Welcome to Intro to Fiction - The Elements of Content (where form and meanings meet)

This is an introduction to the Literature of Short Fiction. If you made it this far then you probably already ascertained that. but the fact is, survey courses like this one can be tricky to conceptualize (the sheer number of great stories makes it difficult and intriguing to focus them into a coherent course). The form is vast, and its continuing relevance to our culture and our selves dictates that our examination come to terms with historical/cultural/societal spheres in which fiction is created - however, we would be doing ourselves an injustice if we didn't consider the craft, the author sitting at his/her desk grappling with the deep dark possibilities of self-expression and order in an ultimately chaotic place. to that end we will focus on where Style and content meet, that is, how Craft makes meaning - how Short fiction is built and how authors attempt to represent their visions through the "making" of stories. Therefore the elements of fiction (Setting/scene, Point of View, Character, Symbol, etc.) that go into the making will be a large topic for our grappling as we continue through this coutse.

Literature is often a powerful and volatile political space where artists grapple with the culture at large. Seeing literature as more than just "telling a story" requires a shift in thinking. It requires that we displace our own preconceptions, stereotypes, biases (we all have them) and approach the text objectively. It requires that we think of literature as a kind of machine; each text has a function and produces an effect. I think it was Walt Whitman who said that poetry is a small or large machine made out of words. Fiction can be thought of in the same way. Machines don't mean something; they do something. Our task will be to investigate what these dramatic texts are trying to do.

As a teacher, I am not governed by the notion that there is only one correct reading or interpretation of any literary work. Rather, my hope is that by the end of the semester you will be able to appreciate the many effects of any given story. Early in the semester, I won’t expect you to be an expert on literary matters. I do, however, expect you to share your reactions and questions. As the semester progresses, you will become better versed in the methods of critical reading, and as result, will also become a more articulate, discerning, and critical writer.

Please be aware that many of the literature that we will read and consider will come from authors with widely different backgrounds and the stories will often deal with decidedly provocative issues including class, race and racism, sexuality, religion, politics, etc. We will, at times, encounter coarse language. You know your level of tolerance concerning such matters; it's up to you whether to stay in the course or seek another one more in line with your personal tastes/opinions. If you elect to stay, please know that we will not discuss whether a poet's ideas are moral/immoral, proper/improper, etc. Rudeness regarding such matters will not be tolerated and offenders will be asked to leave the class. The goal of learning to read literature is seeing beyond one's own experience and worldviews.


Welcome Aboard,

Jamie Thomas