This seminar aims at exploring the variety of cultural representations of California since the turn of the last century. We want to study those representations of California in literary texts such as Frank Norris’ The Octopus. A Story of California (1901), Maxine Hong Kingstons The Woman Warrior. Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts (1975) or Bret Easton Ellis’ Imperial Bedrooms (2010). Furthermore we will deal with films (e.g. East of Eden, 1955; a variety of current films made in or about California such as Mulholland Drive, 2001) and television series such as Californication, 2007- or Mad Men, 2007- among others. And we want to study other forms of cultural representations of California in media, arts, music and advertising. In this seminar we want to discuss what “does not add up” (Joan Didion) about California and its representations - why does California remain impenetrable and an enigma to some while it only represents Hollywood and surfing for others? The second objective of this seminar is the discussion and study of the category of space that became more and more relevant in literary and cultural studies during the last two decades. Dealing with texts, films, advertisings and music from and about California we want to develop reading strategies that allow us not only to find out more about cultural representations of California but also to gain further knowledge about the relevance of the category of space for our understanding of American culture. As a preparation for the seminar you may read Kevin Starr’s California: A History (New York: Modern Library) 2007. A course reader will be made available at the beginning of the semester. Please register for this course via email at alexandra.b.wagner@gmail.com until 17 October 2011. |
