AIS 377 A: Contemporary American Indian Literature

How and why does Native American literature address issues of identity? Why and how do Native literatures correct misrepresentations of Indigenous peoples and cultures? In what ways do Native American literatures engage with, and imagine Native communities’ futures? With emphasis on the novel, but not limited to that form, this course engages these questions through Native-authored literature (including short stories, a film or two, and a comic book or graphic novel). Students will consider the contexts from which particular Native American literatures emerge, and the ethical concerns associated with reading Native literature. Through the course’s readings and discussions, students will learn how the use of genre, language, and humor work together in Native American fiction to delight, challenge, and intrigue multiple audiences.