In this course, we will read and write nonfiction that, while not entirely focused on childhood, examines the self and present circumstance through a reexamination of the child self. Through reading works such as When You Learn the Alphabet by Kendra Allen, Heart Berries by Terese Maire Mailhot, What About the Rest of Your Life by Sung Yim, The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard, In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, and If You Knew Then What I Know Now by Ryan Van Meter, we will examine the underpinnings of childhood, its joys and traumas all, and how these play out in essayistic and memoiristic texts. Paying particular attention to form and style, students will write their own nonfictions that are introspective and investigative, and provide, as these authors do, an existential or theoretical approach to dismantling or assembling their childhoods in light of one’s present considerations.
Learning Outcomes:
Delivery Method: Hybrid in-person and remote, with faculty in-person
Prerequisites:Interested students should email creative writing sample of 3 to 5 pages and a short statement of interest in this course to jennyboully@bennington.edu by May 26, 2020.
Corequisites: Students are expected to attend all Literature Evenings and Poetry at Bennington events (most Wednesdays at 7pm)
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 8:30AM-12:10PM (2nd seven weeks)
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Course Frequency: Once a year
Categories: All courses , Literature
Tags: adolescence , childhood , contemporary literature , creative non-fiction , creative writing , Memoir , non-fiction