Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - ENGL 208 E100

21st Century Literatures in English (3)

Class Number: 4588

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Wed, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Two 100-level English courses.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores twenty-first century and contemporary literatures in English. May Include late twentieth-century literature. The course may cover the role of new media, transnational perspectives, contemporary critical theory, and emerging and/or mixed genres such as the graphic novel. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

In the twenty-first century, the English-speaking world finally accepted that comics are a legitimate art form, capable of the same relevance, commentary, and depth as any other. During this period, and not unrelated to that shift, marginalized voices in comics have become more and more prominent. This course surveys comics by such voices—Black, Asian, Muslim, Indigenous, female, and queer—as they grapple with their place in a world where their perspectives are often ignored. Creators of colour express opposition to racism, both at the level of laws and social structures. Women and lesbian creators address the limitations of restrictive gender roles and the freedoms of exploding them. Taken all together, these artists display an array of techniques for speaking back to the systems that confine them based on race, religion, gender, and sexuality.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

You will examine the voices of comics artists who have been marginalized—largely based on ethnicity and gender—and learn how they have made themselves heard through the unique medium of comics. You will further perfect your essay writing skills through your responses to those texts.

Grading

  • Participation 15%
  • Reading Quizzes 10%
  • Essay #1: Formal Analysis 15%
  • Presentation 10%
  • Essay #3: Comparison Paper 25%
  • Final Exam (take-home) 25%

REQUIREMENTS:

There will be two major essays, a presentation, and a final exam. In the first essay, you will concentrate on one of the course texts, analyzing it as you would a novel but still taking into account its visual construction. In the second essay, you will compare any two of the course texts, looking for notable parallels and contrasts. The presentation, which comes between the two essays, will be a workshop in which you will present a progress report on your final essay: what you have discovered, where you think it is taking you, and gaps that you have not yet addressed. The Participation grade is based on taking part in class discussions, and the Reading Quizzes make sure you’re keeping up. There will be a take-home final exam that you write over a 48-hour period.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The total cost of this course's required texts is just over $200, so I encocurage students seak less expensive options (e.g., digital comics, used comics, loans from friends). In addition, I am putting copies of the course text's on two-hour loan in our library. You cannot count on access to those library copies for the whole course, but you can be prudent about what you do and do not purchase.

REQUIRED READING:

Bechdel, Alison. Fun Home: A Tragicomic. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2007. $22.50.  
ISBN: 9780618871711

Beaton, Kate. Hark! A Vagrant. Drawn and Quaterly. 2011. $19.95.
ISBN: 9781770460607

O'Malley, Bryan Lee. Seconds. Random House Canada. 2014. $25.
ISBN: 9780307363060

Bernardin, Marc, Adam Freeman and Afua Richardson. Genius, Vol 1: Seige. Image Comics. 2015. $19.99.
ISBN: 9781632152237

Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. Square Fish. 2008. $12.99.
ISBN: 9780312384487

Wilson, G. Willow and Adrian Alphona. Ms. Marvel, Vol 1: No Normal. Marvel Comics. 2014. $17.99.
ISBN: 9780785190219

Piskor, Ed. Hip Hop Family Tree. Fantagraphics Books. 2014. $36.50.
ISBN: 9781606996904

Stevenson, Noelle, Shannon Watters, and Brooke A Allen. Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware The Kitten Holy. BOOM! Box. 2015. $14.99.   
ISBN: 9781608866878

Nicholson, Hope (ed.). Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection Vol. 1. Alternate History Comics Inc. 2015. US$10 (online through Comixology)
ISBN: n/a

RECOMMENDED READING:

McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. William Morrow Paperbacks. $31.
ISBN: 9780060976255

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS