Asian American Literature
Dr. Chih-Ping Chen
This discussion and travel course--on campus and in
San Francisco-
will examine the voices and the politics of identity location of Asian
Americans through a representative selection of novels, poems, and
drama. Who and what constitute the “Asian” in “Asian American”?
Understanding Asian American identity in the twentieth century requires
understanding how Asian American writers have negotiated an identity
along issues of race, gender, language, nationalities, and,crucially,
geography. Asian American writers embrace a multiplicity of identities
as immigrants/citizens/expatriates, identities requiring complex
negotiations in terms of ethnic and political affiliations between
one’s “native” and one’s “adoptive” home. The hyphenated
identities--“Chinese-American, “Japanese-American,” and “Indian-
American,” among others--are forged around the overarching search for
home and a need to belong. They embody places of origin as well as
spaces for transformation and translation. Within these contexts, we will explore the following interconnected themes:
• History and Politics of Relocation and Assimilation
• Generational Conflicts
• Negotiating hyphenated identities
• Racial Fantasy and the Eternal Orient
Course limit: 15
Prerequisites: None for 181, 2 prior literature courses for 381.
Dates of travel: Last week of Spring term
On-campus dates: First three weeks of classes
Estimated course fee(s): $1300-1500 covering air tickets, hotel, basic
transportation, guided tour fees and admission fees. Students should plan to
bring additional funds for personal entertainment and most meals.
Payment requirements and deposit deadlines: TBA
Posted: Tue, October 7th, 2008 at 4:17AM
Medieval Literature in England
ENG 183 / 383Medieval Literature in England Dr. Ute Stargardt & Dr. Dana Aspinall
Study medieval English literature on site. Students will visit
many medieval places, starting in London and traveling to other parts
of Great Britain that are significant to the literary works included in
the course. A trip to Wales, for example, is appropriate to readings of
medieval Celtic legends of heroism and magic, while a trip to Battle
will help students appreciate the decisive confrontation between King
Harold Godwinson and William, Duke of Normandy, that changed English
history and culture from one day to the next.
Course limit: 24
Pre-requisites:
For Eng 183: Eng 101 or proficiency
For Eng
383: 2 English
literature courses
Dates of travel:
Thursday, April 23—Friday, May 22, 2009
On-campus dates: none
Estimated course fee(s): $4,600. Fee includes airfare,
lodging in London, 8- day Rail Flexi Pass, 4 weekly tube passes, one
performance in London’s Globe Theatre, and entrance fees for selected
museums, exhibits, and excursions. Payment requirements and deposit
deadlines: Non-refundable Deposit of $ 700 due no later than Friday,
November 7. The balance of $3900 is due in 3 equal installments
of $ 1,300 on Friday, Dec. 12; Friday, January 30; and Friday, February
20.
What additional expenses should students anticipate? Alma College
Spring Term registration fee, transportation to and from Detroit Metro
Airport, books, meals, passport fees, and other personal expenses like
medical services and prescription drugs.
Posted: Sun, September 14th, 2008 at 4:47PM
Lakota Literature
ENG 182A / 382A
Lakota: Literature, Language and Culture
Dr. Laura Von Wallmenich
Explore literature, language, history, and culture of the Lakota people
— known to most Americans as the Sioux, or as “Plains Indians”.
The focus in this course will be on exploring twentieth century Lakota
writers and storytellers. To understand a contemporary Lakota
perspective, we must also explore the ancient traditions — the
language, songs, rituals, and stories — that define and sustain Lakota
culture, as well as the important historical contexts, including the
Battle of Wounded Knee, the Ghost Dance, and the American Indian
Movement. Students will spend 12 days in South Dakota, including
a 6-day stay on the Ogalala Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation, and visit
the Badlands, the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, and Devil’s Tower.
The class will collaborate with COM 280E and will travel with that
class for part of our time in South Dakota. Students will also
participate in two service-learning projects, one with the Alma Public
schools and another with the Pine Ridge Reservation. We
travel to South
Dakota on May 8th and return to campus on May 19th. For more
information on the course,
please see the course website at http://othello.alma.edu/~vonwallmenich/182SD/Welcome.html.
Limit: 12
Cost: $1800 (estimate)
Prerequisite: permission
Informational Meeting: October 2, 8 p.m. in SAC 303
Applications due: October 17
Posted: Thu, September 23rd, 2004 at 8:28AM
Writers of Key West
Writers of Key West
ENG 182B / 382B
This course is a thematically and regionally designed literature
course focusing on travel to develop historic and cultural awareness as
it adds to the richness of the American literary experience.
Students will read works of several Key West writers onsite for a
month, including novels by Ernest Hemingway, plays by Tennessee
Williams, essays by Annie Dillard, and poetry by Elizabeth
Bishop. Fieldtrips to writers’ homes as well as an architectural
tour and several side trips to see natural beauties of the area are
planned. Course assignments include thoughtful analysis of texts,
active participation in discussions and presentations, daily journal
keeping and poetry writing, and a final essay exam. Students
taking ENG 382A will have extensive research, presentations and a final
critical paper.
Course limit: 24
Pre-requisites: None for 182, 2 prior literature courses for 382.
Dates of travel: April 26 – May 21
On-campus dates: none
Estimated course fee(s):
$2800 covering transportation, housing, island tour,fieldtrips and two
group dinners. Does not include cost of food. Houses have
fully equipped kitchens for student use.
Payment requirements and deposit deadlines:
$400 nonrefundable deposit
due Nov. 1. Balance due in installments from December through March.
