“African American Literature and the American South” Syllabus

by Matthew Teutsch

Occasionally, I post syllabi ideas here on the blog. Today, I want to share a syllabus I have been thinking about recently entitled “African American Literature and the American South.” The South, as a geographic and imaginary space, looms large in the works of not just African American authors but in writers of all ethnic backgrounds from the United States. Maryemma Graham discusses the … Read More “African American Literature and the American South” Syllabus

October 31, 2017 + academia, african american literature, alabama literature, american literature, caribbean literature, composition, early american literature, gothic literature, grading, irish literature, Literature, louisiana literature, mississippi literature, native american literature, Pedagogy, professionalization, southern literature, time management, university, work/life balance

Is Work/Life Balance Achievable in Academia?

by Matthew Teutsch

For the first few weeks, I would walk into my eight o’clock class to bright faces and smiles from the students seated within the rows. About a month into the semester, and coincidentally around the same time that they had to turn in their first essay, the smiling faces turned to tired and haggled sleep-deprived visages that stared blankly back at me as I … Read More Is Work/Life Balance Achievable in Academia?

October 19, 2017 + a gathering of old men, african american literature, american literature, cajun, catherine carmier, ernest j gaines, Literature, louisiana literature, southern literature, the autobiography of miss jane pittman

Ernest J. Gaines’ “A Gathering of Old Men” and the Social Construct of Race

by Matthew Teutsch

If you enjoy what you read here at Interminable Rambling, think about making a contribution on our Patreon page. Recently, I spoke with a colleague’s class about Ernest J. Gaines and specifically A Gathering of Old Men (1983). During the question and answer period, two students asked questions that made me start to think about the ways that Gaines, throughout his entire career, challenges … Read More Ernest J. Gaines’ “A Gathering of Old Men” and the Social Construct of Race

October 10, 2017 + african american literature, american literature, early american literature, louisiana literature, mixtape, music, Pedagogy, slave narrative, solomon northup, soundtrack, southern literature, twelve years a slave

Soundtrack Assignment in the Literature Classroom

by Matthew Teutsch

Every semester I try something new in the classroom. Sometimes this may involve adding activities such as the fish bowl, working in the archives, or having students write on the board to generate ideas. I take these ideas and tweak them as I go along because, as we know, every class is not the same. What works in one class may not necessarily work … Read More Soundtrack Assignment in the Literature Classroom

September 12, 2017 + african american literature, american literature, frank yerby, gone with the wind, Literature, louisiana literature, mark jerng, race, slavery, southern literature, the foxes of harrow

Racial Signification in Frank Yerby’s “The Foxes of Harrow”

by Matthew Teutsch

In “Reconstructions of Racial Perception: Margaret Mitchell’s and Frank Yerby’s Plantation Romances,” Mark C. Jerng argues that Frank Yerby’s The Foxes of Harrow “engages with the specific techniques of deploying racial signification in [Gone With the Wind], in particular by when race appears in the background and when it is foregrounded.” Jerng looks at the ways that Yerby challenges and reverses the racial associations … Read More Racial Signification in Frank Yerby’s “The Foxes of Harrow”

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“African American Literature and the American South” Syllabus

Category: louisiana literature