Fall 2006

E 379S • Senior Seminar--Literature and Culture of the 1960s

Course Description

Only one of the following may be counted: E 379N (Topic: Literature and Culture of the 1960s), 679HA (Topic: Literature and Culture of the Sixties), 379S (Senior Seminar--Literature and Culture of the 1960s).

The primary emphasis for this version of the course will be literature. We will have a reader with short stories from the black humorists, American postmodernism, the Black Arts Movement, and women writers who fit none of the above categories. Students might be expected to have a passing knowledge of some of the primary social and cultural movements of the era, but these will be secondary to evaluating the transformations in literary culture that occurred during the era. There will be periodic "music days;" each student will present an influential "text" (album of music) to the class along with a thesis on why that music was influential. We also read Bob Dylan as a literary artist, through his songs, recently published memoir, and through academic analyses of his music.

Grading Policy

Periodic short essay assignments and web site bulletin board postings 10%
Quizzes on daily reading (best 6 of 8 taken for grade) 10%
2 short papers on assigned text 15%
Prospectus for paper or project (2-3 pages) 10%
Paper or alternative project on topic of choice (8-10 pages) 25%
Presentation of influential album of 1960s music 15%
Attendance, class participation, quality of Being 15%

Texts

Ann Charters, ed., The Portable Sixties Reader
Bob Dylan, Chronicles, Vol. 1
Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited (Album of Music)
Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49
Also, texts in Course Reader and on Electronic Reserves

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