Narrating American Lives 4219-SC012
How to narrate one’s life? How can we understand the memoir boom, the “oversharing” on social media, and why are we so interested in other people’s lives? What are the roles of agency and representation in autobiographical storytelling? How does a medium influence the possibilities of telling one’s story? Is Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography really that different from 21st-century blogs? In this course, students will be introduced to diverse forms of autobiographical storytelling – from “traditional” memoirs, through autobiographical documentaries, hyper-personal zines, to Instagram posts – using a broad category of life narrative, which encompasses not only autobiographical literary texts but also visual narratives. We will focus on analyzing ways of narrating one’s life and stressing the importance of life-writing in American culture and literature. We’ll read and watch numerous life narratives, examining the roles of gender, sexuality, race, ability, and class. Tracing the evolution of autobiography as well as analyzing how autobiographical storytelling functions within various media, students will question the role of truth, autobiographical pact, and memory in reading and interpreting life narratives.
Topics will include:
- What is a life narrative?
- The role of life-writing in American literature, the memoir boom in the US
- Self-representation and agency
- Memoirs and minorities – finding power in storytelling
- Memoirs, diaries, and autofiction
- Drawing self: graphic memoirs
- Autobiographical documentaries
- Fragmentary lives: zines and collages
- Selfie phenomenon and digital selves
- Life as a game: playing autobiographical games
- Being a witness: trauma and life-writing
- TMI? Between private and public
- The role of medium in autobiographical storytelling
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course a student:
Knowledge:
- Has knowledge of storytelling in life narratives
- has knowledge of selected life narratives and knows examples of autobiographical texts in various media, from literature to film
- uses terminology related to memoirs, comics, and film
Skills:
- can formulate arguments in a discussion concerning autobiographical texts of culture
- is able to use critical tools
- is able to discuss topics studied in reference to analyzed works of culture, with a focus on the role of gender, sexuality, race, ability, and class
Competencies:
- is aware of the importance of life writing in American culture
- can actively participate in discussions and group work with respect for others
- can write a short essay on the topic of the course
Assessment criteria
30% Active participation (including discussions and group work)
20% Two response papers
25% Essay
25% Final exam
Students need 60% to pass the course.
Bibliography
Memoir: An Introduction, Thomas G. Couser (2011)
Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives, Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson (2001)
Stories of the Self. Life Writing after the Book, Anna Poletti (2020)
Life Narratives and Youth Culture. Representation, Agency and Participation, Kate Douglas and Anna Poletti (2016)
Boom! Manufacturing Memoir for the Popular Market, Julie Rak (2013)
Girls, Autobiography, Media: Gender and Self-Mediation in Digital Economies, Emma Maguire (2018)
Memoir: A History, Ben Yagoda (2009)
Selection of life narratives, including: “In the Dreamhouse” by Carmen Maria Machado, “The Argonauts” by Maggie Nelson, “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name” by Audrey Lorde, “Maus” by Art Spiegelman, “Tarnation” dir. Jonathan Caouette, “Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration” and selected artwork by David Wojnarowicz, “Negroland” by Margo Jefferson, “The Color of Water” by James McBride, “Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation” by Eli Clare, hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com by Ali Brosh, “The Girl's Guide to Homelessness: A Memoir” by Brianna Karp, “Abandon Me” by Melissa Febos, “Minor Feelings” by Cathy Park Hong, selection of zines.
Literature is subject to change.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: