TI 249-HST - Native American Literatures

Min Units: 3
Max Units: 3
In the past, the creators of Native American literature were oral performers, people who used the power of the spoken and sung word rather than the pen. Today, native peoples continue to draw on the power of oral performance, but also employ written and visual media to create literary texts both sacred and secular. In this course, we will explore these multimedia texts in their social, cultural, and historical contexts. We will begin with oral literature-including sacred myths, legends, ritual poetry, and prophecies-reading and listening to them not only for their artistry but for what they reveal about community values, beliefs, and worldview. We will then trace these topics through short stories, novels, and films in order to understand the breadth and complexity of Native American literatures across a select number of tribes and nations in order to develop a deep understanding of distinct national and ethnic identities within “Indian Country.” (U) Occasionally