Contemporary Literature: Short Fiction and Poetry Since 1945 New

In this course we examine literature from the end of World War II to the present. Some of the writers we may look at include J.D. Salinger, Elizabeth Bishop, John Cheever, James Baldwin, Sylvia Plath, E.E. Cummings, Raymond Carver, Louise Erdrich, Amy Tan, and Jhumpa Lahiri. We will also explore movements such as the Beats, the Confessional Poets, Magical Realism, and Postmodernism. 

We consider not only the meanings of the works but also what it is about how they are written and constructed that gives them their power. While our approach is grounded in close reading and formal analysis, we also consider historical context and pay attention to how literature sounds and makes us feel.

Contemporary literature has had close ties to trends in visual art, music, theater, and film and so we may look at works from these other art forms and how they reflect back on written texts. The course also includes a field trip to either a few leading New York City art galleries or the Museum of Modern Art.

Course participants are expected to contribute actively to class discussion, write a number of informal reaction pieces, engage in a few short creative projects, and deliver oral presentations on works of their own choosing.

Students learn how to read actively, think analytically, present their ideas effectively (both orally and in written form), and collaborate with their peers—all skills that will be invaluable to them in college and in their personal and professional lives. They also gain an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary literature and culture.