English 179 - Winter, 2013

Topics in Comparative American Literature

Topic: American/Ethnic Studies: Region, Nation, Borders

Class Information

Instructor: Martín, Desirée
Time: MWF 12:10-1:00
Location: 118 Olson

Description

"American/Ethnic Studies: Region, Nation, Border"

This class will examine the construction and representation of ethnic studies in the United States. We will consider the intersection between ethnic studies and American literature/American studies, the relation between ethnic studies and national or regional identity, and the transnational character of ethnic studies. We will examine the ways that these texts construct, translate, and refuse identity. Above all, we will interrogate the ways that texts that are commonly identified as "ethnic" within American literature in fact resist and rearticulate this label. Some major themes we will consider include nationalism, translation, gender, race, regionalism, transnationalism, urban cultures, environmental justice, human rights, science fiction, war, and migration.


In addition to the texts listed below, we will also study the film "Sleep Dealer" by Alex Rivera (on reserve at Shields Library) and some poetry (to be posted on SmartSite).

Grading

Two short response papers (2 pages each)
Two 5-7 page essays
Final Exam
Class participation

Texts

Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
Native Speaker, Chang-rae Lee
The Tattooed Soldier, Hector Tobar
Their Dogs Came With Them, Helena Maria Viramontes
Tropic of Orange, Karen Tei Yamashita
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Anna Deavere Smith