CRWR 268 - Ethnic American Story Cycle

FC ARHU WINT

4 credits
The innovative techniques of the short-story cycle, in which central and minor characters, setting, and themes cross over from one story to the next, provide writers with a dynamic medium to tell stories with the depth and scope of a novel. In this course we will examine the ways certain Ethnic American writers practice this literary form that is not simply a sum of its parts, but rather an intricate communication between its parts to produce a luminescent mosaic. This examination will also seek to explore the diverse range and complexities of the Ethnic American experience, which is often shaped by immigration, religion, gender, sexuality, political history, and a sense of community belonging. In addition to analyzing story cycles, a writing workshop will be maintained over the course of the semester. Students will be expected to produce short stories that are interrelated by recurring characters, setting, and/or theme(s).