DESCRIPTION: All of the texts we will explore this semester take up the relationship of love (romantic love, friendship, familial love) in relation to politics. As we study a variety of contemporary texts set in Turtle Island, Hawai‘i and the Pacific, Palestine, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines—young adult fiction, novels, short stories, poetry, essays, films, music videos, songs—we will consider questions such as the following: What relationship do they stage between love and politics? In what ways do they show the personal to be political, and the political to be personal? What might decolonial or abolitionist love look like? Is there any such thing as colonial love? How and why do these texts tell a love story to make an intervention into a political conflict? When and why is love represented as that which transcends, provides a solution to, or succumbs to political conflict? What are the possibilities and limitations of providing political commentary through a narrative centered on relationships between lovers, friends, or family members? What has been the political impact of these texts, whether it be in creating social change and/or in helping to maintain the status quo? How do these texts make use of or challenge different cultural genres to provide critiques of, or new ways to think about the cultural and political meanings love, including in relation to topics such as gender, sexuality, racism, and colonialism?
Please note: This is a W focus class and so we will spend time writing, and working on your writing.
ASSIGNMENTS & REQUIREMENTS:
Two essays of 1500 words each (approx. 50% of your grade); a love letters of 750 words (approx. 10%); biweekly letters to the class (approx. 20%); and a class presentation, written discussion questions and an annotated bibliography (approx. 20%). Regular attendance is mandatory.
TENTATIVE LIST OF TEXTS
Books:
Junot Díaz, This Is How You Lose Her
Laurel Fantauzzo, My Heart Under Water
No‘u Revilla, Ask the Brindled
Films:
Hany Abu-Assad, dir. Omar
Eran Riklis, dir. Lemon Tree
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, dir. The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, and Bihttos
Essays, poems and short pieces by Hala Alyan, Lia Maria Barcinas and Aiko Yamashiro, Ricardo Frasso Jaramillo, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Cherríe Moraga, Shreerekha, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Bassem Tamimi, Haunani-Kay Trask, and Elissa Washuta