Lit & Culture: Science in Literature & Culture

In this course, we will investigate how literature materializes and morphs. If literature is contingent on writing, how might one recognize literature in a culture that has no awareness of writing? Before we grapple with science and technology, we must trace culture and literature to their oral foundations. Along the way, we’ll ask some big questions: for instance, does a culture originate out of its mythology or is it the other way around? How might the awareness of writing radically alter the consciousness of a primary oral culture (i.e. a culture without awareness of writing or reading)? What might such a culture look like from the outside, feel like from the inside? Next, we’ll turn our attention to writers of various genre and period, examining their misgivings, discomfort, and wildest aspirations when it comes to science. We’ll aim to broaden the applicability of terms like “science” and “scientific thought” to bolster our investigation of culture and literature. Lastly, we’ll work to identify any shared experiences, approaches, and/or responsibilities that exist in both literature and science.

This course is designated as a W4 (Writing Intensive Hallmark 4) which calls for a minimum of 4,000 graded words (approximately 16 pages). These graded words and pages will materialize in a term-long research paper on the topic of your choosing (and my approval). You will be responsible and scored for a formal draft of the paper approximately a month before it is due. In order to write well, engaged reading is a must. We will devote time in class to developing constructive practices to enhance your writing and reading comprehension. Lastly, in addition to the research paper and your final, you will have bi-weekly quizzes and you will be assigned a number of investigation pieces (often of a creative nature), reflections, and group activities that are designed to enhance our readings, discussions, and lectures.