Jan 15: Introduction: Contemporary literature and transnational politics.
Jan 17: The political novel.
Jan 22: In the ruins of the future: Don DeLillo’s Falling Man.
Jan 24: DeLillo’s Falling Man.
Jan 29: DeLillo’s Falling Man.
Jan 31: DeLillo’s Falling Man.
Feb 5: Transnational theocracy and the liberal state: John Updike’s Terrorist.
Feb 7: Updike’s Terrorist.
Feb 12: Updike’s Terrorist.
Feb 14: Updike’s Terrorist.
Feb 19: The accidental tourist: Michel Houellebecq’s Platform.
Feb 21: Houellebecq’s Platform.
Feb 26: Houellebecq’s Platform.
First essay due in class, 5-7 pages.
Feb 28: Houellebecq’s Platform.
Mar 4: “Politics in a literary work”: Orhan Pamuk’s Snow.
Mar 6: Pamuk’s Snow.
Mar 11: Spring Recess
Mar 13: Spring Recess
Mar 18: Pamuk’s Snow.
Mar 20: Pamuk’s Snow.
Mar 25: Universal human rights?: J. M. Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello.
Mar 27: Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello.
Second essay due in class, 5-7 pages.
Apr 1: Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello.
Apr 3: Oil diplomacy. Stephen Gaghan, dir. Syriana. In-class screening.
Apr 8: Syriana. In-class screening.
Apr 10: Syriana. Discussion.
Apr 15: The weather underground. Dana Spiotta’s Eat the Document.
Apr 17: Spiotta’s Eat the Document.
Apr 22: Spiotta’s Eat the Document.
Apr 24: Conclusions and evaluations.
Research paper due in class, 8-10 pages.
Required Texts:
 |
Coetzee, J. M. Elizabeth Costello (2003) |
|
DeLillo, Don. Falling Man (2007) |
|
Houellebecq, Michel. Platform (2002) |
|
Pamuk, Orhan. Snow (2004) |
|
Updike, John. Terrorist (2006) |
|
Spiotta, Dana. Eat the Document (2006) |
All texts for the course can be found at Talking Leaves Bookstore, 3158 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214; (716) 837-8554.
Course Requirements:
Attendance in class, reading assignments and participation in discussion for English 357 is mandatory; two intermediate length papers and a final research paper that will integrate non-fiction, cultural and literary critical sources.
Papers: Neatly printed copies must be presented in class on the day indicated on the syllabus. These copies should adhere to the following format: a cover page with a title for your essay, your name, the course number and title, the date; typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins; all pages numbered; stapled. The paper should be proofread for grammatical and typographical errors.
Late policy: Late assignments will be accepted only by prior arrangement with me. Failure to seek approval before the due date will result in a penalty of one grade increment per class meeting.
Plagiarism: All secondary materials, either from print or online sources, must be properly attributed. Plagiarism of a paper—either in whole or in part, especially including sources downloaded from the Internet—will result in an immediate failure for the assignment, or the course, at the instructor’s discretion.
Attendance: Noted on a daily basis. Absence from more than five classes during the course of the semester will result in a final grade deduction, up to and including failure for the course, at the instructor’s discretion.
Grading: 50% for the two papers; 40% for the final research paper; and 10% for attendance and participation in the class discussion list.
Last revised on Tuesday, January 15, 2008.
Copyright © 2008 Joseph M. Conte. All
Rights Reserved.