Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0293 - Narrative, Theory, Place

The "journey" is arguably the most compelling narrative frame. The history of narrative prose and poetry could be written around the varieties of journeys: quests, military expeditions, crusades, pilgrimages, grand tours, sentimental journeys, explorations, trail blazing and ordinary walks. One person's heroic adventure, of course, is another's involuntary migration, kidnapping, or enslavement. In literature, film and in critical theory, these terms are ambiguous and must be analyzed within carefully drawn cultural and material parameters. In this course, we will consider various theoretical models for understanding how the itinerary or plan for moving from one place to another (including the final destination) is motivated by desire and how the itinerary comes to represent the place of culture and cultural difference. Reading for the course will include contemporary novels, non-fiction narratives, films, literary theory, and politics. Writing assignments will include short essays on the assigned reading and the development of an independent project. Prerequisite: Two or more previous courses in literature, cultural studies, or critical theory. Students will work towards an understanding of narrative structure and poetics in classical, realist, and postmodern texts. They will develop critical reading and analytical writing skills, through individual and group assignments.

Writing and Research