The summer lit class is also a source of frustration for me though. Most students who take this class don't want to be in it but figure it's better than a foreign language course. (If I were them, I wouldn't be so sure of that.) I have finally given up on making it a traditional literature course in favor of (I hope) novels, assignments, and topics of discussion that have actual and immediate significance to their lives. This is the first semester I've taught this course where I am happy with the outline I've made. I feel pretty comfortable with the direction I want the class to go. If we can have a little fun this summer and learn something about ourselves and the world we live in that can benefit us in our daily lives, I will be satisfied.
So far, I seem to have an interesting group of students enrolled in the two sections, one on the main campus and one in Litchfield. It's difficult to get a feel yet for how our class discussions will progress as there hasn't yet been much opportunity for that. I understand their dislike for reading and writing (sort of) and feel confident that I have done my best to select novels they will either enjoy or at least learn something valuable and relevant to their lives. I'm incorporating 2 films and possibly a 3rd. I love movies! And I think students do too. We'll see how things go, I suppose. At least they are pleased that I'm not making them read Dickens or Hawthorne. There is value in reading the "classics." Still, canonized literature is severely overrated.
I'm looking forward to this summer class because I'd like to expand my understanding of literature.
ReplyDeleteDo you enjoy teaching Dickens and Hawthorne?
I became an English major because of my love for the classics, but more and more I find myself straying from the dead white men to contemporary, multicultural voices whose experiences seem so much richer, more full of life and color. One of these days, I really hope to teach a Shakespeare class, but it will focus on his impact on contemporary culture.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say that I'm also really looking forward to this class. I was really excited and actually emailed some friends of mine when I got my book list- because I was SO excited they were DIFFERENT books. I'm glad we read Fear and Loathing first- since I think that one is going to be my least favorite. lol.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the note of Fear and Loathing- I would much rather have seen that biography on Hunters works that you mentioned. The Vegas movie was good- but since we'd already read the book- we kind of knew what was coming, so it lost a lot of my interest personally. Finding out about his politics and other works would have been really intriguing to me and I think that will be a side project for me when I have time later. Thanks for thinking outside of the Box! lol
As I am planning my course calendar for this upcoming summer, I am planning to show the biography. That seemed to be the overwhelming majority opinion of all students last summer, and I agree.
ReplyDelete