“Could a greater miracle take place,” writes Henry David Thoreau, “than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?” This program will approach autobiography (literally, ‘self-life-writing’) as a powerful way to make sense of human experience, particularly in times, places, and social, political, and personal settings that differ from our own. In seminars, students will delve into the intricate issues of memory, authority, persona, and truth that present themselves to every writer of self-narrative. In intensive writing workshops they will learn to write freely and fearlessly about their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Our texts will range from classics in the genre like Helen Keller’s The Story of My Life and Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, to contemporary works like Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime and David Small’s graphic novel, Stitches. Students will develop and articulate their new understandings by means of response papers, reflective journals, bibliographic summaries, and related activities. Finally, students will write substantial memoir-essays of their own, developing their topics and drafts in a supportive group environment.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Literature, 20th century and contemporary (Autobiography/Memoir)
4 - Creative writing (Autobiography/Creative Nonfiction)
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Academic Details
Humanities, literature, writing, education, and any other field where clear and honest communication is prized.