This course provides an introduction to literary modernism and postmodernism. The terms modernism and postmodernism have been the source of much debate. In order to clarify these terms, we will read texts whose modernist and postmodernist features are produced by their engagement with the U.S.-Mexico border. In general, modernism and postmodernism are understood as demonstrating an experimental set of narrative practices. We will therefore begin our investigation of modernism and postmodernism by examining the ways in which historical and technological developments along the U.S.-Mexico border have influenced formal experiments such as narrative flashback, stream of consciousness and multilingualism. We will read novels by Américo Paredes, John Dos Passos, Malcolm Lowry, Ana Castillo and Brianda Domecq, as well as use a course reader.

The novels are: George Washington Gómez (ISBN 978-1—55885-012-5), The Big Money (ISBN 0-618-05683-1), Under the Volcano (ISBN 0-06-095522-8), So Far From God (ISBN 0-393-32693-4), and The Astonishing Story of the Saint of Cabora (ISBN 0-927-53478-9).