New American Fiction

What does it mean to study “New American Fiction”? In this class, we will read seven novels published within the past twenty years, each of which pushes the boundaries of the three terms contained in this course’s title. We will consider, first of all, what these novels have to say about the “new,” given their frequent emphasis on memory, both personal and cultural. If, as one prominent literary theorist holds, the contemporary era is one in which historical fantasy offers the most fertile ground for “new” literary creations, then how do we evaluate texts that, in turning to the past, blur the lines separating memory, history, and fiction? Second, we will explore the ways these works challenge notions of what it means to be “American.” Reading works by authors from a range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, we will investigate what stakes are involved in being “American” in an age of multiculturalism and globalization. Third, we will discuss the ways in which these texts challenge our ideas of what literary “fiction” should look like, insofar as they come to resemble pop-culture art forms such as comic books, television, and movies. Ultimately, our goal will be to develop a sense of the variety of recent American fiction as it relates to the changing face of contemporary America.

Readings:
Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)
Thomas Pynchon, Vineland (1990)
Jessica Hagedorn, Dogeaters (1990)
Douglas Coupland, Generation X (1991)
Sherman Alexie, Reservation Blues (1995)
Colson Whitehead, The Intuitionist (1999)
Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000)
Dana Spiotta, Lightning Field (2001)

Requirements:
Our class meetings will center on vigorous discussion of the novels we read, so regular attendance and participation are required. Each student will also be responsible for seven position papers of one to two pages each, which may serve as the basis for class discussion. Longer writing assignments will include two essays of four to six pages each, and a final paper of eight to ten pages.