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Academic Year 2005/2006

Psychoanalysis and Race: Studies in Latino/a and African American Literatures
ENGL 290 SP
Crosslistings:
AMST 252
LAST 290

Although the idea of "race" is discredited as a biological category, the concept continues to function powerfully in American culture, fueling stereotypes, providing fantasies of racial or ethnic difference, but also providing important ways of creating one's identity. This course will consider a cross-cultural selection of literary texts and films in combination with short readings from psychoanalytic theory in order to uncover some of the meanings of "race" and its roles in the construction of identity. Topics include: "race" as fantasy, cross-cultural identifications, whiteness and narcissism, speaking historical trauma, and racial melancholia / grief.

MAJOR READINGS

Oscar Zeta Acosta, THE REVOLT OF THE COCKROACH PEOPLE (1973)
Ana Castillo, SAPOGONIA (1990)
Lucha Corpi, CACTUS BLOOD (1995)
Cherrie Moraga, THE LAST GENERATION (1993)
Alejandro Morales, THE BRICK PEOPLE (1988)
Richard Rodriguez, DAYS OF OBLIGATION (1992)
Helena Maria Viramontes, THE MOTHS AND OTHER STORIES (1985)

A READER WITH A SELECTION OF SHORTER WORKS

ALL TEXTS ARE IN ENGLISH

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three very short reaction papers (1 pp.) and class participation.

COURSE FORMAT: 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-30-2006

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