English 10C-3 - Spring, 2019

Literatures in English III: 1900-Present

Class Information

Instructor: Buswell, Evan
CRN: 71807
Time: MWF 2:10-3:00
Location: 80 SS/Hum.

Description

As the final course in the 10 series, English 10C covers the history of literature from 1900 to present. Our lens for this history will focus on two things: first, the innovations in literary forms which certain groups of writers were attempting to achieve, and second, the literary conception of the contemporary moment as seen by various authors. The twentieth century was a century of struggle, invention, and innovation in poetic and prose forms. We will be reading the literature of this period as an attempt not just to passively observe, but to do something. Beginning with the manifestos and introspective writings of twentieth century literary and artistic movements, we will see what commonalities we can find between movements across this period. We will be looking at about ten self-conscious movements in literature, music, and the arts. While focusing primarily on British and American literature, a few of these movements will be from the international influence on that context.

Texts

Orlando, Virginia Woolf
Cane, Jean Toomer
The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon
Neuromancer, William Gibson