The Holocaust poses a unique challenge to literature. When asked how can one write after the Holocaust, several writers and thinkers have asserted that is impossible to do so, while others say, “We must.” One such writer, Primo Levi, compares the Holocaust to a black hole. Our course is called “Lights from a Black Hole” because it is thought that even light cannot escape the gravitational force of a black hole, and yet, with regard to the Holocaust, we have words; we have light. In an effort to harness this light, we will explore representations of the Holocaust through life writing, imaginative writing, and film. Along the way, we’ll gain exposure to memoirs, biographies, novels, poetry, short fiction, and visual testimony. We’ll grapple with the challenges, constraints, and possibilities centered on conveying trauma through life writing versus imaginative writing. We’ll explore the aftermath of the Holocaust through the testimony of survivors, perpetrators, and their families. Lastly, we’ll examine lingering questions about guilt, culpability, and complicity. Our course’s designation as a Writing Intensive calls for a minimum of 4,000 graded words (approximately 16 pages). These graded words and pages will materialize in 3 essays (each with mandatory revisions). In order to write well, engaged reading is a must. We will devote time in class to developing constructive practices to enhance your writing skills and reading comprehension. Additionally, you will be assigned a number of investigation pieces, reflections, and group activities (often of a creative nature) that are designed to enhance our readings, discussions, and lectures. Our course will include a final exam (but not a mid-term!) and quizzes will be given regularly every 2-3 weeks. Because our class meets only twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and because participation plays a vital role in our learning community, if a student misses 3 classes, his/her final grade will automatically drop by 10 points; each absence to occur after will result in an additional deduction by 10 points (i.e. you miss 3 classes and your 93% drops to an 83%, you miss 4 classes, and your 83% drops to a 73%, and so on). Please don’t hesitate to email me in advance with questions (jlazarus@hawaii.edu). Halevai–JL