Classes

551-001 Studies in Twentieth Century American Lit TR 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Dr. Lydia Whitt
Working Class
Literature and Labor: Writing and Reading Class in Modern America
In the past decade, “working-class” literature has emerged as a specific area of American literary
studies. As with any emerging sub-discipline, the essential nature of the area of study must be
specifically articulated if it is to flourish. Key terms and concepts pertaining to this area of study,
however, have yet to be established and are, in fact, being hotly debated by many scholars. Issues
include, but are not limited to, questions about what comprises American working-class literature: Is it
literature written about working-class characters and/or issues? Is it literature written by working-class
writers? Is it literature by AND about members of the working class? We will begin the seminar with a
brief review of such debates and spend the rest of the semester reading a variety of prose (fiction and
nonfiction) in which both work and social class are primary textual concerns. As a class, we will
formulate and modify provisional definitions of the term “working class literature” as we read each text.
Assignments will include two short papers, one in-class presentation, and a seminar paper. Each student
will also be evaluated on in-class performance and preparation.
A Partial Reading List
Looking Backward: 2000-1887 (Edward Bellamy)
O Pioneers (Willa Cather)
Poor White (Sherwood Anderson)
“May Day” (F. S. Fitzgerald)
Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison)
Trash (Dorothy Allison)
Woodcuts of Women (Dagoberto Gilb)
A Mercy (Toni Morrison)



556-001 Seminar in Rhetoric Dr. Keith Dorwick
Queer(ing) Culture – ONLINE CLASS
Beginning in the sixties with the Stonewall Riots (possibly triggered by Judy Garland’s untimely death
and her last appearance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral) but especially today, the discourse that surrounds gay
and queer culture has been loud and rude on the one hand but also increasingly sophisticated and
powerful rhetoric. We’ll look at several test cases from popular culture including queer episodes of
Roseanne (yes, the infamous kiss but also the Halloween episode in which D.J. distresses Dan by
insisting on going out dressed as a witch and Roseanne’s appearance in the local bar and its men’s room
as a guy named Fred); Ellen Degeneres/Ellen’s coming out as lesbian; the strange disappearance of
LGBTQ folk in the 24th century world of Star Trek and what almost is a good enough try (but only
almost) at representing queers; gay marriage; the Roman Catholic pedophilia scandals and how they
both do and do not count as “gay”; gays in the military and how trying it must be for straight men to
shower with men they know to be gay; lesbian invisibility and visibility; and other kinds of queer with
queer media, including that produced by very self-aware and interesting (and funny) queer folk such as
the Very Good Looking Boys from New York City and transmen and women from all over the world.
No experience in rhetoric necessary. There will be a midterm project (an eight page essay suitable for
conference presentation. The default final project is my usual: a one page abstract, eight page abstract
and 20 page critical essay all on the same research as the midterm project. Students may also negotiate
other final projects such as a video documentary, an audio documentary or other form of public
discourse, with instructor approval. This may count for area 7 distribution credit with approval of your
advisor.



FREN 532 Littérature française du dix-neuvième siècle

ENGL 500 Introduction to the PhD in English