Professor Gillian Harkins
English 355: Contemporary American Lit
Class Meeting: T/Th 1:30-3:20
Office Hours: TBD or by appointment
In-Person: 504-A Padelford Hall / Virtual Appointments
Contemporary American Lit:
What is a history of the present?
Course Description:
The official catalog says course considers “the production of texts circulating through various genres, media, and forms in recent American culture” in order to create “a cultural and social history of the present.” This is precisely what we will do in this course! What would count in “a cultural and social history of the present”? What makes it into the archive, what would you exclude, and how would you connect specific works to create a narrative or a composite picture of where we are and how we got here? These are among the most complicated and compelling questions raised in the relation between storytelling and history, artwork and archives. Some of my favorite recent works cross the line between art and life, fiction and fact, story and history. They do so to engage audiences in precisely the project of this class: how would you create a cultural and social history of the present? How would you situate your own particular present and history within broader patterns of collective memory? Are there archives unique to specific positions in the present? Or are there in fact multiple ways of being in and understanding “the present” that must be considered in any archive project? The course catalog emphasizes these issues as well, closing with the line: “features diverse voices and examines how texts are shaped by, or in turn shape, systems of power.” Power, race, gender, class, nation, empire, sexuality, religion … these are among the many terms that name the complex systems of power shaping not only past and present, but how we understand relations between them. This class will gather as a group to read and discuss several key works together, with short writing to help you digest our shared learning, before you work on an independent project exploring the course themes.
The course will include digital works available through the Canvas course website as well as materials you may need to purchase or borrow independently. Access to works required for the class will be provided digitally whenever possible. If there are exceptions to digital accessibility, they will be marked on the syllabus and options to access those materials can be discussed in advance with the professor. Works required for the class are still being decided.
Add Codes:
Add codes for this course will only be available one week before the start of the course. Please wait until then to reach out and request add codes for this course.
Course Format:
The Course will meet in person on UW Seattle Campus, with the option to shift class to Zoom through the Canvas website as needed.