Literature, Arts Courses Lead New Core Offerings

The core program will offer 11 new courses next year on subjects ranging from Alexander the Great to fairy tales.

Eight of the new courses will be offered in Literature and Arts, according to Elisabeth W. Swain, assistant director of the Core program.

In the fall, Loeb Professor of Classical Art and Archaeology David G. Mitten will teach Literature and Arts B-21, "Images of alexander the Great"--a course examining the life of the Macedonian conqueror.

And Professor of German Maria M. Tatar will lead Literature and Arts A-18. "Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood," during the spring semester. Tatar says the class will be unique because "it focuses on children's literature, a subject not tackled often at Harvard."

Some new courses will deal with contemporary topics. Meyer Professor of History Roger Owen is teaching Historical Study A-68, "Making and Remaking of the Modern Middle East."

And Social Analysis 48, "Anthropology and the Uses of History," will "have students look at the differences between a small local group's interpretation of history versus that of official historians," says the course instructor, Professor of Anthropology MichaelHerzfeld.

Spring courses include Literature and ArtsB-51, "First Nights," which will be taught byThomas Kelly, a new hire from Oberlin College, andProfessor of History Michael McCormick'sHistorical Study B-13, "Charlemagne and the Birthof Medieval Civilization."

Swain said the committee on the core program,which approves new courses, could give thego-ahead to three or four additional offerings bynext September.

Other new classes, all of them in Literatureand Arts, include:

. Gurney Professor of English Literature DerekA. Pearsall's Literature and Arts A-12, "the Storyof Arthur," which will study versions of the KingArthur stories.

. Literature and Arts B-23, "Frank Lloyd Wrightand Modern Architecture," which will be taught byGleason professor of Fine Arts Neil Levine.

. Professor of Music Robert M. Levin'sLiterature and Arts B-54, "Chamber Music fromMozart to Ravel."

. Hannock Professor of Hebrew and other NearEastern Languages Peter Machinist's Literature andArts A-70. The course,, Machinist says, will"attempt to examine The Book of Job both as apiece of literature and as one of the mostprofound explorations of religion and philosophy."

. Visiting Professor of Chinese Literature LeoLee's Literature and Arts C-49, "Cultural China inContemporary Perspectives," which will studyChinese art, film and writing in the 20th century

Spring courses include Literature and ArtsB-51, "First Nights," which will be taught byThomas Kelly, a new hire from Oberlin College, andProfessor of History Michael McCormick'sHistorical Study B-13, "Charlemagne and the Birthof Medieval Civilization."

Swain said the committee on the core program,which approves new courses, could give thego-ahead to three or four additional offerings bynext September.

Other new classes, all of them in Literatureand Arts, include:

. Gurney Professor of English Literature DerekA. Pearsall's Literature and Arts A-12, "the Storyof Arthur," which will study versions of the KingArthur stories.

. Literature and Arts B-23, "Frank Lloyd Wrightand Modern Architecture," which will be taught byGleason professor of Fine Arts Neil Levine.

. Professor of Music Robert M. Levin'sLiterature and Arts B-54, "Chamber Music fromMozart to Ravel."

. Hannock Professor of Hebrew and other NearEastern Languages Peter Machinist's Literature andArts A-70. The course,, Machinist says, will"attempt to examine The Book of Job both as apiece of literature and as one of the mostprofound explorations of religion and philosophy."

. Visiting Professor of Chinese Literature LeoLee's Literature and Arts C-49, "Cultural China inContemporary Perspectives," which will studyChinese art, film and writing in the 20th century