This course will examine Haiti as represented in literature, including representations across the novel, dramatic, poetic, and cinematic forms. The devastating earthquake ravaging Haiti in January 2010 drew attention to the way in which popular media representations of Haitian culture, politics, and history have been a touchstone in U.S. cultural, political, and economic engagement with the country. As an alternative focal point to these mainstream representations, the course’s attention to Haiti in literature will help develop critical and engaged reading practices, attempting to fulfill the course catalog’s description for the course: “Covers techniques and practice in reading and enjoying literature in its various forms: poetry, drama, prose fiction, and film.”
In focusing on the literature surrounding Haiti, this course will explore how these representations engage with historical, political, economic, and environmental issues on the island and in its global presence. Additionally, the course will explore how a U.S.-based readership can engage with Haiti and its literature, and the issues facing the Americas. This engagement is three-part: 1) immersing ourselves critically in the texts under study, 2) understanding the cultural and historical context of their production, and 3) engaging with Haiti’s literary production in relation to us as readers who inhabit the large next-door neighbor to this island nation.
In addition, as a "W" course, this one carries a specific writing focus: 10-15 pages of graded, out-of-class writing, in the form of three short papers (2-3 pages) and one longer paper (5-7 pages). The purpose of this writing is not to demonstrate mastery—of Haiti, of its literature—but to help engage with the texts and their and our contexts. Writing for this course has both a formal (as mentioned above) and informal place, but in both cases is a place to explore meanings, connections, and ideas. As such, all of the formal course writing will involve substantial peer and instructor feedback, and substantial revision, and all of the informal writing will help both discussion and development of the formal writing assignments.
4. Course texts:

Aimé Césaire The Tragedy of King Christophe (play) – e-reserve
Jacques Stephen Alexis General Sun, My Brother (novel)
Edwidge Danticat The Farming of the Bones (novel)
Rita Dove “Parsley” (poem)
Réné Dépestre A Rainbow for the Christian West (poem) – e-reserve
Maya Deren Divine horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti (Documentary film)
Edwidge Danticat Krik? Krak! (stories)
Jonathan Demme The Agronomist (documentary film)

Secondary works will be made available via e-reserve.