Forum URL: http://www.colby.edu/forums/clogin/?confId=1&forumId=154

texts:
novels/collections
The Great Gatsby F.Scott Fitzgerald
Miss Lonelyhearts/Day of Locust Nathanael West
Native Son Richard Wright
Revolutionary Road Richard Yates
Meridian Alice Walker
The Book of Daniel E.L.Doctorow
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain Robert Olen Butler
Lucy Jamaica Kincaid
Success Stories Russell Banks
Love Medicine Louise Erdrich

Films:
Out of the Past
Double Indemnity
Rear Window
(possibly) Being John Malkovich

Expectations:
In this seminar we'll perform close readings of twentieth century novels, story collections and films; we'll also interrogate their cultural contexts to see how the pressures and anxieties of an age (what Foucault alludes to as sites of conflict) inform the texts. One of our primary goals will to understand the ways in which art serves to analyze, critique and subvert the values of the dominant culture. Our work will reflect traditional literary analysis but also make use of contemporary and historical documents, cultural criticism, and some literary theory.

As you can see by the syllabus, I've given much thought to this very exciting and ambitious project. It will be labor intensive. Although I hope and think you'll enjoy this work immensely -- as it reflects so clearly on contemporary America -- you will be required to read and think critically about a lot of material. I've kept the class small so everyone in the class can and should participate actively in class discussions and forums. Please don't take a slot in this class if you think you can't or don't want to do the work (there's a long waiting list).

Requirements:
1-You'll write one long fifteen page critical paper reflecting some of the concerns of the class. You can write either a close-reading or theoretically based paper: I will grant considerable latitude in your choice and approach, but the paper must examine issues raised by at least two of the novels and films without duplicating class discussion. The paper will count as 50% of your grade, and no late papers will be accepted. I'll expect to consult with you in conference a couple of weeks before the due date.

2-Every Monday before 9 a.m. you'll write a two paragraph forum response to a question I hope will focus your thinking about the reading and trigger class discussion. Individual forum entries will not be graded (though if entries need to be improved I will make suggestions), but will cumulatively count as 30% of your grade. You'll be permitted to miss one forum without penalty, and because I need to see and evaluate the forums before Tuesdays' class, late entries will count as missing.

3- Even more than in most classes, a seminar is a community of learners. You'll be permitted one absence without penalty, but I will also expect full participation in class discussion. Class discussion will count for 20% of your grade.

I will expect you to prepare Gatsby and its contexts before class on Tuesday. You'll also be responsible for a forum entry on Monday, September 13th. If you have questions about the forum, please contact me in advance. I have model entries from other classes. I'll send you by e-mail the Weblen excerpt on conspicuous consumption and the wealth concentration graph.

We will have to make adjustments for one class meeting (fall break falls on a Tuesday) and I will want to set up a time when we as a class can watch the films and take notes (we won't take class time watching the films). Ideally the films should be seen twice, so I will also try to put the films on two-hour reserve.

4. The supplementary reading list offers additional information on the subject: it is not required, though if your paper's concentrating on that decade, you'll probably want to make use of the background information.

Syllabus: