AAEN 259:
Contemporary African American Literature
Codes of Blackness
Winter 2016
T/Th 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Hathorn 314
Professor:
Email:
Website:
Office Hours:
Office Location:
Dr. Therí Pickens
tpickens@bates.edu
www.tpickens.org
W 1 pm – 3 pm
Hathorn 306, Juniper Door
Course Description: This course introduces students to contemporary African
American literature. We explore literature written after 1975 to ascertain
differing patterns, literary techniques, and consistent themes or motifs. We will
read a variety of authors that participate in these traditions. We will read a mix
of canonical authors and less well-known ones. This class will require us to have
a nuanced, complicated discussion about what encompasses the contemporary
African American literary tradition.
We seek to understand motifs, themes, and critiques across. We approach these
questions through the lenses of formal literary analysis, literary history, gender
analysis, political critiques, queer analysis, and cultural critique. We are unlikely
to come to a consensus about these ideas, but we will have a set of fruitful
discussions that inform our own role as present-day inhabitants of this land.
These are the guiding concerns of the course; however, the nature of our
exploration will be, in part, determined by student interests and observations (cf.
Terms of Agreement).
At times, this course may be difficult because it requires a new frame of reference
for American literature, history and politics. I encourage you to be patient with
yourselves and your classmates as I firmly believe that your continued effort and
participation will greatly benefit you as readers and critics.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the courses students will be able to:
 Describe major concerns of a subset of contemporary Black fiction;
 Explain and interpret themes across a genre of literature;
 Read, understand, and analyze critical literature about Black fiction
 Distinguish between authorial interpretations and other valid critical
stances;
 Plan and run a classroom discussion;
 Argue cogently about a particular interpretation of literature.
Required Texts
Selected writings from instructor available on Lyceum
Beatty, The Sellout
Everett, Erasure
Johnson, Loving Day
Moody-Turner & King, Contemporary African American Literature
Packer, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Senna, You Are Free
Whitehead, The Noble Hustle
Course Requirements and Grade Breakdown
Presentation 15% - You will be divided into groups at the beginning of class. You
and your group will be responsible for planning and running classroom
discussion on one day of class. Unless you are responsible for introducing the
text, you will link your presentation to a critical article (from weeks 1 – 3), and
meet with the professor prior to presenting. Though you are expected to work
together, your grade will be individual.
Final Presentation 20% - You will be required to present an argument about your
work on the final day of class in answer to a Call for Papers (available on
Lyceum). Your presentation must include a counterargument. It should be no
longer than five minutes. You will also need to complete a 1-page write up that
summarizes your argument, salient points, counterargument, and what you
gleaned from the discussion that followed.
Participation 30% - Your class participation is of the utmost importance. You will
be evaluated on the basis of your contributions to the class (reading questions,
comments, questions, group work, etc). The close reading assignments are
optional, but they will assist the professor in evaluating your skills in writing
and sharpening your thinking. Keep in mind that attendance and participation
affect all other facets of your grade.
Final Paper 35% - You will be required to complete one 10-page paper based on
the readings and discussions in the class. Your grade will be based on your
original thought, and clarity of argument. You must write the paper using MLA
style.
Course Schedule:
1/12
1/14
Introduction
Selections from Contemporary African American Literature:
Mat Johnson, Darryl Dickson-Carr, Maryemma Graham
1/19
Selections from Contemporary African American Literature:
Evie Shockley, James Peterson
Selections from Contemporary African American Literature:
L. H. Stallings, Alexander Weheliye, Martha Southgate
1/21
1/26
1/28
Selections from Contemporary African American Literature:
Trudier Harris, Howard Rambsy, Alice Randall
Barbara Christian, “Race for Theory” (available on Lyceum)
2/2 & 4
Mat Johnson, Loving Day
2/9 & 11
ZZ Packer, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
2/13 Close Reading Due (1-page), 5 pm, Lyceum
2/16 & 18
Paul Beatty, The Sellout
2/23 & 25
Spring Recess
3/1 & 3
Percival Everett, Erasure
3/8 & 10
Danzy Senna, You Are Free
3/11 Close Reading Due (3 pages), 5 pm, Lyceum
3/15 & 17
Colson Whitehead, The Noble Hustle
3/22 & 24
Final Paper Presentations
3/25 Final Paper Presentation Write-ups Due, 5 pm, Lyceum
3/29 & 31
Final Paper Workshops
4/4
Final Paper due 5 pm, Lyceum