James Baldwin and Henry James seem to be almost opposites, at first glance. Baldwin: marginalized, queer, and African American; James: privileged, the 'Master', white and genteel. Nevertheless, by reading James through Baldwin and Baldwin through James, surprising similarities, a queer master and a not so marginal Baldwin will evolve.
James and Baldwin are considered two of the most influential literary writers for the development of transnational Anglophone literature in the nineteenth and twentieth century respectively. Their work also has been central for the generation of contemporary intersections of theory, critique, and political activism today.
In this seminar, we read two central texts of each oeuvre and link our critical close readings to questions of perspective, composition and style; the representation of race, class, gender and sexuality, as well as the central roles played by reputation and shame in these works; the role of intercultural dialogue and the international theme; and finally, issues such as organized activism, political and cultural polarization inside the texts, around the texts, and occasioned by the texts. Our main theoretical orientations will be the theory of Narratology, Gender Theory, Critical Race Theory and Queer of Color Theory.
This seminar has two parts: From 12 to 2 PM we will discuss the authors and the texts and their theoretical and cultural ramifications (all students). From 2 to 4 PM (BA English, Module 14 students) we will discuss methodological questions, read additional texts, discuss open questions and talk about possible topics for BA theses.
The Moodle Key will be announced during the first meeting.
Reading:
- Henry James: Daisy Miller (novella), The Bostonians (novel)
- James Baldwin: “Going to Meet the Man” (short story), Giovanni’s Room (novel)
Please make sure to obtain copies of these works, and to have read them by the beginning of the semester. Please note that “Going to Meet the Man” is a story about a lynching and contains content that is hard to take. Giovanni’s Room is a text with some feisty language, at times transphobic. Throughout the semester, we will assign additional critical and close readings, which will help us in our discussions.
Requirements:
“Spezielle Arbeitsleistungen” (within the seminar): Master students will give short presentations (15 minutes) in groups of 2 to 3. Bachelor students will write summaries about the additional discussion- and reading-meetings and/or a personal response paper (ca. 3 pages) about one of the primary texts.
For the entire module (MAP) BA students have to write a term paper (15 pages) in Module 14, for Module 8 the exam takes place in the other courses of the module. Master students have to write a term paper (Module 4, 12 pages) or a book review (Module 9/10, 5 pages). Gender Studies students please ask.
Registration through Agnes. |
