Reading for Life
During your time as an English major, you probably have read a lot of fiction. This class will offer you the opportunity to reflect on why and how we read fiction--stories that are, by definition, not true. What is the value--in ethical, biological, sociological, and psychological terms--of reading fiction? We will explore how attitudes towards reading fiction have changed over time, and consider how reading fiction helps us navigate real life. What skills does reading fiction allow us cultivate? How does reading participate in the process of identity formation? How does it sustain us emotionally and intellectually? What do our preferences as readers say about our needs or desires as human beings? Does consuming fiction in forms other than the written word (say, through TV, film, audiobooks, or podcasts) have the same benefits as reading?
We will explore these questions by pairing two recent novels that thematize the act of reading Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being*, and Louise Erdrich's The Sentence, with a range of sociological, philosophical, psychological, and literary theories about why we read fiction and why it matters. Assignments will include several short response papers, two 5-minute presentations, and a capstone portfolio.
*Important note: A Tale for the Time Being features several characters who discuss suicide. It is not graphic or violent; but if this is likely to be triggering for you, it might be wise to choose a different capstone course.
Textbooks:
Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being
Louise Erdrich, The Sentence