Readings are due – meaning they should be completed – on the dates indicated. You should come to class prepared to discuss them.

The most accurate and up-to-date version of this calendar can be found on our course site. Use the online calendar to check on reading assignments, rather than this print version, since the print version of this syllabus will not be updated throughout the semester.

I reserve the right to change the course calendar as needed if it will benefit the class; adequate advance notice will always be given of any changes.

BB indicates that reading can be found on our Blackboard site on the “Readings” page. 

Week 1

Wednesday, January 17

  • Introductions

Friday, January 19

  • Excerpt from Walter Benjamin, “Theses on the Philosophy of History” (1940), VIII-IX, pg 257-8 (BB)
  • Excerpt from Theodore Martin, “Introduction: Theses on the Concept of the Contemporary,” from Contemporary Drift: Genre, Historicism, and the Problem of the Present (2017), pgs. 2-5 (BB)

Week 2

Monday, January 22

  • Giorgio Agamben, “What is the Contemporary?”, from What Is An Apparatus? and Other Essays (2009) (BB)
    • Bring 2 questions about this piece to class to share. Anything that confuses/confounds/interests/delights/disgusts you.
  • Osip Mandelstam, “My Time” (1923) (BB)

Wednesday, January 24

  • Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010), beginning-(module α), beginning-pg. 91

Friday, January 26

  • Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010), discussion of book so far
  • Discussion of response paper assignment

Week 3

Monday, January 29

  • Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010), (module β)-(module γ), pg 95-187

Wednesday, January 31

  • Charles Yu, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (2010), (module δ)-(module ε), pg 191-234

Friday, February 2

  • Wrap-up of How to Live Safely
  • Group A: Response paper 1 due 

Week 4

Monday, February 5

Wednesday, February 7

  • David Foster Wallace, “E Unibus Pluram: Television and U.S. Fiction” (1993), focus on pages 159-174, 181-185, 192-3 (BB)
  • Youtube: “David Foster Wallace – The Problem with Irony,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2doZROwdte4 

Friday, February 9

  • Continued discussion of Wallace and Jameson
  • Group B: Response paper 1 due

Week 5

Monday, February 12

  • Jennine Capó Crucet, Make Your Home Among Strangers (2016), 1-11, pg 1-103

Wednesday, February 14

  • Jennine Capó Crucet, Make Your Home Among Strangers (2016), 12-20, pg 104-203

Friday, February 16

  • NO CLASS: Instructor out of town
  • Group A: Response paper 2 due

Week 6

Monday, February 19

  • Jennine Capó Crucet, Make Your Home Among Strangers (2016), 21-28, pg 204-296

Wednesday, February 21

  • Jennine Capó Crucet, Make Your Home Among Strangers (2016), 29-36, pg 297-388

Friday, February 23

  • Make Your Home Among Strangers wrap-up
  • Group B: Response paper 2 due  

Week 7

Monday, February 26

  • Cathy Park Hong, Engine Empire (2012), Ballad of Our Jim – Shangdu, My Artful Boomtown!, pg 19-61

Wednesday, February 28

  • Cathy Park Hong, Engine Empire (2012), The World Cloud, pg 65-93

Friday, March 2

  • NO CLASS: Meet with instructor and discuss close reading paper

Week 8

Monday, March 5

Wednesday, March 7

  • Adam Kelly, “David Foster Wallace and the New Sincerity in American Fiction,” from Consider David Foster Wallace: Critical Essays (2010) (BB)

Friday, March 9

  • “New” Sincerity wrap-up
  • Close reading paper due by 10 pm to Blackboard

Week 9

March 10-18: NO CLASS SPRING BREAK

Week 10

Monday, March 19

  • Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016), Ajarry-South Carolina, pg 1-140

**One Book, One U Event: Tuesday, March 20**

  • Reading and Q & A with Jennine Capó Crucet, 4 pm, Senate room of Shalala Student Center

Wednesday, March 21

  • Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016), North Carolina-Ethel, pg 143-196

Friday, March 23

  • Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad continued discussion
  • Group A: Response paper 3 due

Week 11

Monday, March 26

  • NO CLASS
    • But keep reading! Finish the book for Wednesday: Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016), Tennessee-The North, pg 199-306

Wednesday, March 28

Friday, March 30

  • The Underground Railroad wrap-up
  • Group B: Response paper 3 due
  • If reviewing The Underground Railroad, review due by 10 pm to course site

Week 12

Monday, April 2

  • Tyehimba Jess, Olio (2016), pg 1- 129 (through “Jubilee: Ella Sheppard (1851-1914)”)

Wednesday, April 4

  • Tyehimba Jess, Olio (2016), pg 130-end

Friday, April 6

  • Olio continued discussion
  • Group A: Response paper 4 due

Week 13

Monday, April 9

Wednesday, April 11

Friday, April 13

  • Group B: Response paper 4 due
  • Discussion of final exam; students will receive final exam prompts
  • If reviewing Olio, review due by 10 pm to course site

Week 14

Monday, April 16

  • Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers (2013), 1-6, pg 1-104
  • Selection from Laura Mulvey, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema” (1973), pgs. 835-839 (II.A – III.B)

Wednesday, April 18

  • Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers (2013), 7-12, pg 105-212

Friday, April 20

  • The Flamethrowers continued discussion
  • Group A: Response paper 5 due 

Week 15

Monday, April 23

  • Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers (2013), 13-15, pg 213-293

Wednesday, April 25

Friday, April 27

  • The Flamethrowers wrap-up
  • Course evals
  • Group B: Response paper 5 due
  • If reviewing The Flamethrowers, review due by 10 pm to course site

Wednesday, May 2

  • Final exam due by 1:30 pm to Blackboard