ASIAN 1107 - FWS: Writing on the Wrong Side of History

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

First-Year Writing Seminar.

A. Harding.

Most of us tend to think of ourselves as good people who want to contribute to the world in positive ways. But it is also clear that throughout history well intentioned people have been complicit in heinous acts of atrocity. In this class we will address the ways in which authors from Japan, the UK, and the U.S. have turned to writing to reflect on moments of national shame that are also part and parcel of how they understand their relationship to the world today. We will consider how writing mediates our own relationship to the subjects we study, and consider how this social and historical self-awareness can add nuance and rigor to our own written work.

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