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Academic Year 2003/2004


Reading Race and Representation
ENGL 341 FA

Crosslistings:
AMST 351
AFAM 343

If race is an unwieldy and unscientific term, how do we begin to "read" it? Notions of race change and shift historically, socially, politically, legally and artistically. This course will begin to explore the variegated ways race, and, by implication, identity and difference, is figured and represented in a range of American cultural productions, including fiction, film and popular culture. The class is organized so that students may begin to map the complicated connections between and among race, gender, class, sexuality, politics and the law. Thus, the class will explore how these connections may result in a global and multicultural literacy in the U.S. American context.

MAJOR READINGS

Takaki. IRON CAGES: RACE AND CULTURE IN 19th CENTURY AMERICA
Matsuda et al. WORDS THAT WOUND: CRITICAL RACE THEORY, ASSAULTIVE SPEECH AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Morrison. PLAYING IN THE DARK: WHITENESS AND LITERARY IMAGINATION
Fitzgerald. GREAT GATSBY
Octavia Butler, XENOGENESIS series
Yezierska, SALOME OF THE TENEMENTS
Nella Larsen, PASSING
Films: IMITATION OF LIFE, BLADE

R=Reader; Readings will be supplemented throughout the semester.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students will submit a brief 1 - 1 1/2 page inquiry paper weekly. Each student will also be required to present 1) an aspect of the class session's reading assignment once during the semester and 2) his/her final paper at end of term. Grades will be based on a midterm paper (4 pp) and a final paper (12-15 pp), inquiry papers, class presentation and active listening and participation in class discussion.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004


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