ENGH 202: Texts and Contexts

ENGH 202-012: African American Literary Masculinities
(Spring 2019)

12:00 PM to 01:15 PM TR

David J. King Hall 1006

Section Information for Spring 2019

This course will build upon introductory English courses (e.g., 101 and 201) by expanding your ability both to think critically about literature and to write coherently and convincingly about it.  The works that will used to achieve these objectives will be texts by African Americans--fiction, drama, and autobiography--that foreground issues related to black masculinity.   We will investigate an array of different masculinities and how they are shaped by socio-cultural mores surrounding gender, sex, sexuality, and race.  The course will consider--but by no means be restricted to--some of the following concerns: What is the intersection between cultural and social events/moments and literary representations?  Do authors’ depictions of black masculinity adhere to and/or counter prevailing attitudes?  To what degree have black males themselves attempted to intervene upon often pejorative cultural productions? 

Authors to be examined include: Frederick Douglass, James Weldon Johnson, Ann Petry, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Lorraine Hansberry, Gloria Naylor, Randall Kenan, August Wilson, and Suzan-Lori Parks.

Note: A prior knowledge of African American literature is not required for this course.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Studies literary texts within the framework of culture. Examines texts within such categories as history, gender, sexuality, religion, race, class, and nation. Notes: Builds on reading and writing skills taught in ENGH 101. May be repeated within the term.
Mason Core: Literature
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: 3 credits of 100-level English.
Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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