ENGLISH 371 Topics in World Literature: East/West Intersections Fall Magic Realism

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1 ENGLISH 371 Topics in World Literature: East/West Intersections Fall Magic Realism Monday, Wednesday, Friday 01:00PM - 01:50PM Edwards Humanities & Fine Arts, Room 168 Dr. Anna Oldfield Office: EHFA 204 Phone: 1 (843) aoldfield@coastal.edu Office Hours: MWF 11-12, T/TH 2-3 Catalogue Description This course extends students understanding of and experiences in different cultures of the world by examining issues of cross-cultural interaction and transfer of ideas between and within world cultures, historical periods, and/or literary movements. The course will also introduce students to some strategies of literary criticism and research on world authors through examination of critical texts appropriate to the topic. In particular, this course will sharpen awareness of the various intersections between traditions of the East and West. This course is writing intensive. Course Description Fall 2016 Magic Realism. A subset of Latin American fiction? A post-colonial literary hybrid? A type of Surrealism or Fantasy? A response to political repression? A genre as old as Gilgamesh? Magic/al Realism is perhaps not a genre, period or style, but a mode of artistic creation in which multiple worlds intersect and collide with unexpected, paradoxical and sometimes disturbing results. In this class we will consider literature and film as we explore our own ideas of the magical real, learn how it interconnects with political and historical situations, and respond to its metaphysical challenges. Geographically, we will be in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Readings will include Franz Kafka, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Shahrnush Parsipur, Haruki Murakami, and Ben Okri. Instructional Objectives 1. Students will the read books and explore the questions they raise, including how they interact with historical events and other arts. 2. Students will examine the technique/genre of Magic Realism and discuss the questions it raises on course themes (including meaning, identity, history, and reality). 3. Students will write on course themes, practice critical analysis, and get feedback on their writing. ENGL 371 1

2 Student Learning Outcomes 1. Students will be able to discuss verbally and in writing how class texts interact with historical events, other texts and other arts of their time and beyond. 2. Students will be able to discuss verbally and in writing the technique/genre of Magic Realism and the questions it raises on course themes (including meaning, identity, history, and reality). 3. Students will be able to write clearly and coherently on course themes, engage in individual critical analysis, and revise written work. Course Texts Books This course requires that you bring actual, physical books to class. Make sure you get the translations listed on the book list. Please do not try to get them free online or you will end up with a different and possibly terrible translation. Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis Norton Critical Edition (1915, Czech/German) Jorge Luis Borges, Ficciones. (1944, Argentina) (If you have the collection Labyrinths that is OK too) Julio Cortazar, Blow Up and Other Stories. (1967, Argentina) Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 100 Years of Solitude (1967, Columbia) Shahrnush Parsipur, Women Without Men (1989, Iran) Haruki Murakami, The Elephant Vanishes (Japan, 1993) Ben Okri Stars of the New Curfew (Nigeria, 1988) Short Readings There are two short readings on the course schedule, and there may be more if we have time. You can access them from the course website and you are allowed to bring them in digitally on your phone or computer. Nikolai Gogol, The Nose (Russia, 1835) Friedrich Nietzsche On Truth and Lies in the Extra-Moral Sense (1873, Germany) Website Access the course website for information, assignments, etc.: ENGL 371/691 Course Film Series There is a series of five course films that connect to our course themes. If you cannot see the films on the given dates see me and we ll find an alternative! All films screened 3-5:30 at the Student Union Movie Theater -Mon. Sept. 12 Pan's Labyrinth [El Laberinto del Fauno]. Dir. Guillermo del Toro, Mexico, Mon. Oct. 3 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie [Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie]. Dir. Luis Bunuel, FR/IT/SP, Mon. Oct. 24 Rashomon. Dir. Akira Kurasawa, Japan, Mon. Nov. 14 Run Lola Run [Lola Rennt.]. Dir. Tom Twyker, Germany, Dec. 5 No Man's Land [Ničija zemlja].dir. Danis Tanovič, Bosnia, 2000 Course Requirements Be in Class: Attendance, bringing books to class, preparation, participation, good will = 100 Short Writings: 1-3 page writing on directed questions. Some may be in class. 6 x 50 = 300 Semester Paper: 6-8 pages, Proposal (20), First Draft (100), Conference (80), Final Draft (100) = 300 Film Reactions: Short writing on course films (1-2 paragraphs). 30 x 5 = 200 ENGL 371 2

3 Final Exam: Short questions and essays on course themes = 100 Total 1000 points =A; =B+; =B; =C+; =C; = D+, =D; 599 = F *You must complete the assignments listed above at a satisfactory level to pass the class. You cannot, for example, skip the paper and try to make up points elsewhere. Attendance You need to be in the class to pass the class. Absences can be made up to count towards the class. You do not have to tell me why you missed class. I do not need medical excuses, photographs of flat tires, obituaries, etc. What you need to do is write on an assigned topic to get credit for the missed class. You can make up THREE classes that way. If there are extreme circumstances that are preventing you from coming to class and/or doing your work, come talk to me and we ll figure it out. The main point is to make up a class, just contact me and ask what the make-up assignment is. This way it is fair to the people who came to the class. If you miss nine classes you cannot pass the class. Writing Intensive Designation 1. This course will assign a range of writing assignments, and a significant part of the grade will be based on these assignments. 2. You will be given feedback on writing assignments and the opportunity to revise and rewrite specific assignments. Cell Phones and Laptops Once in awhile phones and laptops are useful in class, but mostly they are an insidious distraction that pulls you out of the classroom into the vortex of the phone world, where your miniaturized self is running around oblivious to the wisdom our class is imparting. If you have an emergency where you have to use/check the phone, please excuse yourself and go to the hall. If you really need a laptop to take notes, let me know about it. Late Work Time is relative and unstable, yet strangely inflexible when it comes to deadlines. As directed by the laws of the universe, all late assignments will receive a reduction by one letter grade. This way it is fair to those who turn in work on time. I don t need to know why your paper is late. Its OK, stuff happens. Just finish it and get it in. Do not expect a late paper to be graded as quickly as the other papers. On my side, I promise to get your on-time papers back to you in one week. is the best way to communicate with me outside of my office hours. I try to answer all s within 24 hours If you don t hear from me, please resend. Weekend will probably be answered Monday morning. You can also call me at the office on my office phone. Academic Integrity This course expects students to adhere to the Coastal Carolina Student Code of Conduct The CCU Student Code of Conduct (URL: Plagiarism or cheating can result in failing the course with an FX. ENGL 371 3

4 Accommodations I will happily accommodate students with disabilities. You just need documentation from the Office of Disability Services. This office is responsible for ensuring that reasonable accommodations are provided for students with documented learning, physical, and psychological disabilities. If you have a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services at Kearns Hall 106, Phone: Proposed Course Schedule (subject to slight changes) Day Date Topic/Reading Writing/Other 1 M 8/22 Introduction W 8/24 Gogol The Nose F 8/29 Dada, Surrealism, and Magic Realism 2 M 8/29 Kafka - Metamorphosis Part I W 8/31 Kafka - Metamorphosis Parts I and Part II F 9/2 Kafka - Metamorphosis Parts I and Part II Short Writing on Kafka Due 3 M 9/5 Celebrate Labor! No class! W 97 Nietzsche On Truth and Lies in the Extra-moral sense (PDF) F 9/9 Borges - Ficciones The Library of Babel 4 M 9/12 Borges - Ficciones The Garden of Forking Paths Film Pan s Labyrinth 3-5, LJSUT ENGL 371 4

5 W 9/14 Pan s Labyrinth Borges - Ficciones The Circular Ruins F 9/16 Borges - Ficciones The Lottery in Babylon 5 M 9/19 Borges - Ficciones Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertis ENGL 371 5

6 W 9/21 Borges - Ficciones Funes Memorius The Secret Miracle F 9/23 Cortazar Blow Up A Continuity of Parks Short Writing on Borges 6 M 9/26 Cortazar Blow Up Axolotl W 9/28 Cortazar Blow Up The Night Face Up F 9/30 Cortazar Blow Up House Taken Over 7 M 10/3 Cortazar Blow Up Blow up W 10/5 Cortazar, Bunuel, and the Domestic Bestiary Film The Discreet Charm LJSUT 3-5 Short Writing on Cortazar F 10/7 FALL Break NO CLASS! 8 M 1010 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude W 10/12 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude F 10/14 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude Paper Proposal Due 9 M 10/17 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude Short Writing I on 100 Years due W 10/19 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude F 10/21 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude S ENGL 371 6

7 10 M 10/24 Gabriel Garcia Marquez 100 Years of Solitude FINISH THE BOOK! Film Rashomon 3-5 SUV W 10/26 The Rashomon principle and 100 Years of Solitude F 10/28 Marquez and Parsipur Paper 1 st draft due between 10/26 10/30 11 M 10/31 Sharinush Parsipur Women without Men Part I W 11/2 Sharinush Parsipur Women without Men Part I and II F 11/4 Sharinush Parsipur Women without Men Kurasawa From Dreams Short Writing Due on Parsipur 12 M 11/7 Haruki Murakami The Elephant Vanishes The Elephant Vanishes W 11/9 Murakami TV People F 11/11 Murakami The Little Green Monster Sleep Short Writing Due on Murakami 13 M 11/14 Murakami The Second Bakery Attack Film Run Lola Run SUT 3-5 W 11/16 The Criminal in Lola and Murakami F 11/18 Paper 2 nd Draft Due between 11/16-11/20 Thanksgiving Break! 11/ M 11/28 Ben Okri Stars of the New Curfew Worlds that Flourish In the Shadow of War W 11/30 Okri - Stars of the New Curfew F 12/2 Okri - Stars of the New Curfew ENGL 371 7

8 15 M 12/5 The enemy in Okri and Borges: Borges The Form of the Sword W 12/7 No Man s Land Review Final Exam Film No Man s Land 3-5 LJSUT Short Writing on Orki due F 12/9 Final Exam 1:30 PM Room 168 FINAL EXAM 12/15 Last Day to Turn in Final Draft of Semester Paper ENGL 371 8