It is difficult to tell a consistent, coherent story about American literary history. In this course, we’ll be using the insight by critical theorist Walter Benjamin as our guidepost: “There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism.”[1] American literary history is rife with contradictions; Benjamin’s insight will allow us to understand these contradictions as two sides of the same coin, rather than as competing narratives.
In this course, student will gain a historical understanding of American literature as it developed over the past 400 years. In addition to understanding major time periods and literary styles, students will be able to speak and write intelligently about the authors and their work in the course
[1] This quote comes from Benjamin’s “Theses on the Philosophy of History.” You can read the entire essay here.
In this course, student will gain a historical understanding of American literature as it developed over the past 400 years. In addition to understanding major time periods and literary styles, students will be able to speak and write intelligently about the authors and their work in the course
[1] This quote comes from Benjamin’s “Theses on the Philosophy of History.” You can read the entire essay here.