This class will be taught in a digital format. At this stage it is unclear whether it will be possible to return to a format of classroom presence during the semester.

This seminar
will explore the significance of ethnic and racial differences in American literature.
We will concentrate on different historical moments: from colonial American
literature, early African-American poetry, canonized 19th century writing,
to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, the Civil Rights Movement, and Chicano/a
writing up to our contemporary moment, when “race” relations have not just been
redefined by Barack Obama’ presidency but also by escalating (police) violence
and the Black Lives Matter movement. The seminar will discuss categories of “race”,
racism and ethnicity in theoretical and historical perspective.  The seminar also aims at providing an overview
on different American literary traditions (e.g. African American, Chicano,
Asian-American).