ENGL276

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ENGL276

Theory and African-American Literature ENGL276 SP

Crosslistings: AFAM276

Next Offered in 9899 SP

This course proposes to look at developments in theoretical thinking about African-American literature, in order to see where it began, what turns it took and its relationship with theory about mainstream literature. To do this, we will read and discuss major theoretical works from three watershed eras for literature and theory: the Harlem Renaissance, the period of the Black Aesthetic/Black Nationalism and Contemporary Poststructuralism. In order to make out theoretical reading more pragmatic, we will also read some literary (as opposed to theoretical) works.

MAJOR READINGS

Alain Locke, THE NEW NEGRO
W.E.B. DuBois, THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK
Hughes, "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain"
Ellison, SHADOW AND ACT
Baraka, DUTCHMAN
Shange, FOR COLORED GIRLS
Baker, THE JOURNEY BACK
Gates, THE SIGNIFYING MONKEY
Carby, RECONSTRUCTING WOMANHOOD
Morrison, BELOVED
Walker, MERIDIAN

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Midterm, final, seminar report and term paper

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-03-1998

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