Listed in: First Year Seminar, as FYSE-115
Lucia M. Suarez (Section 01)
Through close textual readings of select texts from the literary oeuvre of Haitian-American author, Edwidge Danticat, this class aims to introduce students to the rich history of Haiti’s people, the deep violence that has afflicted the nation, the trauma that its diaspora carries, and the channels for healing made available to Haitian and Haitian-American communities through literature, theater, and traditions such as oral story-telling and religion. In particular we will examine: What is the function of literature? Can literature perform healing for its writers and the communities therein represented? Can it function as a tool of memory and human rights action? How does diaspora literature affect life on the island? How does the recent hurricane get addressed by the author, and new literature on the subject? Supplemented by historical and theoretical essays, and film, we will attempt to understand the Haitian condition in its complexity and astonishing beauty.
The course has three primary objectives. First, students will be exposed to the examination and understanding of literary genres, memoir, historical fiction, creative fiction, short stories, poetry, and oral storytelling. Second, the students will have short writing assignments in which they come to better understand the form and function of different writing styles. Finally, students will learn interpretive reading, learning to read at face value (emotional response) and also to read for meaning (fact-finding, synthesis evaluation, multiple interpretations).
Fall semester. Professor Suárez.
Section 01
M 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHAP 119
W 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHAP 119
F 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM CHAP 119
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create Dangerously | Amherst Books | TBD | ||||
| Krick? Krack! | Amherst Books | TBD | ||||
| The Farming of Bones | Amherst Books | TBD | ||||
| Breath, Eyes, Memory | Amherst Books | TBD | ||||
| Brother, I'm Dying | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.