The purpose of this course is two-fold. First, we will read and discuss 15 brand-spanking-new essays that were written during 2008. We’ll spend approximately one week discussing each of these essays, and then examining the history of the form that each is written in. Be forewarned—and please keep in mind—that the essays we’ll be discussing will not be to limited to those of the printed variety. Some of these essays will very likely be films, some may be radio documentaries, video games, comix, whole books, poems, or stories. Our purpose, in other words, will be to stretch the definition of "essaying" to include work that may be defined by what it does—the activity that it engages in—rather than what it is—its nonfictional verifiability.
Course Instructor(s):
John D'Agata
