COSEM-UA 118 - Impossible Writing

Institution:

New York University

Subject:

Description:

As with any art, literature's form determines what is possible. In this course, we challenge the boundaries of the form through a series of "impossible" exercises-that is, pieces of writing that are asked to do what writing cannot do. For example, one assignment challenges literature's unique portability by generating "site-specific" stories around campus. Another assignment focuses on the lack of explicit tonality and atmosphere in writing by generating oral stories. In our discussions about the work produced, we explore the ways that these radical techniques can be brought into more traditional writing. The course focuses on the production of work, and students are expected to produce a piece of writing every week, usually between two paragraphs and four pages. Facing Fascism: The Spanish Civil War and U.S. Culture COSEM-UA 119 Fernández. 4 points The Great Depression. Liberal democracy in crisis. On the rise: a spectrum of ideologies ranging from anarchism to fascism, offering solutions to the afflictions of people all over the planet. July 1936: a right-wing military coup attempts to overthrow a democratically elected left-wing coalition government. All eyes turn toward Spain. This seminar is centered on NYU's Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA), a vast collection of materials that chronicles the lives of the 2,800 Americans who, between 1936 and 1939, volunteered to fight fascism in Spain. We explore the place occupied by Spain and the Spanish Civil War in American culture from the 1930s forward; how journalists, writers, artists, and citizens reacted to the war in Spain; and how the legacy of the war has affected U.S. culture over the last 70 years. Each student completes a major research project based on the holdings of ALBA.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nyu.edu

Phone Number:

(212) 998-1212

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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