"I don't go into the studio with the idea of "saying" something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a few arbitrary marks on it that start me on some sort of dialogue."--Richard Diebenkorn

Click here to read more about Richard Diebenkorn and his paintings.
Diebenkorn Cityscape

On these pages, you will find lectures that go along with the readings. Please read them carefully, and try to answer all the questions (in your head; no need to write down answers).

Use the links below to get to the lecture you want.

Lecture 1: Trends in Contemporary Literature

Lecture 2: A Survey of African-American Literature: Campbell, 72 Hour Hold

Lecture 3: The Short Story

Lecture 4: A New Direction? Kushner, Angels in America

Lecture 5: The War Novel: O'Brien, In the Lake of the Woods

Lecture 6: The War Novel: Frazier, Cold Mountain

Lecture 7: Collapsing Genres: Chabon, Thrilling Tales

Lecture 8: Survey of Contemporary Latino/a Literature: Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies

Lecture 9: The Fiction of Alienation: Foer, Everything is Illuminated

Lecture 10: Survey of Contemporary Native American Literature: Alexie, Flight