“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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Week’s Readings
(story title = link)
M 31-Aug Cambridge / Narrative Chapters 2-3 plus
Willa Cather: “The Affair at Grover Station” (1900)
& Zora Neale Hurston: “Spunk” (1925)
W 02-Sept Cambridge / Narrative Chapters 4-5 plus
Dorothy Parker: “You Were Perfectly Fine” (1929)
& Parker: “The Last Tea” (1932)
F 04-Sept Cambridge / Narrative Chapter 6 plus
Katherine Anne Porter: “Theft” (1929) & (TBA)
Due: First Blog Entry
Greetings, Fall 2009 students!
Our “experiment” will begin shortly… I will update this blog as we proceed; so, be sure to check regularly (or use the RSS feed)–especially for updates to our schedule.
In the meantime, closely review the syllabus and schedule (of readings and class sessions).
As you can see, you’ll need the first book for class on F 28-Aug.
All of the required texts will be available at Goerings Book Store (1717 NW First Ave.)
Update: as of Monday (5pm), Goerings has about 10 copies of Cambridge / Narrative; (also, some of the later texts have not arrived).
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