Slavery is the foundational sin of the United States; over the
centuries, it has figured prominently in U.S. fiction, both in its
historical form and its consequences for U.S. history after its
abolition. This seminar will seek to trace versions of writing fiction
about slavery over the centuries and from a variety of angles and
authors. Readings yet to be determined but may include Herman Melville's
novella Benito Cereno (possibly in cooperation with a colleague from CUNY); Martin Delany's Blake, Or: The Huts of America; Octavia Butler's Kindred; Kyle Baker's Nat Turner; and Paul Beatty's The Sellout,
trying to identify common themes, changing concerns, the impact of
shifting fictional modes, and other issues tied to the representation of
and literary coping with slavery and its legacies.
- Trainer/in: Tim Lanzendörfer