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Academic Year 2004/2005

Black Writers and Myth
ENGL 345 SP
Crosslistings:
AFAM 348

This course is a seminar on Black American authors who engage the idea of myth in their fiction and poetry. The writers featured are Black American in that they are of African descent and writing from the Americas. Some identify as African-American; some do not. The mythic figures these writers invoke come from folklore, religions, literature, and popular culture. We will read their creative works (mostly novels and poetry) alongside interviews about their craft and essays about myth in their work.

MAJOR READINGS

Elizabeth Alexander, THE VENUS HOTTENTOT; Cornelius Eady, BRUTAL IMAGINATION; Nalo Hopkinson, MIDNIGHT ROBBER; Yusef Komunyakaa, TALKING DIRTY TO THE GODS; Audre Lorde, ZAMI: A NEW SPELLING OF MY NAME;
Ishmael Reed, MUMBO JUMBO; and Colson Whitehead, JOHN HENRY DAYS

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

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-21-2005

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