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English 4550 Contemporary American Literature
Fall 2018MWF 11:30-12:20EH #206      CRN 22876
Office, MW 1:30-2:30, or by appointment

Michael Wutz, mwutz@weber.edu


Course Description

This survey-oriented course focuses on American literature from the 1950s to the present within the context of the dramatic political and cultural changes that have shaped contemporary American culture, such as the Cold War, Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, feminism and multiculturalism.  Like its modernist predecessor (ENG 4540), it ranges across genres and media to survey various emergent traditions and tendencies in contemporary and postmodern U.S. letters.  As such, any course on an almost 70-year time span of bustling literary activity cannot be but punctual and eclectic; it certainly does not presume to be inclusive, opting instead (by default, one might say) for "representative" samples that serve to illustrate certain literary and cultural developments.

Yet, one thing is for sure: you will be exposed to a daring and dazzling, brilliant and befuddling, perplexing and puzzling array of writers. Welcome and enjoy!


Texts and Materials

finger Jennifer Egan, A Visit From the Good Squad (2010)
finger Ha Jin, The Boat Rocker (2016)
finger Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake (2004)
finger Viet Thanh Ngyuen, The Sympathizer (2015)
finger Online handouts, focus questions, CAL PAL, clips, and perhaps a film or two, time permitting; additional, old-fashioned hardware: a notepad or a loose-leaf binder

Electronics: Laptops and notebooks are part of classroom resources, but I expect you to use them judiciously. That means you are focused on class learning, not checking email, surfing, gaming, etc. during class. I reserve the right to ask a student to switch off a laptop/notebook if I feel it is not used appropriately. I do not allow the use of dumb phones or handheld devices in class and, in the event of non-compliance, will ask you to leave class for the remaining period. Please turn off your phone and put it away during the class hour. Thank you.


Useful Links

Please check CAL PAL regularly for useful links to contemporary American literature sites, as you prepare for class and research your interests. Many of these sites contain numerous other links. You might also find the (rather skeletal) Theory PAL useful on occasion. — As you find additional sites we should all know about, please let us know