This course will revolve around one, short text, Herman Melville’s famous, “Bartleby, the Scrivener.” We will begin by reading “Bartleby” very carefully, including the works of thinkers like Emerson, Edwards and Priestly, that are said to have inspired it. We may also read another short story or two of Melville’s that pursue very similar questions. We will conclude the quarter by reading a range of later productions inspired by Melville’s apparent critique of capitalism, including critical works by Giorgio Agamben, Gilles Deleuze and others, and popular retellings of the story, in the form of a feature-length film, a current TV sitcom and a short story. Through it all, we will try to trace the many ways this story about “not” doing anything continues to compel us. Students will be asked to complete two short pieces on “Bartleby”. The first will be an essay or analysis demonstrating that you can both explain and can offer a fresh take on a specific list of passages and questions raised by our initial reading of the story and its immediate cultural context. The second essay must engage the contemporary critical and creative spins on Melville’s story. This essay may be either critical or creative. If you choose to do a creative project, it must be preceded by a 500 word proposal, approved by me, that defines the theoretical underpinnings of and ambitions of the project.

No UW bookstore texts on order, since all course readings will be included in a short course packet available at The Ave Copy Center.