Topics in Literature and Culture (285-DL-20)

Topic

Diversity in America Literature

Instructors

Lauren Renee Sirota

Meeting Info

Online: TBA

Overview of class

This course explores the complex landscape of diversity within American literature from 1980 to the present. Through the analysis of select novels, short stories, and poems, we will consider how diverse contemporary authors represent the experiences of marginalized individuals and communities within their social and historical contexts. In particular, we will investigate how language, narrative, and storytelling serve as vehicles for individual and cultural identity formation within these texts and discuss how authors' narratorial choices intersect with themes of race, class, gender, sexuality, and identity.

Students will deepen their understanding of individual texts while developing skills for analyzing and close reading. By the end of the term, students will have not only a deeper understanding of our chosen texts, but also a broader appreciation for the diverse voices and stories that make up the American literary canon today.

This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition.

Humanities distribution course. Meets requirement for course that applies perspectives on power, justice, and equity within the United States for online Bachelor of Science degrees.

Registration Requirements

This course is limited to School of Professional Studies students only. Undergraduate students in other schools at Northwestern are not permitted to enroll in this course.

Class Attributes

Asynchronous:Remote class-no scheduled mtg time