Men’s Literature Course/ Seminar Description

The upper division men’s literature seminar for senior English majors presents --through the study of fiction, poetry, drama, and film -- a view of modern men struggling to define themselves in relation both to the lingering and destructive patriarchy and to antagonistic feminism, as well as in the context of contemporary social definitions of “new” masculinities. The course focuses mainly on literary works about contemporary heterosexual white and minority males. The basic assumption about any revised general identity for modern males is that, while each man will have forge his own masculinity, a fuller, more complete version of the masculine self is in order. (See “Gender Quiz”.) The theories that govern the discussion of this new masculine self in the course are a tense synthesis of neo-Jungian depth psychology, existential thought, “second-wave” feminism, and contemporary masculinist gender theory from sociology and psychology. The course encourages forthright discussion of the personal experiences men and women students have had with the men in their lives. The course proceeds through the material in a developmental framework from boy to elder, with attention given to the following topics: the two fathers, initiation, the inner feminine, romance and love, war, work, brotherhoods, mid-life breakthrough, elderhood, and spiritual transcendence. The course manifestly draws on personal experiences to interpret and respond to literature and provides the opportunity for group and individual participation in local men’s activities, such a drumming circles and wilderness fasts, as well as coed drumming, island excursions, and the construction of a photographic portrait gallery of fathers. Each student writes two medium-sized analytical papers and completes a larger research “project paper” from the topics listed below or one devised in consultation with the instructor.

Men's Literature: Project Suggestions

A. 1. Develop a questionnaire / survey on attitudes toward maleness and changing masculinity and interview your father, uncles, etc. and establish a link of communication about maleness and conceptions of it held by the men in your life and you. Submit the survey questions in advance, conduct the interviews and write a report.

2. Analyze some "new males" found on current tv. programs, sitcoms, or soaps. Define what you mean by "new males" and discuss if and how they are valued.

3. Analyze the portrayal of new kinds of masculinity in ads on tv. or in magazines, or in a recent film.

4. Research the gender significance and potential re-appraisal of a "god" in masculinist terms, such as Yahweh, Zeus, Dionysus/Pan, Hephaestos, the Green Man, etc.

5. Assemble a bibliography of works of either a critical or creative nature that focus on some aspect of masculinity: use Internet resources. B.

6. Discuss a classic work of literature you are studying in another course from a masculinist position.

7. Discuss a feminist approach to a work of literature that has been presented to you and examine the work and approach from a masculinist perspective.

8. Discuss the one of the following mythic or archetypal figures in a work of literature we have not read: the "puer aeternis" (the perpetually creative, playful, and energizing male), the admiring older man; the loyal pal or friend, the perpetual adolescent, the elder-initiator, the warrior, the anima-helper/ mystical sister; the hideous damsel/ crone, the wise old man.

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