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Reforming Fictions: The Progressive Era
DozentIn: Jatin Wagle
Veranstaltungstyp: Seminar
Ort: 41/B11
Zeiten: Do. 14:00 - 16:00 (wöchentlich)
Beschreibung: Prominent literary fiction of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the United States, in particular the naturalist narratives depict a world that is about to fall prey to tyranny, a world somewhat comparable to ours. These novels are set in an age of economic reorganization associated with the advent of Taylorism in the industries and unfettered urbanization. Responding to these fraught social and political realities, movements and voices advocating resistance and social equality as well as temperance and regulation ushered in what came to be known as the Progressive Era. Although profoundly shaped by the workers’, women’s and African-Americans’ movements toward equality and civil rights, this age is also marked by rise in xenophobic rhetoric against immigration and a racist backlash against the economic and political gains made by African Americans during the Reconstruction period. In this course in American studies, we will explore the “reforming” of American narrative fiction as it responded to these unprecedented economic and social developments and accompanied the movements for social reform.
In order to take and enjoy this class, you should be willing to read, analyze, and discuss historical and analytical texts, as well literary narratives.
A list of primary texts and mandatory readings will be posted before our first session.
This course takes up literary/cultural texts that might be viewed as offensive and/or disturbing, especially because of their racially explicit vocabulary and imagery. This should not be seen as an attempt at normalizing racist epithets or attitudes, but on the contrary as an opportunity to appreciate and examine literary and cultural expression that tackles and critiques the murky realities of racism.
As part of your assigned work in this seminar, all the course participants would need to carefully prepare the reading(s) allotted for each of the sessions, develop points of discussion, and occasionally respond to the reading(s) via annotations on Google Docs. Our weekly sessions will be assisted by session support groups.
Requirements for a grade (ANG-V-LK, or ANG-SI-Komp. 1 and 2): All of the above and a research-based seminar paper.
Prerequisites for participation: ANG-B-LK module
