ETHS 380 CD - Immigrant Narratives

4 Credit(s)

This course investigates the issue of migration, border, and identities in modern and contemporary immigrant narratives in the United States. Focusing on works of various genres, such as fiction, memoir, poetry, and film, by writers from diverse ethnic and racial ancestries, we will explore the following key questions: What is an immigrant narrative? What are the major themes and issues in immigrant narratives? What does it mean to cross borders, and what are the causes, possibilities, and problems of border crossings? In what ways do (im)migrant subjects challenge or negotiate boundaries that seek to oppress, exclude, or constrain? How do race and ethnicity intersect with other salient social identities like class, gender, sexuality, religion, and nationality in the construction of immigrant identities? In what ways do immigrant narratives challenge or accommodate the U.S. national discourse of immigrant integration and progress? In what ways can literary and cultural studies empower us as we seek to understand the urgent issues of immigration, citizenship, and identities in today’s national and global contexts?

Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing and higher.