Hybrid Forms Syllabus

The Prose Poem and Other Hybrid Literary Forms

Class Syllabus

Course ID #: MPW 980

room: WPH 204

Units: 3

Term: Fall 2009, August 24 to November 30.

Day and time of class: Mondays, 4-6:40 pm

Professor: Amy Gerstler

Contact info: email:

Telephone: 323 660-4687

**COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

Description:

HYBRID LITERARY FORMS:

Charles Baudelaire wrote in Paris Spleen, “Which one of us, in his moments of ambition, has not dreamed of the miracle of a poetic prose, musical, without rhythm and without rhyme, supple enough and rugged enough to adapt itself to the lyrical impulses of the soul, the undulations of reverie, the jibes of conscience?” This genre busting class will explore elements of the history and practice of the prose poem, and other poems and texts that combine strategies, forms and gestures of prose (fiction, nonfiction, etc.) with those of poetry. We will also read texts that are difficult to classify in terms of genre. “Flash Fiction,” “Short Shorts,” the fable, the letter, works that make use of diary formats, the “nonfiction novel,” the mini-essay, and the lyric essay will be examined. We will discuss the literary usefulness (or lack of it) of genre and form labels. Students will try their hand at writing in their choices of hybrid forms, and will be encouraged to experiment. I hope to have some guest speakers. Writers from all genres are truly welcome, as what we will be studing, discussing and writing will involve the fruitful collision of literary genres.

Objectives:

--Explore the uses, abuses and meanings of genre and form labels in past and in current literary practice and their impacts on literature for us as writers and readers, and on writing audiences.

--Read and discuss examples of literature that push the boundaries of genre and/or form categories, or that may propose their own categories.

--Develop an understanding of the cross pollination between poetry and prose, fiction and nonfiction. Make use of strategies from multiple genres and formats in our writing.

**COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES:

Requirements:

-Attend class sessions.

-Turn in writing assignments, most of which will consist of texts in hybrid forms.

-Participate in a workshop style discussion of the above writing assignments.

-Read and discuss reading assignments from class reader.

-Turn in a two to five page paper on a piece of hybrid literature of your choice.

Class Reader will contain writing by Francis Ponge, Elizabeth Bishop, Allen Ginsberg, Franz Kafka, John Updike, Jamaica Kincaid, Truman Capote, Elizabeth Hardwick, Arthur Rimbaud, Russell Edson, WS Merwin, Colson Whitehead, Julio Cortazar, Joe Brainard, The Brothers Grimm, Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, Aime Cesaire, Lydia Davis, and many others. Class reader will be provided by instructor. Xeroxes of additional readings may be handed out in class.

If you miss more than 3 classes it is doubtful you will pass the course.

Grading Breakdown:

--class participation: 15%

--completing reading assignments 30%

--turning in texts for workshop 30%

--assigned paper(s) 25%

**COURSE CALENDAR:

Monday, August 24th:

Introduction to class. Make workshop schedule. Workshop session. Discuss reading.

Monday, August 31st: