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Vorheriges Semester
Contemporary Authors Series: David Foster Wallace
DozentIn: Irina Brittner, M.A.
Veranstaltungstyp: Seminar
Ort: nicht angegeben
Zeiten: Do. 12:00 - 14:00 (wöchentlich)
Beschreibung: David Foster Wallace (1962-2008) was one of those ‘serious’ writers who was very much in vogue at the turn of the 21st century. His by now infamous novel, *Infinite Jest*, spoke to a whole generation of readers and was applauded by critics for its exceptional storytelling and formal experimentalism. Shortly after his death, in 2008, the *L.A. Times* book critic David Ulin praised him as "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last twenty years" (Ulin qtd. in Nolan and Rubin). Also a most prolific writer, he left behind a widely diverse oeuvre, consisting of (philosophic / theoretical) criticism, journalistic essays, humorist writings, as well as shorter and longer pieces of fiction (among those are also his Pulitzer Prize nominated last novel *The Pale King*). This oeuvre not only reflects his manifold interests and talents (e.g., avid tennis player, university professor, gifted orator and word fetishist), but also attests to his ability to address and speak meaningfully to his audience across a wide array of genres and discourses.
This seminar is dedicated to this remarkable author, exploring his linguistic and philosophical vision, as well as his cultural and critical legacy. We will read texts from and about David Foster Wallace, especially focusing on the peculiar forms Wallace uses for articulating his ethical messages. A selection of those texts will be made available on Stud.IP at the beginning of the semester (approx. beginning of April 2020).
This course shares requirements and guidelines with the other American Studies courses taught at IfAA. The “American Studies Tool Kit” in the Stud.IP “Files” section outlines these requirements and guidelines. Please see the “Guidelines for Seminar Papers” for information on the formal requirements for the final paper. The “Abbreviations Key,” “Term Paper Checklist,” and “Grading Rubric” are used in the grading and feedback process and will enable you to better judge your own paper even before handing it in. Please check the course webpages on Stud.IP regularly for updates, announcements, and changes.
Prerequisites for participation: B1 module
General requirements:
• Regular attendance, homework and active participation in classroom discussions. If you skip a session, it will be your responsibility to follow up on the course content and allotted tasks.
• All course participants will need to read each of the texts being discussed in the class carefully, prepare their notes or questions diligently.
• If you do not engage with the allotted texts and participate actively in our classroom discussions, you will be asked to sign out of the course.
Requirements for grade: All of the above, and a seminar paper (approx. 4500 words). Further instructions in this regard will be provided after the first half of the course is over.
