Race and Identity

Coincidentally enough, as we are reading and discussing a novel about the problems of being “neither black nor white, yet both,” I ran across an interesting article in the New York Times on this issue, and how it has been elevated in the public consciousness by the candidacy of Barack Obama. There seem to be some connections between this discussion and the issues that Nella Larsen raised in 1928. 80 years later, it’s interesting that this is presented as a “new dialogue” on the question of racial identity.

The Harlem Renaissance

Like any “renaissance,” the Harlem Renaissance involved a negotiation between the past and the present. In the case of African American artists and intellectuals, this negotiation was complicated by the limitations placed upon them in American society during the early 20th century. Despite these limitations, we see concerns in writers such as Hughes and Larsen that correspond to the issues raised by Cather, Pound, Frost, etc. What are some connections you see among the various kinds of modernism represented by these writers?

Updated Schedule

In the interests of my own sanity (and yours as well), I’ve decided to push back the schedule slightly. We will not be discussing Quicksand until this Thursday, and we’ll drop Glengarry, Glen Ross from the reading list. The last two tests will be pushed back to 4/1 and 4/21, respectively. The revised schedule is available at the course website, here: http://www.usd.edu/~jdudley/schedule.htm

Modernist Poetry

Among the key elements of Modernist literature in general are formal experimentation and the notion of an “avant-garde,” that is, a small group of artists and thinkers at the forefront of creative work whose ideas are ahead of popular tastes. Certainly writers such as Pound, Eliot, Stein, etc., were much less concerned with establishing a large audience than with challenging some of the conventions surrounding literature. For many people, their work remains challenging and difficult. What are some of your response to their work, and what conclusions can you draw from these responses?

Midterm Exam Grades

The grades for the midterm exam are posted on WebCT. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.