Reading Across Disciplines (302-0-20)

Instructors

Alessia Ricciardi
847/491-8259
1860 S. Campus Drive, Crowe Hall #2-133

Meeting Info

Kresge 5531 Comp Lit. Sem. Rm.: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

Environmental Melancholia

The environmental crisis confronts us with the urgent question of our emotions in the face of the disappearing natural world. The immensity of loss at stake in the threat of our extinction and the ensuing anxiety and distress are relatively new phenomena with which we must contend, and which all too quickly can lead us to passivity and paralysis. How are contemporary artists responding to this planetary emergency? In what ways might art help us to discover radical forms of hope that do not affirm an easy, unearned optimism but rather encourage the hard work of enlightened pessimism and care? In what ways can psychoanalysis help us to contend with the increasingly crucial impulses of denial, disavowal, mourning, nostalgia, solastagia, and reparation? The course will explore films, novels, poetry, critical writings, blogs, and websites that exemplify our affective responses to the current crisis.

Works by Albrecht, Antonioni, Atwood, Descola, Freud, Ghosh, Hamaguchi, Hass, Klein, Latour, Offill, Spahr, Tawada, Van Dooren, and Ware.

Teaching Method

Seminar-style in English

Evaluation Method

Requirements and Evaluation:
• Attendance and active participation (20%)
• One oral presentation (10-15 minutes; 20%)
• One short paper (3-4 pages; 20%)
• Final paper (8-9 pages; 40%)

Class Materials (Required)

Books:
• Yoko Tawada, The Last Children of Tokyo (Granta, 2018)
• Other required texts will be available on Canvas

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area