Fall 2008

URD 330 • Urdu Satire and Humor

Course Description

This course will explore the role of humor in Urdu prose and poetry. We will discuss texts ranging from the eighteenth century hajws (satires) of Muhammad Rafi Sauda and Mir Taqi Mir to the twenty-first century newspaper cartoons. Through a study of Urdu humor, we shall see how satire, parody and irony are interwoven to contest and dismantle various forms of hegemonic socio-political discourses. The issues of "obscenity" and censhorship as well as the idea of cross-cultural untranslatabiliy will be highlighted.

Grading Policy

Class attendance/reaction papers 30% Midterm 30% Final 40%

Texts

Course packet available at Speedway

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