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Situated at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans has a certain romantic, provocative charm--one that pulls at natives and visitors alike. More so now than in the past, New Orleans is defined by spectacle and excess, both of which are part and parcel of the city's primary industry of tourism. Drawn in by dazzling events like Mardi Gras, the alluring architecture of the French Quarter and the promise of debauchery, tourists rarely bother uncovering the Crescent City's rich history. This class will remedy that oversight. Using the literature of Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, and John Kennedy Toole, as well as various social and environmental histories, we will explore pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans in all its complexities. Ultimately, we will heed former New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose, who implored his readers to "take them to the ruins." The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.
First off, this is not a course on Carrie Bradshaw and the girls; rather, it is a class that will allow students the opportunity to sample urban- and gender-themed texts from the 19th and 20th centuries. From Charles Dickens' A TALE OF TWO CITIES to Ishmael Reed's RECKLESS EYEBALLING, we will explore the interconnection of urban space with gender and sexual identity. Students should be prepared to abandon assumptions while composing a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.
