English R1B

Other Readings and Media

"Poe, Edgar Allan: ?The Murders in the Rue Morgue? and other stories (course reader)

Coyle, Arthur Conan: ?The Hound of the Baskervilles? (course reader)

Christie, Agatha: Murder on the Orient Express

Mosley, Walter: Devil in a Blue Dress

Morrison, Toni: Song of Solomon

Auster, Paul: City of Glass



Films:

Chinatown

Memento

Mulholland Drive "

Description

"Whodunnit? Who cares? This course about detective fiction will pose more complex questions: What is the relationship between the detected and detective? Between detection and desire? Between criminal and police? What constitutes moral culpability? How do these texts draw the line between public and private? What is it that so irresistably draws ordinary people into ?the scene of the crime?? Beginning with Edgar Allan Poe, commonly acknowledged as the father of modern detective fiction, we will be analyzing a wide variety of detective stories, novels, and films. In essays, revisions, and other short writing assignments, students will be encouraged to explore the social, cultural, and personal dimensions of a genre that is often regarded as light entertainment.



We will also be viewing three films. Students will have the option of watching them during scheduled class screenings or on their own.



This course is intended to develop students? expertise in writing the college research paper. In addition to writing and revising at least one essay about the assigned fictional texts, students will learn how to conduct and present research on a related topic of their own design. "