English 309-001
Survey of Contemporary American Literature
Instr: Tatham, Campbell
Office: CRT 392 ; 229-3504
e-mail: ctatham@uwm.edu
Office hours: MW; 10:00-10:30am
Course Information: MW; 11:00am-12:15pm; CRT 368
Course Description
The 'survey' referred to in the title will entail less a linear, chronological examination of certain texts than it will a 'looking over' the 'field' of contemporary American literature. Because of what is happening right now, we begin with a retrospective look at the mythical 'sixties' through the hugely popular eyes of Kurt Vonnegut, then at what remains a hugely influential historical/cultural event, the Vietnam War (Tim O'Brien); similarly, it ends with a novel that struggles to deal with the impact of 9/11 (Jonathan Foer). The fall-out from war and terrorism concerns our writers, as it does each of us. As do other important issues: gender, race, and class. We will look at texts from our most recognized and popular writers (Vonnegut, O'Brien, Rich, Morrison, Foer) to works from lesser known, more experimental writers (Maso, Olsen). Even a Canadian, who was widely rumored to having been considered for the last Nobel Prize: Margaret Atwood. We'll look at a variety of texts, from stories that make up a novel (O'Brien), to a novel that mingles images and words (Maso), to a novel that has a hard-textual identity as well as a virtual online identity (Olsen). As a special treat, one of the writers (Lance Olsen) has agreed to participate in our online Discussion Forum, where he will respond to your questions, react to your interpretations, go wherever the conversation takes us. Our goal will be, in Toni Morrison's words, to "stretch our imaginations" by interacting with some of the rich multiplicities of current literature in America.
- Probable Required Texts:
- Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle
- Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
- Adrienne Rich, Diving Into the Wreck
- Toni Morrison, Beloved
- Carole Maso, The Art Lover
- Jonathan Foer, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
- Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
- Lance Olsen, 10:01
- (note: all texts available from Panther Bookstore only)
Course Requirements:
- Assigned reading, to be completed by the first class dealing with each text. Regular attendance (no more than three cuts allowed).
- Participation: you should come to each class prepared to discuss your various thoughts and feelings about the readings - you may be called on at any time.
- A reading journal in which you record your reactions to each text, to class discussion, and to the various ways in which the texts and discussion intersect with your own experience. You should write a minimum of two single-spaced pages per week.
- Also: you will be expected to participate in an online Discussion Forum, posting at least twice each week. We'll be using the D2L system, familiar to many of you.
Grade:
Class participation = 10%; participation in online Discussion Forum = 30%; Reading Journal = 60%.
