Globalization and the Fate of Literature
English 395.301 – Fall 2002
Tues & Thurs 10:30 – Bennett
Jim English
<jenglish@english>
Darren Jaspan
<djaspan@english>
Bennett 308, Tues & Thurs 1:00-2:00
Bennett XX,
Mon & Wed X:XX-X:XX
DESCRIPTION:
What is happening to literary culture as new systems and technologies of exchange
alter the world order within which literature is produced and consumed?
This
course will consider contemporary novels and films in the context of recent debates
among economists, sociologists, and historians over globalization.
We will read work
by some of the major scholars who have contributed to these debates, including
Anthony Giddens, David Harvey, Eric Hobsbawm, Benjamin Barber, and Arjun
Appadurai.
These writings will provide the framework for our consideration of
recent novels and films from various parts of the world: Jessica Hagedorn's
Dogeaters, Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses, J.M Coetzee's Disgrace, and Irvine
Welsh's Trainspotting, as well as Danny Boyle's film adaptation of Trainspotting,
Amir Nadari's film Manhattan By Numbers, and John Woo's film The Killer.
The
course is intended as an introduction; no previous coursework in these areas is
required or expected. It is, however, an Honors seminar open only to Franklin
Scholars in the College or in Wharton.
REQUIRED WORK:
There will be three interterm exams, each counting 10% of the final grade.
Written work will consist of two brief reports (which will be submitted in written
form and presented orally to the class), each counting 10% of the final grade, a 46 page essay counting 15% of the final grade, and a 15-page research paper counting
35% of the final grade.
Late papers will be marked down 3 points per day.
Attendance is required: points will be deducted from the final grade for unexcused
absences or habitual tardiness.
BOOK LIST:
The following books are available from the Penn Book Center at 34th and Sansom.
Arjun Appadurai, Modernity at Large. Minnesota UP. 0816627932
Zygmunt Bauman, Globalization. Columbia UP. 0-231-11429-x
J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace. Penguin. 0140296409
Anthony Giddens, Runaway World. Routledge. 0415927196
Jessica Hagadorn, Dogeaters. Penguin. 014014904 X
David Held and Anthony McGrew, The Global Transformations Reader. Polity.
0-7456-2200-3
Patrick O'Meara, Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century. Indiana.
0-253-21355-X
Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses. Picador. 0312270828
Dan Smith, State of the World Atlas. 6th Edition. Penguin. 0140514465
Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting. Norton. 0393314804
SCHEDULE:
Thurs
Sept 5
Tues
Sept 10
Introduction
Huntington, "Clash of Civilizations" in O'Meara
Barber, "Jihad vs. McWorld" in O'Meara
Thurs
Sept 12
Bowen
Ajami
in O'Meara
in O'Meara
Rushdie, The Satanic Verses
Tues Sept 17
[globalization,
religion,
law,
poco intellectual]
Thurs
Sept 19
Rushdie, The Satanic Verses
Tues
Sept 24
Rushdie, The Satanic Verses
Thurs Sept 26
Rushdie, The Satanic Verses
Tues
Held and McGrew,
Oct 1
"The Great Globalization Debate: An
Introduction"
Thurs
Giddens, Runaway World
Oct 3
Tues Oct 8
Basic Concepts section in Held and McGrew
Thurs
Oct 10
New Global Economy Section in O' Meara
Tues
Oct 15
Coetzee, Disgrace
Thurs
Oct 17
Coetzee, Disgrace
Tues Oct 22
World Atlas
Appadurai, Modernity at Large (excerpts); State of the
Thurs Oct 24
Thompson, "Globalization of Communication" in Held and
McGrew
Herman and McChesney, "The Global Media" in Held and McGrew
Tues Oct 29
Hagedorn, Dogeaters
Thurs Oct 31
Hagedorn, Dogeaters
Tues
Nov 5
Bauman, Globalization
Thurs
Nov 7
???
Tues
Nov 12
Welsch, Trainspotting
Thurs
Nov 14
Welsch, Trainspotting
Tues
Nov 19
Boyle, Trainspotting
Thurs
Nov 21
"New International Division of Cinematic Labor" etc
Lee, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Tues Nov 26
Global Culture readings in O'Meara
[Thanksgiving Break]
Tues
Dec 3
Boyle,Trainspotting
Thurs Dec 5
Final Class. Review and Wrap-up