James Baldwin: In Black and White
ENGL 318
Spring 2011 not offered
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Since James Baldwin's death in 1986, his novels, essays, film scripts, short stories, plays, speeches, and so on, have not been given the crtiical attention they deserve. That Baldwin was able to work in so many different forms generally has confused his critics. Was he a Jack-of-all-trades, or a master of some? In this course, we'll cover a wide range of the author's work. As we do so, we'll explore a variety of forms ourselves, producing, over the course of the semester, an essay, a piece of short fiction, a short play or screenplay, and a memoir. While Baldwin's work is the inspiration or jumping-off point for the work we'll do in class, it is not to be imitated. As this resolutely queer black artist showed us time and again, the effort involved in making art is ultimately about becoming a self: the artist as individual. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Interpretation, Writing
Students will produce several pieces of written material over the course of the semester including an essay, short fiction, short play or screenplay, and memoir. Students will also read and interpret not only Baldwin's work but the work of each other.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Baldwin Readings:
NOTES OF A NATIVE SON
NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME
THE FIRE NEXT TIME
GIOVANNI'S ROOM
"SONNY'S BLUES"
THE AMEN CORNER
ONE DAY, WHEN I WAS LOST
NO NAME IN THE STREET
THE DEVIL FINDS WORK
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Examinations and Assignments:
Reading and discussion of Baldwin texts; four papers 8-10 pages in length consisting of an essay, short fiction, short play or screenplay, and a memoir. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
To apply to this course please submit one or two samples (5-8 double-spaced pages each) of prose. This work can be a personal essay, a school assignment, journalism, or diary entires. Please also submit a cover page in two parts: 1) your name, email address, year in school, major, some of your favorite writers, and any other influences, and 2) a short biographical statement (a paragraph or two) describing your history with and interest in writing and any other background in creative writing. Submissions (hard copies) are due by noon on Wednesday, November 18 to the Administrative Assistant, Department of English, 294 High Street.
This course counts as a Special Topics course within the Creative Writing Concentration. This course also contributes to the English major Theory and Literary Forms concentration. |
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