Reading audiences have long been thrilled and chilled by fictions about our estrangement from our selves, each other, and the objects, affairs, and locations that make up our world under global capitalism. Our class this quarter will consider a range of texts which make an art of representing this alienation. In addition to the novels listed below, we'll be reading a number of philosophical and critical texts, and watching several films which may include: The Stalker, Gummo, Mon Oncle, Why Does Herr R Run Amok?, The World.

Course requirements: Your final grade will be based on your demonstration of your completion and comprehension of reading assignments through your regular contribution to class discussion, GoPost reflections, and a number of writing assignments. Note that this is a "W" course, and as such will require you to produce 10-15 pages of graded, out-of-class writing, in the form of a longer paper with a required revision OR two or more short papers, likewise with revisions.


Required Texts:
Celine, Louis-Ferdinand. Journey to the End of the Night
McKay, Claude. Banjo: A Novel Without a Plot
Calvino, Italo. Marcovaldo
Rulfo, Juan. Pedro Paramo
McCarthy, Cormac. Suttree