James Baldwin

In this survey of American author James Baldwin, we will look critically at the relationship between Baldwin’s corpus and the various roles Baldwin adopted, was assigned, or was posthumously given. We will pay special attention to his work as a novelist, a “prophet,” and a social “witness.” Throughout the course, we will explore Baldwin’s lifelong conflict as to whether he was a “Negro writer,” an “American writer,” or a category-less artist. After beginning with Baldwin’s 1950s fiction, we will move on to his 1960s and 1970s social commentary and nonfiction essays and finish with his various filmed interviews and conversations. Potential interviewers and conversation partners include William F. Buckley Jr., Maya Angelou, and Paul Weiss. The last week of the class will consist of a discussion of a contemporary reinterpretation of Baldwin’s work to be selected by the class. Potential artists include authors Jesmyn Ward and Ta Nehisi Coates and filmmakers Barry Jenkins and Raoul Peck.

Course Outline

Course Syllabus

Notes

Online registration closes June 6 at 5 pm CT.

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