Why study literature? How does literature shape the way we think about our culture? What makes something "literature?"
This course will guide you in beginning to interpret and examine literature as a window into cultural thinking about humankind. Our readings will touch on a wide range of issues including (but not limited to) desire, work, and race. Many of our texts will also deal with the specificities of these elements in the urban environment.
What does it mean to desire in the city? How does the city shape the way we work? Does city life shape our understanding and experience of race and race issues? Join me in asking these questions, seeking possible answers from literature, and exploring how these issues affect our lives and careers (in the city).
See also the printer-friendly version of this syllabus (200k PDF).
