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Instructors: Anne Bull
Event type:
Seminar
Displayed in timetable as:
05.866.410
Hours per week:
2
Credits:
8,0
Language of instruction:
Englisch
Min. | Max. participants:
- | 30
Registration group: AS 410
Priority scheme: Senatsrichtlinie
Contents:
This seminar focuses on twenty-first-century African American literature related to the American South. We will explore contemporary Black literary responses to a broad spectrum of socio-historic and political themes, ranging from the racialization of slavery in the early Americas to today’s racial landscape. Respectively, we will be discussing highly sensitive topics, including slavery, racial violence, dysfunctional families, (the criminalization of) drug addiction, mass incarceration, etc. Our primary sources consist exclusively of novels, making this a relatively reading-intensive course.
Since this course thrives on in-class discussions and feedback, attendance, in general, is highly advised. In addition, this course includes a number of student activities for which attendance is mandatory. There are, however, elective options available.
To facilitate preparation, you can find the assigned reading material listed below in the order in which we will cover it in class. Obtaining the books as early as possible to avoid delays during the semester and to get a head-start on some of the readings is recommended.
- Toni Morrison, A Mercy (2008)
- Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad (2016)
- Kiese Laymon, Long Division (2021, 2nd revised edition)
- Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing (2017)
- Yaa Gyasi, Transcendent Kingdom (2020)
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