Twentieth Century African American Literature

AMER20492 Twentieth Century African American Literature 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 2 Samson Thozer Unit coordinator English and American Studies 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 This course explores a range of novels, poems, plays and essays written by African Americans over the course of the twentieth century. We will trace a turbulent century’s worth of developments in Black self-expression through both canonical and popular texts, reading with a close eye on style and structure while keeping key context in mind. To this end, we will also consider the historical, cultural and political shifts that shaped key literary movements, such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. And towards the end of the course, we will see how the scope of African American writing has expanded generically since the 1970s, with new ground to break in historical fiction, sci-fi and metafiction. This course explores a range of novels, poems, plays and essays written by African Americans over the course of the twentieth century. We will trace a turbulent century’s worth of developments in Black self-expression through both canonical and popular texts, reading with a close eye on style and structure while keeping key context in mind. To this end, we will also consider the historical, cultural and political shifts that shaped key literary movements, such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement. And towards the end of the course, we will see how the scope of African American writing has expanded generically since the 1970s, with new ground to break in historical fiction, sci-fi and metafiction. - To introduce students to major themes in twentieth-century African American literature through readings of a wide range of texts published between 1903 and 2011; - To develop students' critical awareness by encouraging them to attend to the language, themes, narratives, genres, and political elements of the literary works we study; - To develop students' awareness of historical and cultural contexts specific to twentieth-century African American literature; - To encourage and develop students' research, presentation, and writing skills and their capacity to construct a sustained and coherent argument.   By the end of this course students should be able to demonstrate: - A knowledge and understanding of some of the major literary themes and traditions expressed and negotiated through twentieth-century African American literature; - A knowledge and understanding of some of the historical and cultural factors which influence the literature of this period, including the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement; - An ability to understand and theorize the ideological constructs of, and intersections between, race, class, gender, and sexual identity, as well as politics, in the work of a range of twentieth-century African American writers.   - Construct (in the assessed essay) a sustained and cohesive written argument and to deploy scholarly methods of presentation appropriate to Level 2; - Illustrate an ability to make connections between literary texts, historical themes and present-day concerns, and to express these connections through textual analysis in academic writing and public speaking; -  Navigate and utilise resources available on Canvas; - Develop self-confidence in this range of abilities.   - Develop an ability (illustrated by the assessed essay) to effectively research and construct a convincing argument using appropriate methods of scholarly presentation. - Critically analyze different kinds of texts  - Carry out independent research  - Increased confidence and facility in communicating ideas in written and oral form Analytical skills Develops critical reading and analytical writing Oral communication Builds confidence in presenting ideas and engaging in informed discussion Problem solving Cultivates transferable skills in interpretation, problem solving, and cultural awareness Research Enhances independent research, information synthesis, and contextual analysis Other Strengthens evidence-based argumentation and clarity of communication Weekly 2-hour lectures will situate readings in their historical and cultural contexts. Weekly 1-hour seminars will focus on student-led discussion and close reading of the required texts. Student participation and initiative are essential to seminars. 1 Written exam 50% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 50% Numerical grade and written comments on essay (Summative) Numerical grade and feedback on exam (Summative) Optional one-on-one feedback in office hours (Formative) N Most readings will be drawn from the Norton Anthology of African American Literature, 4th ed., vols. 1 and 2. These may include:W.E.B. DuBois—Extract from The Souls of Black Folk (1903). J.W. Johnson—Extract from Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912) Alain Locke—‘The New Negro’  Langston Hughes—‘The Negro Artist and Racial Mountain’ Jean Toomer—Extract from Cane (1923)  Selected poems of Claude McKay and Langston Hughes Nella Larsen—Passing (1929) Ralph Ellison—Extract from Invisible Man (1952) Selected poems of Robert Hayden, Gwendolyn Brooks, Amiri Baraka and Audre Lorde James Baldwin—‘Sonny’s Blues’ Lorraine Hansberry—Raisin in the Sun (1959) Malcolm X—Extract from Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) Larry Neal—‘The Black Arts Movement’ Toni Morrison—Extract from Sula (1973) Gayl Jones—Extract from Corregidora (1975) Outside of the anthology, readings may include:William Attaway, Blood on the Forge (1941) Octavia Butler, Kindred (1979) Percival Everett, Erasure (2001)   Lectures 22 Seminars 11 0 167