The Erotic, Laughter, and Spirituality

Albrecht Classen
Spring 2023
Mondays |  
10 AM – 12 PM
January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, and 10, 2023
Course Format: Hybrid
Location: Main Campus
Tuition: $295

Course Cancelled

We regret to say that this course must be cancelled and apologize for any inconvenience caused. We are currently working with Professor Classen to secure a future HSP course for those interested in the topic of Medieval German poetry.

Many people know Boccaccio’s Decameron and are aware of the profound messages contained in this famous collection of tales. Contemporary German poets also created remarkable verse narratives that make us laugh, cry, wonder, ponder, and reflect upon the meaning of life. Love is the basic glue that holds all people together, however, sometimes that glue no longer works, and problems emerge. Human folly, frailty and shortcomings are revealed – thus, through literary entertainment, wisdom enters the picture. When we laugh about foolish or witty lovers, we gaze into a mirror of human existence and realize something profound about ourselves. This course will examine a selection of Middle High German verse narratives and investigate what people in the past laughed about, aspired to, and how they pursued spirituality in the same process.

Hybrid Course Format

  • All classes will be delivered in-person and online via live video streaming. Students will enroll in their preferred format during registration.
  • In-Person classes will be held in the Rubel Room at the University of Arizona’s Poetry Center (1508 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85721). Enrollment for in-person classes is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. All student enrolled to attend in person also have complete online access and may choose to attend one or all class sessions remotely if desired.
  • Online students may attend all classes via live video streaming and will be able to participate in all course Q&A sessions with the professor in real time. A high-speed internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom are required to connect. Online access will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.
  • Class Recordings – All HSP classes regardless of format are recorded and available for every enrolled student to watch for the duration of the course and one month after the last class session. This option is offered to aid students who may be unable to attend the live class times but desire to enroll and participate asynchronously. We hope this option also aids students who are traveling or have an important appointment that conflicts with a class session to stay connected and engaged with the course material.

Registration Will Open Online:
Monday, NOVEMBER 21, 2022, at 8 AM (AZ Time)

Required Reading
  • Erotic Tales of Medieval Germany. Albrecht Classen. 2007.

Meet Your Instructor

University Distinguished Professor

ALBRECHT CLASSEN received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 1986. He has a broad range of research interests focusing on pre-modern German and European literature and culture.  He has published currently 132 books and well over 800 articles. Most recently, he published Criticism of the Court and the Evil King (with Lexington Books, 2024). In 2017, he received the rank of Grand Knight Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Three Lions.

Location

POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States

Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.

Street map image of Poetry Center

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