Institutions of World Literature

English 5930: Transnational Literature

Spring 2022

Class Description

This course takes as its premise that world literature is literature that circulates across national borders, which then raises the questions: who determines what circulates, where, and when? In this class, we’ll determine how literature becomes world literature—the opportunities and constraints that allow or limit the circulation of literature—in an age of rapid globalization. In our first unit, we’ll gain some theoretical perspectives on what the study of world literature is and how it might intersect with literary sociology, the study of institutions, and the study of power and hegemony. In our second unit, we’ll turn towards the how literature becomes marketable and portable through acts of writing and translation. In Unit 3, we’ll approach questions of authorship and cultural appropriation within the context of a global book industry. Units 4 and 5 will focus our attention on particular institutions. In the fourth unit we’ll consider global literary prizes, festivals, and organizations, while in unit five we’ll consider our own immediate context—the university—as a major player in shaping the contours of world literature. Our final reading of the semester will be determined by a class vote.

Teaching Philosophy

An awareness of our own and others' unique perspectives is a vital part of our learning community, and the diversity of students' perspectives is an asset in our class. I will do everything I can to create a high trust, low stress community where we can all learn from each other's unique encounters with the fiction and scholarship we are reading, but it will take all members of the class to maintain that environment by actively participating and valuing each other's contributions so that we can all learn from our texts and from each other.

Learning Goals

At the end of the semester, students will be able to:

Identify diverse methods for approaching the problems of global literary production and discuss the affordances of these methods;
Read and discuss works of world literature through the lenses of these diverse methods;
Communicate complex thesis-driven and evidence-based ideas orally and in writing, which includes listening to and taking seriously ideas that challenge their own.

Land Acknowledgement

Native peoples—including the ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ (Cherokee)² and the yeh is-WAH h’reh (Catawba)—lived, hunted, and traded in this region long before the colonization of North America. The English Department recognizes the Indigenous peoples of the land now called North Carolina and acknowledges their displacement, dispossession, and continuing presence. Their influence echoes in the words that name the places we live and learn in: Watauga, Cherokee for “village of many springs” or “beautiful water,” Catawba, “people of the river,” and Appalachian, Muscogee for “other side of the river” or “dwelling on one side.” This statement stands as a reminder to reflect on our interconnected pasts while we contemplate our path forward and to register our gratitude and appreciation for those on whose territory, a place rich with stories, ceremony, and spiritual significance, we reside today.

See the source of this acknowledgement here.

Course Expectations

What you can expect from me:

Timely feedback on your work
Rigorous engagement with your ideas in class or in writing
Facilitation of a variety of ways of engaging with texts and the ideas of other students
Compassion and patience when you need extra time or help
Availability to meet with you throughout the week (with advanced notice)
Frequent communication about the course
Accommodations for your learning style whenever possible (whether or not you have a documented disability)

What I expect from you:

Completion of readings in a timely manner
That the work you submit represents your own thoughts and ideas, and does not constitute plagiarism (see Course Policies for more information)
Participation in discussions or group work, including serious, thoughtful and compassionate engagement with the ideas of your classmates
Communication with me if you are struggling with any aspect of the course material. You can find information about how to contact me at this link.

Course Structure

This course meets in person on Wednesdays from 2:00-5:00pm in Sanford 504. We will meet every planned day of the semester. Please see the schedule for more information.

You should make frequent use of our ASULearn site, which will go live at the beginning of the semester to find announcements about the class, as well as PDFs of certain readings.

On Thursday of each week I'll send out a reminder for the next week's tasks, but keep in mind that all of the readings for the class are posted at the Schedule page.

Course Policies

The App State Syllabi Policies all obtain in this class. You can find those at this link, and you should read them carefully. I won't repeat them here, but I'll point out a few things particular to this class.

Disability Resources: I know that we all learn in different ways, and you may need accommodations in order to learn better regardless of whether or not you have a documented disability. I'm committed to making this course as inclusive and accessible as possible. If I can do something to support your learning in a different way, please let me know!

Attendance: As this is an intensive graduate level class that meets only 15 times per semester, I expect that every student will do their best to attend every class. If you cannot be in class for whatever reason, let me know, and I will arrange for a zoom link so that you can join the class remotely. Note, however, that this is not a hybrid class, and that this option should only be used in emergent situations (i.e. a positive COVID test or family emergency). If you must miss more than one session, please arrange to meet with me to discuss how your absences will affect your grade in the class.

You can also find more information about course policies at the FAQ page, linked here.

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