SFU Course

I got right at the computer at 10 am this morning to register for my class with Lealle Ruhl.   She is a very popular instructor and people register for anything she does.  I have become one of them.  There was a good chance this year because she is offering to two sections of 75 places each but even after an hour of registration two thirds of the seats were gone.

SCFC958 - Understanding Identities in the 21st Century (55+)

Since the emancipatory social movements of the 1960s, including the campaigns for civil, gay and women’s rights, identity has become a key element of political life. Referring to our subjective self-definition, identity is entwined with liberation and self-expression, and provides a focus for effecting social change and ending discrimination. However, in the 21st century, identity is an increasingly problematic concept. The belief in a fundamental core of characteristics and experiences is undercut by the actual diversity of how individuals engage with the social world.

We will explore the complexities of identity in the 21st century, examining how identity has helped create opportunities and demands for social change. By probing current debates about race, gender and the “problem” of refugees, we will try to understand the importance of identity in contemporary life.

Jim's Coure:

Jim's course filled 21 of the 55 seats in the first hour so that is great.  It's being offered in the evening so he was wondering how well that would do.  It seems to be doing fine.  I expect the people who registered in the first hour are folks from his course last year.

AHCP288 - Ten Masters of the Short Story Compared

What are the elements of a timeless short story, and how do the virtuosos of the form combine these ingredients into an artistic whole?

We will discuss classic stories by ten masters of short fiction, including Poe, Hemingway, Lawrence, Joyce, Mansfield and Munro (late-career). We will define the key elements of fiction—among them plot, imagery, conflict, setting, style, tone, character and narrative point of view (including shifts in time sequence)—then demonstrate each author’s skill in using these components to convey a dominant theme or “unity of effect,” as Poe described a story’s most characteristic feature. While we will refer to author biographies, and learn what makes a good film adaptation of a short story, our focus will be on close analytical readings of each story.

Note: There is required reading for this course.