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| Semester | fall semester 2024 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Ridvan Askin (ridvan.askin@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Colson Whitehead is one of the preeminent voices of twenty-first-century US fiction. His accolades include numerous literary prizes and fellowships, including the 2016 National Book Award for Fiction and the Pulitzer Prize, which he won two times (in 2017 and 2020), a feat he shares with only three other authors. We will read six of the nine novels he has published to date. His often humorous but equally gripping novels avail themselves of a variety of (popular) genres, from alternate history to steampunk, from the novel of formation to crime fiction, from historical fiction to post-apocalyptic Zombie narrative, often in one and the same novel. This eclectic mix of genres together with the accomplished interweaving of realist and more experimental writing styles is employed in the service of investigating contemporary US race relations. Accordingly, we will focus on how, in Whitehead’s novels, questions of genre and literary form intersect with representations of race, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy. |
| Learning objectives | Students taking this course will become intimately acquainted with the novels of one of the foremost voices of twenty-first-century US fiction; they will refine their knowledge in novel and genre theory; they will become conversant in the academic discourse on race and anti-Black racism; and they will acquire the skills to apply these insights in their discussions of Whitehead’s novels. |
| Bibliography | Please purchase the following novels: • Colson Whitehead, “The Intuitionist” (1999) • Colson Whitehead, “John Henry Days” (2001) • Colson Whitehead, “Sag Harbor” (2009) • Colson Whitehead, “Zone One” (2011) • Colson Whitehead, “Underground Railroad” (2016) • Colson Whitehead, “The Nickel Boys” (2019) Any editions will do. Additional texts will be made available on ADAM. Given that this is a reading intensive course, it is advisable to start reading the first novel before the beginning of term. We will read the novels chronologically. |
| Comments | Given that this is a reading intensive course, it is advisable to start reading the first novel before the beginning of term. We will read the novels chronologically. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | It is strongly recommended that this course is taken only after the successful completion of the "Introduction I: Literary Studies" and "Introduction II: Literary Theory" proseminars. |
| Course application | To register for this course, please email Ridvan Askin at ridvan.askin@unibas.ch. Note that the course can accommodate a maximum of 20 students. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17.09.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 24.09.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 01.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 08.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 15.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 22.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 29.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 05.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 12.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 19.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 26.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 03.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 10.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Tuesday 17.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Raum 11 |
| Modules |
Modul: Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance; active participation (doing ALL the readings and contributing to in-class discussions); four quizzes |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |