English 190

Other Readings and Media

In addition to the books that follow, various readings will be photocopied or posted on Bspace (e.g. poetry by Robinson Jeffers, William Everson, Jack Spicer, Thom Gunn and Robert Hass, essays by James Cain, Edmund Wilson, Mike Davis, &c.); Chandler, R.: The Big Sleep; Dick, P.: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?; Didion, J.: Slouching toward Bethlehem; Stegner, W.: The Angle of Repose; Steinbeck, J.: The Long Valley; West, N: The Day of the Locust

Description

Besides reading and discussing fiction and poetry with Western settings, and essays attempting to identify or explain distinctive regional characteristics, this course will include consideration of some movies shaped by and shaping conceptions of California (e.g. The Grapes of Wrath; Double Indemnity; Sunset Boulevard; Chinatown). Depending on enrollment, each student will be responsible for organizing and leading class discussion (probably teamed with another student) once during the semester. Writing will consist of a single term paper of around twenty pages. There will be no quizzes or exams, but seminar attendance and participation will be expected, and will affect grades.

English 190 replaced English 100 and 150 as of Fall '09. English majors may fulfill the seminar requirement for the major by taking one section of English 190 (or by having taken either English 100 or English 150 before Fall '09). Please read the paragraph on page 2 of this Accouncement of Classes for more details about enrolling in, or wait-listing for, this course.