English 190

Description

Besides reading and discussing some fiction and poetry with Western settings, and essays that attempt to identify or explain distinctive regional characteristics, this course will consider various movies shaped by and shaping conceptions of California, such as E. v. Stroheim's Greed, J. Ford's Grapes of Wrath, N. Ray's In A Lonely Place, B. Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, R. Polanski's Chinatown, the Coen brothers' Man Who Wasn't There, T. Haynes's Safe, P. Anderson's There Will Be Blood, &c.  Writing will consist of one long essay of 16-20 pages. There will be no quizzes or exams, but seminar attendance and participation will be expected, and will affect grades.

Readings will include Chandler, R.: The Big Sleep; Didion, J.: Slouching Toward Bethlehem; Steinbeck, J.: The Long Valley; Steinbeck, J.: The Pastures of Heaven; West, N.: The Day of the Locust.

Please read the paragraph about English 190 on page 2 of the instructions area of this Announcement of Classes for more details about enrolling in or wait-listing for this course.