Poli 309 Spring '95 Suresht R. Bald

T. Th. 9:40 - 11:10 Office: Smul 324 Smullin 315 Tel. X6261

Office hours: M. 10:30-11:30; 1:30-2:30;

T. Th. 11:20-12; 3:20-4:00; W. 1:30-2:30;

and by appointment.

POLITICS AND LITERATURE

"No book is genuinely free from political bias. The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude." George Orwell, A Collection of Essays New York: Doubleday & Co. 1954

In this course we will study selected contemporary novels from different political, economic and socio-cultural settings to gain an understanding of the politics of culture. We will start with George Orwell's assumption that all literature is political since it deals with the human condition and is written by men and women who make conscious choices about what to include and what to exclude. In reading the novels we will pay attention to both what is there and what is not, and speculate on the reasons for the writer's omissions and commissions. Accepting the novel as a complete world we will try to sort out the nature of relationships contained in it and closely study the different options and strategies for achieving goals available to the fictitious characters that inhabit the novelist's imaginary world.

In addition, the course is structured to help you enhance your capacity for critical analyses and independent judgment, and to develop your skills for writing well organized, clear, coherent, thoughtful papers. It will rely heavily on class discussions: My role in the class will not be to "teach" but to encourage you to learn, to develop your ability to think for yourself, to question what you read, and to write thoughtful analyses in a clear and coherent manner. Since the class will be discussion-based it is imperative that you come to class well prepared. This means completing the readings prior to the class, identifying the key issues in the readings, forming reasoned opinions on those issues, and being ready to explain and defend these opinions. I encourage you to write down your reactions to the readings and bring them to class either in the form of questions you might want the class to consider or comments that you think might further our understanding of the assignment.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Since one of the objectives of the course is to enhance your ability to write analytical papers, there will be no exams. Instead, you will write three short (5-7 pages) papers (100 pts. each) and one long (12-15 pages) paper (200 pts.). Each of you will get an opportunity to re-write one paper if you so wish.

Class participation will carry 100 pts.

The grade for class participation will be based on:

1. the rigor of your analyses;

2. the clarity of your presentations;

3. your willingness to contribute; and

4. occasional written reports on the readings;

Late papers will not be accepted.

Plagiarism: "Copying or imitating the language, ideas, or thoughts of another author and passing off the same as one's own original work." (The American College Dictionary, New York: Random House, 1955, p.925) Plagiarism can be grounds for expulsion; it is taken very seriously by the faculty and administration. Please credit the source from where you obtain your material.

REQUIRED READINGS

See course schedule. Remember to complete assigned readings before the corresponding class meetings so that you can participate in class discussions.

Available for purchase at the Bookstore

H. Boll, The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum A. Dorfman, Widows

Zhang Jie, Heavy Wings

T. Morrison, The Bluest Eye

S. Rushdie, The Satanic Verses

T. Salih, Season of Migration to the North

Additional readings have been placed on reserve at the Mark O. Hatfield Library.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Jan. Tu 17 Introduction to the course.

Th 19 Andre Brink, "Literature and Offence" and "Imagining the Real" in Writing in a State of Siege pp.116-127; 215-222. Pick up from Karen's office on Wednesday.

Bluest Eye read thru "Autumn."

Tu 24 Bluest Eye pp. 59-122.

bell hooks, Yearning pp. 57-77 (on reserve). Recommended: Patricia Williams, "Owning the Self in a Disowned World" in The Alchemy of Race and Rights (on reserve).

Th 26 Bluest Eye pp. 122-190.

Tu 31 The Season of Migration to the North pp. 1-60.

Feb. Th 2 The S of M pp. 61-104.

Tu 7 S of M pp. 105-169

Th 9 No class - you will meet with me individually to discuss your paper topics.

Tu 14 First paper due. Three students will distribute their papers to everyone in the class on Monday and we will all provide constructive comments. The students presenting the papers will have the option to re- write their essay to incorporate the comments received in class.

Th 16 Satanic Verses pp. 3-44.

Tu 21 SV pp. 44-142.

Th 23 SV pp. 143-188.

Tu 28 SV pp. 189-264.

Mar. Th 2 SV pp. 264-315.

Tu 7 SV pp. 315-395.

Th 9 SV pp. 397-442.

Tu 14 SV pp. 442-546.

Recommended: Spivak, "Reading The Satanic Verses" in

Outside in the Teaching Machine;

Bhabha, the location of culture pp. 223-229.

Both these texts are on reserve at the Library.

Th 16 Second paper due. Again, three students will distribute their papers to everyone in the class. The process will be the same as the first paper presentation.

SPRING BREAK

Tu 28 The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum pp. 7-76.

Th 30 The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum pp. 76-140.

Apr. Tu 4 Widows pp. By way of dedication and pp. 3-64.

Th 6 Widows pp. 67-146.

Tu 11 Third paper due. We will follow the same process as in the case of earlier presentations.

Th 13 Heavy Wings pp. 3-48.

Tu 18 HW pp. 49-143.

Th 20 HW pp. 144-195.

Tu 25 HW pp. 196-308.

Th 27 No class. Individual consultations on the final paper.

May Tu 2 No class. Individual consultations.

Th 4 Fourth paper due in class.