in the Arab world during the past two centuries. Emphasis on the different and contending reactions to the challenges of modernity and the West as well as the relation to indigenous and traditional ideas, especially religion.
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LLC 355 Chinese Cinema
Units: 1
DescriptionAn introduction to Chinese cinema in relation to issues of modernity, nationalism, gender, cultural identities and beyond. Selected canonical films of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will be introduced.
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LLC 357 The Idea of the Renaissance: Self, History and Knowledge
Units: 1
DescriptionA comparative and interdisciplinary investigation of the period in European history known as the Renaissance through the lens of some of its most well known and compelling works.
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LLC 358 Desire and Identity in the Renaissance: The Lyric Tradition
Units: 1
Fulfills General Education Requirement (Literary Studies (FSLT))
DescriptionA comparative investigation of Italian, French, and English Renaissance lyric poetry. (Same as English 309.)
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LLC 360 Representing the Holocaust
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines representations of the Holocaust in a historical and international context from survivor testimonies to museum culture to Hollywood film; ideological aspects of Holocaust representation; and Holocaust denial. Elective for German Studies, Global Studies, and Jewish Studies.
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LLC 362 The History of the Romance Languages
Units: 1
DescriptionReadings and tasks designed to develop students' understanding of language change as exemplified by the evolution of the Romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, etc.) from Latin. Includes linguistic terminology, discovery of the origins of the similarities and differences apparent in the Romance languages, experience with written evidence of language transformation, and exploration of the impact of historical events on language.
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LLC 388 Individual Internship
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionInternship experiences outside of the department in fields related to LLC programs. No more than 1.5 units of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required degree units.
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LLC 389 Practice Assistantship
Units: 0.25
DescriptionStudents lead practice sessions associated with the elementary and intermediate language sequences outside of the regularly-taught program languages. The practice assistantship does not count as credit toward the major or minor. Up to one unit can be applied toward graduation credit.
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LLC 390 Performing Sex and Gender
Units: 1
DescriptionAnalysis of gender, sex, and sexuality through the lens of theater and performance studies. Applies ideas from gender and queer theory to facilitate close readings of plays from and about Germany and to guide students through the process of devising their own performance.
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LLC 397 Selected Topics
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionSpecial interest topics offered at department's discretion.
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LLC 406 Summer Undergraduate Research
Units: 0
DescriptionDocumentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 6 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at least 40 hours per week) during this period, and the student must be the recipient of a fellowship through the university. Graded S/U.
PrerequisitesApproval by a faculty mentor.
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LLC 410 Teaching a Modern Language
Units: 1
DescriptionTheory and practice of teaching modern second language at the K-12 levels. Designed to enable teachers to meet state licensure requirements.
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LLC 495 Independent Study
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionSpecial projects individually pursued under supervision of faculty member.
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LLC 497 Selected Topics
Units: 1
DescriptionExperimental and special interest topics offered at department's discretion.
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SDLC 105 Introduction to Self-Directed Language Learning
Units: 0.5
DescriptionDevelopment of skills needed to become autonomous learners of language and culture, including how to create a learning plan, use multimedia resources, work with language tutors, and assemble a learning portfolio. Development of basic understanding of the structure of human languages and the relationship between language and culture.
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SDLC 110 Self-Directed Language Learning I
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking a new language. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSDLC 105 or MLC 105
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SDLC 111 Self-Directed Language Learning II
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking a less-commonly-taught language. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSDLC 110 or MLC 110
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SDLC 112 Self-Directed Language Learning III
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking a less-commonly-taught language. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSDLC 111 or MLC 111
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SDLC 113 Self-Directed Language Learning IV
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking a less-commonly-taught language. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSDLC 112 or MLC 112
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SWAH 110 Mentored Self-Instruction in Swahili I
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking Swahili. Investigation of the history of the language and the cultures of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination.
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SWAH 111 Mentored Self-Instruction in Swahili II
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking Swahili. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
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SWAH 112 Mentored Self-Instruction in Swahili III
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking Swahili. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSWAH 111 with a minimum grade of D-
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SWAH 113 Mentored Self-Instruction in Swahili IV
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of skills in reading, writing, and speaking Swahili. Investigation of the history of the language and the culture of the areas in which the language is used. Assessment of progress through examination and the evaluation of a student-created portfolio.
PrerequisitesSWAH 112 with a minimum grade of D-