ENGL303 - The Middle Passage in Black Atlantic Literature & Culture

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Academic Year 2005/2006

The Middle Passage in Black Atlantic Literature & Culture
ENGL 303 FA

Crosslistings:
AFAM 304
AMST 303

This course explores recent literary and cultural productions--1969 to the present-- that have been inspired by the Middle Passage of the transatlantic slave trade. Through examining contemporary poetry, novels, and short stories, as well as film and visual art on the Middle Passage, we will consider how this historical phenomenon works as a motif in the literature and culture of the black Atlantic-- the region commonly referred to as the African Diaspora. We will study works by African American, Afro-Caribbean, and black British writers and artists, looking
closely at their treatment of this legacy and placing these works in conversation with one another.

MAJOR READINGS

Johnson, Charles, MIDDLE PASSAGE
D'Aguiar, Fred, FEEDING THE GHOSTS
Dawes, Kwame, REQUIEM: A LAMENT FOR THE DEAD
Dabydeen, David, TURNER: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS
Feelings, Tom, MIDDLE PASSAGE: WHITE SHIPS/BLACK CARGO

Selected poems by:
Robert Hayden, Kamau Brathwaite, Lucille Clifton, Sonia Sanchez, Dionne Brand, Michael Harper, Clarence Major, Derek Walcott, Elizabeth Alexander and Rita Dove.

Secondary Reading Selections from:
Diedrich, Maria, et al, Eds., BLACK IMAGINATION AND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
Harms, Robert, THE DILIGENT: A VOYAGE THROUGH THE WORLDS OF THE SLAVE TRADE
Klein, Herbert, THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
Zemon Davis, Natalie, SLAVES ON SCREEN: FILM AND HISTORICAL VISION
Shorter readings (includ ing most of the poetry) will be available in a course packet.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly response papers; class presentation; mid-term; final paper (in 3 draft stages).
Strong emphasis on meaningful class participation.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

There will be at least one film screening outside of class, a field trip to New Haven on Wed. Nov. 9th (details to follow when we meet), and an ungraded creative writing assignment on depicting the Middle Passage.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Elliott,Danielle Georgette

Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: DWNY100;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 19)

SR. major: 10 Jr. major: 9

SR. non-major: 0 Jr. non-major: 0 SO: 0 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006