“The face of ‘evil’ is always the face of total need. A dope fiend is a man in total need of dope. Beyond a certain frequency need knows absolutely no limit or control.
In the words of total need: ‘Wouldn’t you?‘ Yes you would” (201).
– Burroughs, “Testimony Concerning a Sickness” (1960)
M 28-Sep Burroughs: Naked Lunch
(“Deposition” pp. 199-205; “And Start West” to “Ordinary Men & Women” pp. 3-101)
(James Jacob & Phil Cafaro)
”Burroughs’ Cut-up Method”
W 30-Sep Naked Lunch (“Islam Inc” through “The Examination” pp. 101-65) (Anna Bernstein)
F 02-Oct Naked Lunch (”…Pantopon Rose?” through end, pp. 165-96; plus “Post Script” pp. 207-10)
(Eric Roe & Paige Miller)
“By the roots of my hair some god got hold of me.
I sizzled in his blue volts like a desert prophet.”
– Plath, “The Hanging Man” (1960)
At work in novels is “a new logic, definitely a logic, but one that grasps the innermost depths of life and death without leading us back to reason. The novelist has the eye of a prophet, not the gaze of a psychologist” (82).
– Deleuze, “Bartleby, or the Formula” (1989)
M 21-Sep Plath: The Bell Jar (through Chp. 9) (Sarah Zimmerman)
”Plath’s Life and Career” (Illinois)
W 23-Sep The Bell Jar (Chp. 10-14) (Krystal Sardinas)
plus poems (optional / select) — see below. cf. List: all poems (Stanford)
F 25-Sep The Bell Jar (Chp. 15-20) (Jessica Brousseau)
plus (required):
“Ariel” (1962); “Daddy” (1962); & “Lady Lazarus” (1962)
Due: Response 2 — Prompt
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M 07-Sep No classes— Labor Day
“The city seen from the Queensboro bridge…”
W 09-Sep Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby (through Chapter 4) (Caroline Geist)
Review Abbott Chp. 6 for Gatsby discussion.
Due: Second blog entry (Wed. night; resume normal blog schedule)
F 11-Sep Gatsby (Chp. 5-6) (Hillary Silvestri)
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M 14-Sep Gatsby (Chp. 7-9) plus Cambridge / Narrative Chp 7-8
(Audrey Bannon) & (Jeff Rudderman)
W 16-Sep Cambridge / Narrative Chapters 10 & 12 (plus Gatsby overview)
F 18-Sep Cambridge / Narrative Chapters 11 & 14
Due: Response 1 — Prompt
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F 04-Sept Cambridge / Narrative Chapter 6 plus
Katherine Anne Porter: “Theft” (1929)
Online Discussion — required (attendance/participation credit)
See instructions below and post replies in comments here.
Reminders / Other Tasks:
- Request Discussion Dates (by 04-Sept)
- First Blog Entry (“reading journal”) — Due Friday (on your blog)
- Discuss any of the 5 short stories from this week;
and/or any concept(s) from Abbott (first 6 chapters), illustrating with narratives of your choice.
- General Suggestions
- “Tech Support” entry
Read The Great Gatsby over long weekend.
- (discussing through Chapter 4 on W 09-Sept)
- Read Abbott Chp. 6 closely for Gatsby discussion.
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Required
By Friday 4-Sept, please post (in comment below) top 4 selections / requests of two days responsible for starting class discussion of readings —beginning Wed 9-Sept, as part of Attendance/Participation credit.
Review Schedule (updated 05-Sept)
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