Listed in: English, as ENGL-311
Alicia J. Mireles Christoff (Section 01)
Judith E. Frank (Section 01)
This course examines the way writers commit their own lives to the page and the many interesting hybrids that, falling somewhere in between fiction and non-fiction, writers have been experimenting with of late. Why have these hybrid forms become so dominant in the literary world? How do the assumptions and expectations we bring to fiction differ from those we bring to non-fiction? Why are forms that play with the relation between these forms so popular right now? What do they offer us, emotionally and intellectually? And what can they illuminate about literature, identity, the politics of representation, and social justice? This course will include a combination of critical and creative writing, and will approach readings on the level of craft so that we are always thinking of ourselves both as readers and as writers. Possible readings include: David Vann, Legend of a Suicide; Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts; Jeannette Winterson, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?; James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain; Junot Díaz, This Is How You Lose Her; Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend; Karl Ove Knausgaard, My Struggle; Michelle Tea, Black Wave; Beyoncé, Lemonade.
Limited to 25 students. Fall semester. Professors Christoff and Frank.
How to handle overenrollment: Preference given to English majors
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: emphasis on written work
Section 01
Tu 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM WEBS 217
Th 1:00 PM - 2:20 PM WEBS 217
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Struggle, Book 1 | FSG | Karl Ove Knausgaard | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| The Argonauts | Graywolf Press | Maggie Nelson | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| My Brilliant Friend | Europa Editions | Elena Ferrante | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| This is How You Lose Her | Riverhead | Junot Diaz | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Leave Society | Vintage | Tao Lin | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.