| Description |
Sex, Lies, and YAF:
Yes, the title is meant to be an allusion, and no, we’re not going to deal with that famous film, sorry! However, questions of relationships and sexuality are at the forefront of many Young Adult novels, coming-of-age stories dealing with issues such as identity, responsibility, and first ‘adult’ experiences. Moreover, many YA books are themselves concerned with literary allusion and intertextuality: the characters discover the world of adult stories, too – including sophisticated lies that far surpass the good old childhood fibs. (Or as Neil Gaiman has it, ”We who tell stories know that we tell lies for a living”.)
In this seminar, we will explore both levels: We will practise literary analysis and explore some of the major themes of the books we read, including sexuality, identity, and conflicts, and explore literary allusions and intertextuality.
Scope: We will read 2 YA novels in class together: one of them retelling an older story or myth (I suggest Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles). Students are expected to read a third one of their own choice in small groups as project work during the second half of the semester.
(Various books will be introduced during the first session for you to choose from: feel free to bring your own suggestions – but note that they have to be written in English!) |
