ENGL 259 A: Literature and Social Difference

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Stations of the Cross, "The Land Question"

ENGL 259 (Winter 24):

Literature and Social Difference:

Liberation Theology in Literature and Film of the Americas

MW 1:30-3:20 PM, CMU 326

“This is a theology which does not stop with reflecting on the world, but rather tries to be a part of the process through which the world is transformed. It is a theology which is open—in the protest against trampled human dignity, in the struggle against the plunder of the vast majority of people, in liberating love, and in the building of a new, just, and fraternal society—to the gift of the Kingdom of God.”

—Gustavo Gutiérrez, A Theology of Liberation Chapter 1, “Theology: A Critical Reflection”

Instructor Info

Janine “Nina” Hsiao Sobers (she/her)

jsobers@uw.edu

Office hours: TTh 1-2 PM & by appt.

PDL B-37

Course Description

As the work of this course listing pertains generally to the examination of social difference through the study of literature, more specifically a considered engagement with systemic inequalities via the analysis of text and/or narrative-based creative productions, this class focuses in particular on literary and cinematic representations of radical progressive movements across various religious cultures in the Americas. Taking inspiration from the critical language of religious studies in its framing, the organizing concept of the class is liberation theology, very broadly and provisionally definable as a spiritual practice that centers on the pursuit of restitution for the oppressed as a primary means to actualize its given mission or vision. Though liberation theology originates from a mid-century revolutionary movement in Latin American Catholicism characterized by a materialist and humanist interpretive approach to Christian Scripture, its application has extended beyond the spheres of both Latin America and Christianity. As such, the curriculum here begins with liberation theology’s origins as a formal theological method, then branches out to consider its applications in other religious cultural contexts. Creative works from various genres are considered, such as prose fiction and non-fiction, poetry, film, and visual art. The leading questions of the course are as follows: what is the impact of religious cultures in the past as well as the present, especially their perennial significance as instruments of both oppression and liberation? To what extent are corrupted and inequitable social systems radically reconstitutable from without, as well as from within, or via their own discursive logic? What are some of the possible pathways toward this recuperative possibility, and what are the limitations and affordances of such a method of approach?

Course Materials

There is only one book that you need to purchase for this class:

• Zora Neale Hurston, Moses, Man of the Mountain (ISBN 978-0-06-169514-8)

The rest of the text-based readings will be uploaded to the “Files” tab of our Canvas page, and films will be available for streaming through readily accessible platforms. Also be sure to bring a notebook and writing instrument to class each day for notes and in-class write-ups.

Course Assessment

Grade percentage points are additively accrued across the quarter based on the successful and timely completion of coursework. The grade breakdown for the class is as follows:

• 14% Monday In-Class Solo Write-Ups (7 total, 2% each)
• 24% Wednesday In-Class Group Write-Ups (8 total, 3% each)
• 12% Friday At-Home Small Assignments, due Fridays (4 total, 3% each)
• 25% Paper 1
• 25% Paper 2

Monday In-Class Solo Write-Ups (7 total, 2% each)

Submitted in class, written on notebook paper. For each Monday meeting, at the start of class, I’ll display 1-2 short answer questions on the board about the assigned readings for that day. While these questions will be shorter, informal, and/or free response, they will require familiarity with the readings to answer. On your own, you’ll have the first 15 minutes of class to write your responses, but expect them to take no more than 10 minutes maximum. Must turn in an honest, good faith attempt to receive credit. In other words, don’t worry if the response is rough, but I can’t give credit for a low effort response that says something like “Sorry, didn’t do the reading” or “I don’t know.”

Wednesday In-Class Group Write-Ups (8 total, 3% each)

Submitted in-class via Canvas, in the “Assignments” tab. In Week 2, the class will be divided into 10 groups of 4 students each. These will be your work groups for the quarter. For each Wednesday meeting, at the start of class, I’ll display 1-2 short answer questions about the assigned readings for that day. In your work groups, you’ll then have the first part of class to compose a write-up response to these questions together, as a group, with your resources combined! These questions will be more complex and in-depth than the Monday questions, but you'll have more time and brainpower. Expect these write-ups to take no more than 15 minutes maximum to answer, but you’ll have the first 25 minutes of class to submit them.

Please note that attendance will be taken every Wednesday, and that two consecutive Wednesday absences will result in a 3% deduction to this part of the grade. Subsequent consecutive absences thereafter will result in an additional 3% deduction per absence. Absences may only be excused if a formal letter from a physician or work supervisor is provided.

Friday At-Home Small Writing Assignments (4 total, 3% each)

Submitted at home via Canvas, in the “Assignments” or “Quizzes” tab. Periodically throughout the quarter, I’ll assign small writing assignments on Canvas, which you’ll do outside of class on your own. Typically, these small assignments will involve exercises to help you along with the two big papers, and will be due on Fridays at midnight (see class schedule, below). Details on these small assignments will be given as the quarter progresses.

Long Papers (2 total, 25% each)

There are two long papers that you’ll write for this class. The first is due at the end of Week 6, and the second is due at the end of Week 10 (see class schedule, below). These papers are in essence close reading-based argumentative essays written in response to a chosen prompt, with minor research elements. Details for these papers will be given as the quarter progresses.

Course Policies

• Electronics: unless otherwise directed, the use of electronics (e.g. laptops, phones, tablets) is prohibited in class. Those with the appropriate DRS accommodations are an exception.
• Group work: as group work is necessary to succeed in the course, students are strongly encouraged to maintain clear communication channels with their assigned group throughout the quarter, notifying groupmates of absences or emergencies when they interfere with coursework. There is no need to notify the instructor unless providing documentation for an excused absence (a letter from a physician or work supervisor).
• Slurs: as is customary, slurs that appear in readings should not be verbalized.

Late Work Policy

In the absence of extenuating circumstances—meaning a verifiable work emergency or medical complication, individual or familial—or requisite DRS accommodations, papers submitted after class deadlines will receive a deduction of 5% per day that the submission is late.

If verifiable extenuating circumstances are involved, a student may request one extension, the exact submission date to be proposed by the student, then mutually agreed upon by both instructor and student. There is no requirement to disclose particulars, but clear and timely communication to the instructor is necessary. For extenuating circumstances, a formal letter from a physician or work supervisor must also be provided. After the extension submission date, the option to make up the work for full credit has passed, and whatever material is submitted will be graded as is.

Academic Integrity Clause

Syllabus blurb: “Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is presenting someone else's ideas or writing as your own. In your writing for this class, you are encouraged to refer to other people's thoughts and writing—as long as you cite them. As a matter of policy, any student found to have plagiarized any piece of writing in this class will be immediately reported to the College of Arts and Sciences for review.”

On AI writing: because the focus of the writing exercises is the development of critical thinking and analytical skills, the use of AI writing is here considered a violation of academic integrity.

All papers in this course will be screened for plagiarism upon submission.

Religious Accommodation Clause

Syllabus blurb: “Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-reqest/).”

Class Schedule (First Half)