The primary aim of this course is to introduce students to the practice and pleasure of critically reading literature. To do so, we
will engage with contemporary re-tellings and re-imaginings of fairy tales in various genres: short story, graphic novel, novella, and music album, as well as visual media.

Through the course of the quarter we will examine the enduring appeal of fairy tales and especially the irresistibility of
“re-telling” them to authors and artists of our own era. Course texts will include Philip Pullman’s new Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, a recent reissue in graphic novel form of Neil Gaiman’s Dream Hunters, Shane Jones’ brilliantly innovative novella Light Boxes, the rock-operaesque Decemberists album The Hazards of Love, and other interpretations of fairy tales in visual media such as visual art and film.

Note that this course fulfills the UW’s “W” requirement and as such is writing intensive. We'll devote some of our class time to
writing instruction, but this course assumes rhetorical awareness and a familiarity with the fundamentals of academic writing taught in "C" courses. It is strongly recommended that you complete the university's "C" requirement before enrolling in this class. As a "W" credit course you will complete two 5-page papers with the opportunity for revision as well as smaller in- and out-of-class writing assignments.

Please note also that this class is in Condon Hall, which is quite far from the center of campus. You are expected to be on time, so please do not schedule this class back-to-back with a class that ends at 1:20 unless you can travel from that classroom to our classroom by 1:30.