English 309-001
Survey of Contemporary American Literature
Instr: Tatham, Cam
Office: CRT 392; 229-3504
e-mail: ctatham@uwm.edu
Office hours: MW, 10-10:30
Course Information: MW; 11:00am-12:15pm; CRT 321
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 what remains a hugely influential historical/cultural event, the Vietnam War; similarly, it ends with a novel that struggles to deal with the impact of 9/11. 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 (O'Brien, Palahniuk, Morrison, Foer) to works from lesser known, more experimental writers (Clark, 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 & Clark), to a graphic novel (Spiegelman), 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, three of the writers (George Clark, Carole Maso and Lance Olsen) have agreed to participate in our online Discussion Forum, where they 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.
Required Texts:
Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
George Clark, The Small Bees' Honey
Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale
Toni Morrison, Beloved
Art Spiegelman, Maus I
Carole Maso, The Art Lover
Lance Olsen, 10:01
Jonathan Foer, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
(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. All written work to be handed in on February 28th, and again on May 9th, the last day of classes. You may hand in your journal at any time for feedback.
- 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%.
