Spring 2009

HERMAN MELVILLE.

ENGL 434A, American Literature of the 19th Century:

C. Brichford;             MW, 2:00-2:50;         January 11 through March 3

A literary sensation ("the man who lived with cannibals") at age 27, a literary has-been a decade later, Herman Melville died in obscurity but is now generally recognized as one of America's greatest authors.  We will read works which mark the various stages of Melville's career and which have provoked such widely varying reactions.  This will afford us the opportunity not only to talk about the works themselves but about cultural and critical attitudes toward literature in the early 19th century and since.  We will read Melville's first prose work, Typee (1846), a not-quite-non-fictional account of Melville's adventures in the Marquesas Islands;  Moby-Dick (1851), the book that finished off Melville's contemporary popularity but is now widely considered the masterpiece of American Literature; Billy Budd, his last prose work, published posthumously; and some of his short poems. 

Since a careful examination of these works will easily require all of the time available, we will not concern ourselves with the abundant critical literature about Melville, except for an occasional tidbit which I will provide.   Class meetings will ordinarily begin with an opportunity to write a short reaction to some aspect of the day's reading, and will consist almost entirely of discussion.  Participation in these discussions is vital, and will figure in your grade.  There will be one out of class paper, a critical study of some aspect of the works we have read—not a research paper—and an in-class essay.

C A L I G V L A

English 204A Section 1 AD 308                     Professor: Dr. Rieger

MWF 11:00-11:50                                                         January 11- February 15, 2010

The very name of the first century Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known to history as Caligula, has come to be a by-word for tyranny, eroticized cruelty and a particular breed of political madness.  In this course, we will attempt to understand why.  We will examine the life and legacy of the emperor Caligula, paying particular attention to the ways in which that legacy has resonated with the historians and artists who have followed after him.  To this end, this course will focus on the representation of Caligula in four specific literary and cinematic texts: the record left to us by the second century Roman biographer Suetonius,  Robert Graves’ 1934 historical novel I, Claudius, Albert Camus’ 1944 existential drama Caligula, and Tinto Brass’ controversial 1979 film of the same title.

Prerequisite:  English 102

Due to the themes and content of this course, your professor strongly encourages discretion.

The Major Tragedies of Thomas Middleton

“Thou’lt love anon / What thou so fear’st and faint’st to venture on.”                                         The Changeling III.iv.170

English 431A  Section 1  AD 302                                                  Professor:  Dr. Rieger

MW 2:00-2:50                                                                                    March 15 – May 3, 2010

Bloody, raw, and lushly erotic, the major tragedies of Thomas Middleton are among the supreme achievements of the English Renaissance.  Critic Gary Taylor writes that Middleton “reaches out from the past and punches you in the stomach.”  Gail Kern Paster declares that Middleton provides “a dark and unsparing view of human nature.”  In this course, we will examine Middleton’s three great tragedies : The Revenger’s Tragedy, The Changeling, and Women Beware Women, the three plays on which his reputation chiefly rests, and will subject them to intense, critically informed analysis.

We will pay particular attention to topics including historical context, critical reception, and language.  We will also view three film adaptations which your instructor feels are particularly illuminating, including Alex Cox’s 2002 Revenger’s Tragedy starring Eddie Izzard, and Marcus Thompson’s 1998 film Middleton’s Changeling, starring the late Ian Dury, of Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

Prerequisite:  English 205 and at least one 300-level English survey, preferably English 324.

English 204A: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Dr. A. Malkovich

English 204 A

Tuesday 2-4:15 Admin 302

January 12, 2010-Feburary 9, 2010

Prerequisite: English 102 with a grade of C or better

     The Speculative Fiction genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy provide both a basis and outlet for development of the imagination and understanding of the world on a global scale. This course will introduce students to a variety of science fiction and fantasy literatures with our primary concentration resting on historical contexts and literary interpretations. We will read a variety of works from a variety of time periods as well as engage critical works on science fiction and fantasy. Students will write a final 4-6 page literary analysis paper, take a final exam, and give a presentation on an author/topic not covered in class. 

Performance Poetry

Slam Poetry

260A First Session, 1/12-2/11,  Spring Semester, 2010    T-Th 12:30-1:45

We will look at Slamnation, a documentary of a National Slam competition, along with Def Jam Poetry episodes. Then we will write our own poetry, and perform in poetry slams, which will be filmed for portfolio purposes.

Dr. Katherine Arnoldi was the Nuyorican Poet’s Café semi-finalist slam winner for 1991. She has performed in venues throughout New York City.

GRAPHIC NOVEL AS LITERATURE 204A, Second Session, 2/17-3/29,   Spring Semester, 2010

MWF 11:00-11:50

We will read and write about graphic novels such as Maus by Art Spiegelman, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Ghost World by Daniel Clowes, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, and The Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mom by Katherine Arnoldi, along with your choice of superhero DC or Marvel titles such as Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, Watchman by Alan Moore, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and selections from Manga and  Anime. If students prefer, they may substitute one writing assignment with their own graphic novel manuscripts with or without illustration. Writing for graphic novels will be discussed including technique, timing, plot and marketing along with illustration techniques including penciling, inking, lettering and portfolio development.

Dr. Katherine Arnoldi’s graphic novel, The Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mom (Hyperion, 1998) was awarded a New York Foundation of the Arts Award in Drawing, two American Library Association Awards, was named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by Entertainment Weekly and was nominated for both the Harvey Award and the Will Eisner Award in the graphic novel. A film adaptation is in production by the Kennedy Marshall Company (ET, Indiana Jones, Seabiscuit, Bourne Identity) and Universal Studios.

204A, Second Session, Spring Semester, 2010

MWF 10:00-10:50 

FICTION CLASS:

SHORT STORY

260 A  Second Session,

2/16-3/25, Spring, 2010

T-Th 12:30- 1:45

Text:  Burroway, Janet. Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft.

In a workshop format, we will work on short stories and/or novel chapters. Using Janet Burroway’s excellent book, we will work on voice, character development, setting and story, along with invention through the use of prompts and freewriting exercises. This is a literary fiction class, not for genre writing (science fiction, mystery or romance).

Dr. Katherine Arnoldi has been awarded the New York Foundation of the Arts Award in Fiction, Henfield TransAtlantic Fiction Award, DeJur Award, Newhouse Award and the Juniper Prize in Fiction. Her collection of short stories, All Things Are Labor, was published by the University of Massachusetts Press (2007). She has also been awarded residencies from McDowell, Edward Albee Foundation, Hedgebrook, Blue Mountain Center and the Millay Colony.

English 433A: British Literature from Victorian to the Present

Charles Dickens

Dr. A. Malkovich

Thursday 11:00-1:15  Admin. 302

January 14^th, 2010-March 4^th, 2010

Prerequesite: English 205 with a grade of C or better and one of the following: ENGL 324, 325, 326, 327 or 328 or the consent of the instructor.

Noted as one of the most prolific authors in British Literature, Charles Dickens championed for the poor, challenged political, economic, and social issues relevant to the Victorian era and helped bring about cultural and societal changes through the nub of his quill. Though he led a complex personal life and undertook a variety of roles, including actor and journalist, Dickens brought to life some of the most memorable works found in literature. We will discuss the importance of Dickens to the Victorian period on a national and global scale, the impact the author has had on progress, the “Dickensian” concept, as well as investigating the staying power of his works.