Fall 2004

E 379S • Literature and Culture of the 1960s

Course Description

We will explore roughly four categories of the 60s. (1) Influence of the Beat Generation on 60’s culture and literature, including Beats writing in the 60’s; (2) Innovations in American literature, including adventure in Postmodernism and Black Humor. This section will include developments in literary criticism; (3) the importance of music as cultural expression. Each student will choose an influential album of music and present it to the class at an end of semester symposium. (4) A chaotic look at the decade through political struggles and counterculture movements.

Grading Policy

Periodic short essay assignments and web site bulletin board postings 15%
In-class writing assignments (5) 10%
Prospectus for paper or project (2-3 pages) 10%
Paper or alternative project on topic of choice (6-8 pages) 25%
Presentation of influential album of 1960's music 25%
Attendance, class participation, quality of Being 15%

Texts

Bill Ayers, Fugitive Days: A Memoir (1, 4)
Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories (2)
Ann Charters, ed., The Portable Sixties Reader (1, 3, 4)
Jack Kerouac, On the Road (1)
Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49 (2)
Course Reader and selections on Electronic Reserves

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