IDND 022 - Writing: Topics Workshop

We live in strange times. On one hand, we in the 21st Century claim to prize logic and rationality above all else; in our college classrooms, in our Fortune 500 boardrooms and in our civic debates over immigration, birth control or oil exploration, our society seeks empirical data and proof. Yet in the popular media the irrational prevails. We are obsessed, it seems, with zombies and vampires, conspiracy theories, terror and tall tales. Why? Is there something in us that craves the balance of light and darkness? Literature and art have always provided an artistic and intellectual space to explore what logic and reason cannot, the unspoken possibilities inherent in humanity. In this course, we will read two novels as well a number of traditional tales and contemporary short stories in the hope of understanding how art and fiction seeks to enlighten us about the darker sides of ourselves.
We will be reading for every class, but this is primarily a writing class. You will be writing about what you read each week. My aim is that the monsters and misdeeds in our readings will inspire you, challenge you but also improve your critical reading abilities. You will write in and out of class. You will do some creative writing (stories), daily response pages, an analytical paper and an essay exploration of historical and culture importance of the monsters we make in literature and art.

Prerequisites:  

Verbal Expression placement or previous completion of IDND 18

Program of Liberal Studies (PLS) Designation: VE

Anticipated Terms Offered: Fall