Seminar An American Hauntology Ghosts in American Literature and Culture

In this class, drawing on Jacques Derrida’s intriguing notion of -hauntology” but putting a slightly different spin on it, we will engage in detailed readings and interpretations of selected American novels, short stories, poems, and probably a couple of films that employ ghosts and haunting as central tropes. Why do the dead sometimes return to haunt the living? What kind of political and cultural work do literary and cinematic ghosts perform? These are only some of the questions we will tackle over the course of the semester. Each session will include a brief opening lecture, followed by extensive class discussion of the issues raised in the lecture and in the readings assigned for that day. Primary texts may include but will not be limited to: Cotton Mather, excerpts from Wonders of the Invisible World. 1693; Henry James, The Turn of the Screw. 1898. 2nd ed.New York: Norton, 1999 (ISBN: 978-0393959048)*; Edith Wharton, selections from Ghosts. 1937; Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts. 1976. New York: Vintage, 1989 (ISBN: 978-0679721888)*; Toni Morrison, Beloved. 1987. London: Vintage Classics, 2010 (ISBN: 978-0099540977)*; selections from Stephen King, Bag of Bones. 1998. The books that you are required to purchase are those marked with an asterisk (please do not use any editions of James’s, Kingston’s, and Morrison’s novels other than the ones officially assigned). Additional readings will be available in electronic format through LSF. A tentative course syllabus will be distributed on the first day of class. Requirements include two oral reports and one 8- to 10-page paper. Active class participation and regular attendance are crucial for success in this course! W3-Professur für Nordamerikanische Literaturgeschichte (Univ. Prof. Dr. Klaus Benesch) B.A.-Nebenfach SLK: Diese Veranstaltung entspricht in WP 2 dem Kurstyp -Begleitkurs zu Themen der Literaturwissenschaft m/n/o/p- (WP 2.0.14/16/18/20). Sie erhalten 3 ECTS, wenn Sie entweder eine Klausur (30-60 Min.) schreiben oder eine mündliche Prüfung (15-30 Min.) ablegen oder ein Thesenpapier (3.000-6.000 Zeichen) oder Übungsaufgaben (3.000-6.000 Zeichen) fertigen. Die Prüfung muss benotet sein. Die Wahl der Prüfungsart liegt beim Dozenten. LMU München SoSe 2016 Dozent