Images of Joan of Arc
Spring 2009: HONR300J Thursday 4:30-7:00, LIB 216M
Dr. Gail Orgelfinger, Senior Lecturer in English & Honors College Faculty Fellow
Each generation, each new grouping of creative spirits, even each historian, poet or artist, if of an independent and original turn of mind, sees her in a different light. One might also say that each generation recreates Joan of Arc in its own image. She is immortal, because in each succeeding age she is born again, in a new guise. Charles Lightbody, The Judgements of Joan, 17-18.
T
his interdisciplinary seminar examines the literature and iconography of the extraordinary French warrior, later saint, Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans. The goal is to explore and evaluate the astonishing range of artistic responses to this historical figure since her death in 1431. We will read contemporary documents by and about Joan as well as a wide range of literary treatments of her story, from 15th-century poems to Shakespeare’s calumnious portrayal to 21st century poems and drama. Because the story of Joan of Arc has also inspired film-makers, visual artists, and composers, and we will explore their recreations of the Maid, as well as appropriations of her image for political and commercial ends.
Required Texts & Readings
Joan of Arc: Her Story, Régine Pernoud & Marie-Véronique Clin, rev. & tr. Jeremy D. Adams
Joan of Arc: La Pucelle, ed. & tr. Craig Taylor
William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry VI
Jules Michelet, Joan of Arc
Mark Twain, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc
George Bernard Shaw, St. Joan
Carolyn Gage, The Second Coming of Joan of Arc
Miscellaneous documents to be posted on Blackboard.
On Reserve
I have resisted the temptation to place very many items on reserve; these are works that more than one or two people are likely to want to use. However, I have many books on Joan checked out; if you are looking for something that isn’t on the shelf or available through ILL, please ask me before you recall it.
Astell, Ann & Wheeler, Bonnie, eds. Joan of Arc & Spirituality
Crane, Susan. The performance of self: ritual, clothing, and identity during the Hundred Years War
Fraioli, Deborah, Joan of Arc: The Early Debate
Hamill, Tony. Big Time Women From Way Back When
Lightbody, Charles Wayland, The Judgements of Joan
Prologue that clearly discusses the evolving image of Joan; chapters on the French chronicles (2); Burgundian chronicles (3); contemporary reputation and trial,(4 & 5); rehabilitation (6); Joan since 1456 (Epilogue)
Mueller, Lavonne. Little Victories
Sacchio, Peter. Shakespeare's English Kings.
Wheeler, Bonnie & Wood, Charles, eds., Fresh Verdicts on Joan of Arc
Woodward, Kenneth L., Making Saints
E-reserve:
Curry, Anne. The Hundred Years' War “New Wars or Old?”
. “The Hundred Years War & Historians”
Films on Reserve:
BBC, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part I
Luc Besson, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Robert Bresson, Le Procès de Jeanne d’Arc
Cecil B. Demille, Joan the Woman
Carl Theodor Dreyer, The Passion of Joan of Arc
Christian Duguay, Joan of Arc,
Victor Fleming, Joan of Arc
Otto Preminger, St. Joan
Jacques Rivette, Jeanne la Pucelle
FfHS. Maid of Orleans
Music on Reserve:
Richard Einhorn, Voices of Light CD
Ben Johnston, Microtonal Piano. CD
Giuseppe Verdi, Giovanna d'Arco. CD.
International Joan of Arc Society: http://www.smu.edu/ijas
Many texts and images are stored here, and you should make a point of thoroughly exploring the site during the first couple of weeks of class.
It is an heretic that makes the fire, / Not she which burns in’t. The Winter’s Tale II.3.114-15
Reading Schedule
January 29 Course Introduction/The Hundred Years’ War/Joan’s Saints
Readings: Pernoud & Clin, “Prelude” and Chapter 1 and “Issues & Images” 1-6
Taylor, maps, genealogies, and chronology, xiii-xx, documents 1-2
Anne Curry, “The Treaty of Troyes” and “1422-1451”
Lives of St. Catherine, St. Margaret, and St. Michael
February 5 The Legend is Born: Domremy to Rheims
Readings: Pernoud & Clin, Chapters 2 & 3 and “Issues & Images” 7-8
Taylor, 1-9 & documents 3-19 (to be assigned individually, but read by all
February 12 From Coronation to Prison
Readings: Pernoud & Clin, Chapters 4-5 and “Issues & Images” 9-10
Taylor, 9-39 & documents 21-33 to be assigned individually, but read by all
Christine de Pisan, La Ditié de Jeanne d’Arc (document 20 in Taylor)
February 19 Trial, Condemnation, Death
Readings: Pernoud & Clin, Chapters 6-7 and “Issues & Images 11 & 13
Taylor, 60-67 and documents 34-56 (to be assigned individually, but read by all)
Pinzino, Overview of trial: http://www.smu.edu/ijas/pinzino.html
Trial text: http://www.smu.edu/ijas/1431trial.html
February 26 Joan of Arc in Film I
Readings: Taylor, documents 57-70 (to be assigned individually, but read by all)
Blaetz, Chapters 5-6-7
Kevin J. Harty, “Jeanne au Cinema” [in English} in Wheeler & Wood
Film: DeMille & Dreyer
March 5 Fifteenth Century Images & Narratives of Joan
Readings: Pernoud & Clin, Chapter 8 & 9 and “Issues & Images” 12, 14-18
Taylor, 39-46; documents 71-102 ((to be assigned individually, but read by all)
Anne Curry, “The Hundred Years’ War and Historians: Contemporary Chroniclers”
Recommended: Lightbody, chapters 2 and 3
March 12 Shakespeare’s Joan of Arc
Readings: 1 Henry VI
Hall & Holinshed, Chronicles
Anne Curry, “The Hundred Years’ War and Historians: The Sixteenth Century”
Taylor, documents 103-105
Recommended: Peter Sacchio, Shakespeare’s English Kings (Chapter 1: “History & History Plays” and Chapter 5: “Henry VI: The Loss of Empire” (on reserve for Farabaugh’s ENGL 250)
March 19 SPRING BREAK
March 26 Joan of Arc in the Age of Romanticism & Revolution
Readings: Blaetz, Appendix
Jules Michelet, Joan of Arc
Recommended: Lightbody, Epilogue
April 2 Joan of Arc in America I
Readings: Mark Twain, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc
Readings: Blaetz, Chapters 1-2
Jalowitz, “Joan of Arc as an American Martyr,” handout
Film: Joan the Woman
April 9 Saint Joan
Readings: Official Proclamation of Canonization, handout
George Bernard Shaw, St. Joan
Blaetz, Chapters 3-4; Chapter 140
Recommended: Lightbody, Chapters 5 and 6; Woodward, Making Saints, passim
Film: Saint Joan
April 16 Joan of Arc as a Political Icon
Blaetz, chapters 5-6
April 23 Joan of Arc in Film II
Readings: Blaetz Chapter 8
Film: Fleming, Bresson,
April 30 Gender & Feminism
Readings: Taylor, 46-60
Carolyn Gage, The Second Coming of Joan of Arc
Ursule Molinaro “Checking In & Out of Hell, handout
“Joan of Arc” in Phyllis Chesler, Women & Madness, handout
Film: “The Messenger”
May 7 I will be out of town at a conference; therefore, our final class will take place during the scheduled Final Exam time: Thursday, May 14 from 6-8:00pm.
Joan of Arc for Children A Celebration of Joan of Arc