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Translation as Practice and Paradigm

This course is an introduction to the practice of literary translation and at the same time to translation as a way of thinking about language and the world. Our focus will be on practice, and the course will include a major workshop component. In the first half of the semester, students will present case studies of published translations; in the second half, they will pursue original translation projects. Readings will include some classics of translation theory (from Friederich Schleiermacher to Gayatri Spivak); we will also study some “extreme” cases of texts that move between languages (Patrick Chamoiseau, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Ivan Blatný). Finally, we will reflect on whether what we learn from literary translation can be meaningfully applied to questions in art or architecture.

Knowledge of a language other than English required. Please contact the instructor if you are not sure whether you meet this requirement.

3 credits

Course Code: HUM 377

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.