Covers selected literary themes, such as gothic, science fiction, or women’s literature. Students apply critical contexts and practice various theoretical approaches to the readings. Prerequisites: ENGL110XM or ENGL110M. Please note that students can take only ONE Special Topics literature courses for credit. (Fulfills English or Humanities requirement)
The 1960’s was, arguably, the most turbulent decade of the 20th century. Sexual roles; Civil Rights; traditional family values; everything was suddenly being challenged and thrown into sharp focus. It was as though, American culture, after the sleepiness of the 1950’s, awoke to a new generation of protests, drugs and rock and roll. This course will examine the culture of the 1960’s through the eyes of five of the decade’s most prolific authors. Novels by Ken Keasey, Joseph Heller, Phillip Roth, and Jaqueline Susan will be read and analyzed for character and plot development. Students will be asked to participate in class discussions and will analyze the works for their contributions to this new generation, and this new identity that was born and about to emerge. In addition to reading the novels and participating in class discussion students will complete reflection papers and a class presentation on how one of the novels reflected the changing values of the 1960’s. Selections will include The Bell Jar, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Portnoy’s Complaint, Catch-22, and Valley of the Dolls.
