What are the current (11/2018) TESU Non-Western Literature alternatives available?

[dfrecore]

I was told that Coopersmith LIT401 does not count for Non-Western Lit. However, I think you should still check in case you get a different answer

Hi Ideas,

Have you found new information regarding the Medieval Hispano-Jewish Poetry (LIT-401) course from Coopersmith, as the Non-Western Lit. requirement at TESU? 

Would it be possible to mention a bit more regarding who told you that is wasn't valid (for the TESU Non-Western Lit. course requirement)?

The word Hispano is your clue here: it refers to Spain.  Which is considered western.

This is a somewhat debatable point.  It is MEDIEVAL Hispano-Jewish Poetry.  During the Middle Ages, Islamic kingdoms/governments controlled Spain.  This lasted from the 700s until 1492.  "Western" has traditionally been associated with historically Christian cultures.  This has, obviously, expanded in recent years, but it certainly wasn't true during Medieval times.  In fact, I would argue that Polish literature and Russian literature should be considered non-Western because these cultures were and are related to the Eastern Christian/Byzantine churches.

The "Jewish" component is also problematic.  Judaism thrived within the Muslim kingdoms of Spain and were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula when Christians took over in the 1400s.  When they were forced out, they mostly went to Muslim N. Africa, which is not considered Western.  One could also argue that the territory of the modern state of Israel - the traditional Jewish homeland - is not Western.  Portions of it have been accepted into Western culture because of the Christian tradition, but that "Western-ness" has only been grafted upon it by Christians in Europe at later times.

Someone should test a Polish literature class.

You can argue it with TESU if you'd like, I personally don't get to make the decision for them.  But here is the quote from their own Non-Western Lit course:

" The term non-Western literature generally refers to writings by people in any culture or country except those of Western Europe, Ancient Greece and the United States."

Obviously, Russia and Poland aren't considered Western Europe, so those would be fine.