Imagine this seminar as an exercise in border crossings in which we will embark upon figurative journeys to three diverse thematic realms in North American culture: Canadian-U.S. relations with an emphasis on identity construction and specific ethnic groups; gender, equality, and sexual politics; contemporary portrayals of vampires in film and fiction. We will explore these realms though literary and cinematic texts in conjunction with supporting theoretical readings. As a general framework, I would like to propose several overarching titles for these realms of exploration: "Encounters at the 49th Parallel: Crossing the Border or Crossing the Line?”, “Reclaiming the ‘F’ Word: The Many Faces of Feminism”, ““Revamping the Vampire: The Transgressive Traveler."" As these three realms might initially appear disparate in nature, additional emphasis will be placed on discovering intersections and unifying themes.
Required reading: The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor
- Teacher: Maryann Henck