32203
Advanced Seminar
Introduction to Native American/Indigenous Literatures
Martina Basciani
Comments
The seminar offers an introduc1on to Na1ve American and Indigenous literatures across Turtle
Island (United States and Canada), beginning with the early canoniza1on of Na1ve literatures
in the late 1960s, moving through the theoriza1on of the so-called “Na1ve American
Renaissance” (Kenneth Lincoln, 1982), and culmina1ng in the rise of Indigenous Resurgence.
At each stage, we will reflect on the ethics of studying Indigenous topics – a longstanding
ques1on that must be approached not with guilt, but with responsibility and awareness. The
course consists of four blocks, each focused on a specific historical moment and context, and
centering on one author and their work: N. ScoX Momaday (House Made of Dawn), Louise
Erdrich (Tracks and The Last Report), Thomas King (Green Grass, Running Water), and Leanne
Betasamosake Simpson (This Accident of Being Lost and A Short History of the Blockade). We
will draw on a variety of mul1media resources - including excerps from novels and short
stories, essays, interviews, films, and music videos – to explore recurring themes such as land
claims, orality, (hi)story-telling, and resistance, as they evolve across different eras. Students
are expected to aXend regularly and par1cipate ac1vely in class discussions. A weekly reading
load of 20-40 pages (including fic1on and non-fic1on) will be provided through a course
reader. Regular aXendance, ac1ve par1cipa1on, commitment to weekly readings, and
engagement in the “online forum”, along with a small reading response (250 words) are
required for receiving par1cipatory credit for the seminar. Full credit also entails submission
of a term paper (3,500 words) by the beginning of the summer term. close
16 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Tue, 2025-10-14 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-10-21 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-10-28 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-11-04 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-11-11 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-11-18 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-11-25 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-12-02 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-12-09 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2025-12-16 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-01-06 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-01-13 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-01-20 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-01-27 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-02-03 12:00 - 14:00
Tue, 2026-02-10 12:00 - 14:00