Contemporary Narrative

This course considers the function of narrative in current fiction, cinema, and television. We will begin the quarter with some critical readings about the structural features of narrative in fiction and cinema. Then, rather than focusing on experimental works that dispense completely with narrative conventions, we will discuss literary and visual texts that “tell stories” but do so in non-linear ways. Our guiding question: how do the authors and filmmakers use traditional narrative conventions while simultaneously finding new modes of storytelling?

Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to course

Abbott, Cambridge Introduction to Narrative

Week 2: Hagedorn, The Dogeaters

Week 3: Film: Amelie

Chatman, Coming to Terms (selections)

Visit: http://classes.yale.edu/film-analysis/

http://www.filmsite.org/filmterms.html

Week 4: Film: Irreversible

Film: City of God

Week 5: Ondaatje, Anil’s Ghost

Film: The Terrorist

Week 6: Farah, Maps

Week 7: Film: Happy Together

Film: Run Lola Run

Week 8: Lispector, The Passion According to G.H.

Film: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (episode: The Body)

Week 9: Hemon, The Question of Bruno

Week 10: Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Course Synthesis