ENG 4795: Contemporary American Literature: 1960 – Present
Dr. Mike Wilson (wilsonmt@appstate.edu)
Spring 2022
Description:
In this class, we’ll explore shorter American novels of the period between 1960 and the present, with an emphasis on reading across a wide range of styles and thematic interests, within a similarly wide range of interpretive frameworks. Along the way, we'll also work on our analytical, reading, and writing skills. Past selections for my sections of this class have included seven or so novels like John William’s Butcher’s Crossing, William Maxwell’s So Long, See You Tomorrow, Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, James Baldwin’s Giovanni's Room, Marilynn Robinson's Housekeeping, Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer, Philip K. Dick’s Ubik, Ross MacDonald’s The Underground Man: A Lew Archer Novel, Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived In The Castle, John Updike’s Rabbit, Run, Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle, Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred, Don DeLillo’s White Noise, Tim O’ Brien’s Going After Cacciato, Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead and Jeffrey Eugenides’ Middlesex. Assignments and grading criteria may include daily reading quizzes or writing assignments, midterm and final exams, and two papers.
