[The final
papers are coming in and the blue books have entered the building, so it must
be the end of another semester. This week I’ve recapped some inspiring moments
from my
Fall 2018 semester, leading up to this preview of my Spring semester!]
Four things I’m
looking forward to in my Spring 2019 semester.
1)
A New Class: Among more familiar favorites like
my Ethnic
American Literature course, this spring I’ll have the chance to teach a
course I haven’t taught before: 20th Century African American
Literature, the second half of the survey for which I taught the first half (19th
Century, duh) last spring. For this one, rather than the
anthology/different short reading each day structure I used in 19th
Century, I’ll be centering the course around a core group of texts: The Marrow of Tradition, Their Eyes Were Watching
God, Invisible Man, Mumbo Jumbo, Beloved, and The Underground Railroad. I’ll also try to work in shorter
(especially poetic) readings alongside those main texts, though. I’d love any
suggestions of any kind for this class, and will keep you updated of course!
2)
NeMLA’s 50th: In late March I’ll be
in DC for NeMLA’s 50th
anniversary convention. I’ve written in this space a great deal about both that
particular convention and my overall
continued arc with this wonderful organization, and here will just add that
a convention in Washington should allow (well, force) us to consider all the
ways that a scholarly community and organization must engage with the
political, social, cultural, national, and global worlds around us. The more
voices that are part of such conversations the better, so let me know your
thoughts and I will keep you updated of course!
3)
NEASA at FSU: Other than as a brief mention in this
Fall Preview post, I haven’t said much in this space about my second time
around as New England ASA President. In many ways I see my role as to help
bridge between the organization’s past and the youngest folks who will be
taking over the leadership positions soon, but I do have one definite plan for
my second presidency: hosting our (now) spring conference here at Fitchburg
State. There’s a lot still to develop and coordinate, but I know it will be
Saturday June 8th, and will focus on the broad topic of Representations.
I’ll share the CFP in this space when it’s ready, as I’d love for you all to
join us at NEASA 2019—so I’ll keep you updated of course!
4)
Book book book: I’ve already shared the good
news about my book contract a couple times in this space, so here I’ll just
reiterate my #1 scholarly goal for 2019: to talk about the book and the battle
over who is an American in as many spaces and conversations as possible. I’d
love to hear any suggestions and ideas for places, spaces, communities, and
conversations in which I could share the histories, stories, and ideas at the
heart of We the People: The 500-Year
Battle Over Who is an American. Thanks in advance!
Next series
starts Monday,
Ben
PS. What do you
think? Semester reflections or Spring previews you’d share?
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