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/lit/ - Literature

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12835597 No.12835597 [Reply] [Original]

Got offered a job teaching an Intro to Lit class but my syllabus wasn't "refined" enough. Was going to just tackle drug addiction in literature. My chair tells me that I should look for books/stories that lead into addiction and make addiction the last or second to last "theme" in the class. Does anyone have suggestions as to what themes correlate with drug addiction and what books would be good to teach Freshman and Sophomore students at a university that connect with those themes? I'm stuck and need /lit/'s input. I appreciate it.

>> No.12835626

>>12835597
This is your job. If you don’t have the responsibility or work ethic to carry out the duties delegated to you, resign.

If you can’t think of a plan of recourse that deals with your area of study, you shouldn’t be teaching.

>> No.12835657

>>12835626
Yes, thus why I said I was stuck. I was just told a few hours ago. Freaking myself out. It's my first teaching gig. Don't be a dick.

>> No.12835672

>>12835657
In that case, I’d start with learning and teaching the fundamental biological basis of addiction, and segway into works that show a slow conversion between adherence to health and the logos to abandonment of moral values, and frame addiction in that matter. Give me a minute and I’ll dig through my lists for you.

>> No.12835680

Drugs!
Sex!
Drugs!
Sex!
Drugs!
Sex!
Drugs!
Sex!
Drugs!
Sex!

Fuck off and die, honestly.

>> No.12835727

>>12835597
dunno, maybe compulsion in general or passion
I mean it could be game addiction as in The Gambler or even 'libido sciendi' as in Balzac's Quest of the Absolute, where the protagonist sells all the family furniture to improve his chemics/science laboratory

>> No.12835947

>>12835597
Charles Willeford's Pickup (sometimes stylized Pick-Up) is a good book with addiction at its core. It also has to do with the redeeming quality of art and an M Night Shyamalan tier twist in the last sentence of the book as well.

>> No.12835954

>>12835597
Post the original syllabus so we can see what we are working with.

>> No.12835956

>>12835597
Gravity's Rainbow and Infinite Jest my man!

>> No.12835987

He was hinting that you need to idpol it up.

Queering Narratives in Literary Depictions of Drug Addiction
Feminist Perspectives on Substance Abuse in World Literature
An Islamic Lens on Opium in Historigraphy
Dis/Ability and Dependence: Getting High in the Arts while Different


Meaningless shit like that.

>> No.12836572

>>12835597
Ryu Murakami - Almost Transparent Blue

>> No.12836600

>>12835597
Trainspotting duh

>> No.12836621
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12836621

>>12835597
I've read only the intro of it, so I don't know the general theme of the whole book, but try Naked Lunch. The damn intro has a pretty good insight on the topic.

Also, maybe The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

I haven't read all those because I'm not a junkie. Just kidding.

>> No.12836793

>>12835597
I'm a teacher. I can't help you with books dealing with themes of addiction, but I may be able to offer advice on curriculum and design. Your chair is correct in that jumping into a subject without any preparatory or introductory material is bad practice. Your first goal is to establish a clear, measurable, finite end to your instruction. What should your students be able to understand and, more importantly, be able to do by the end of your course?

From that point, work backwards according to likely conceptual hangups, with the more complex ones coming later. Theme is a difficult concept for many students, and the idea of a thoughtform or idea that persists outside of and is consistent throughout a body of work or even and entire culture will likely be beyond them.

>Into to Lit
I'm confused as to why an introduction to literature would require "tackling" drug addiction. What items or ideas of literary merit will you be introducing your students to? Is this an introduction to historical literature or a general theory course? It sounds like you're substituting a personal area of expertise for a course that requires a more general focus. By all means include addiction themes and pieces focused around them if you believe it will enhance your students' appreciation of literature, but never stray from the latter caveat.

And have a late work policy, for the love of God. They will swamp you with two month-old essays without.

>> No.12837014

OP here. Just want to thank everyone who has replied so far. The poster who mentioned identity politics, you're spot on. I used mostly white authors and was told by another faculty member that they were told to use gay Chicano authors if they wanted to be considered for any advancement. I am not qualified or interested in any of what I am suggested. But I must endure I guess.

>> No.12837018

>>12835597
why doesn't the chair just write the syllabus himself if he's going to mess with yours that much

>> No.12837046

>>12837014
> I used mostly white authors and was told by another faculty member
Well there you go: >>12836572

>> No.12837060

>>12836793
>I'm confused as to why an introduction to literature would require "tackling" drug addiction
I share this confusion, OP. The introductory literature course I took in uni would cover something like this along with maybe 5-6 other topics in similar depth. I pity your students, OP.

>> No.12837091

>>12836793
>>12837060
It sounds like OP has an interest in drugs and he's trying to make his class all about that instead of providing a balanced intro to lit. Really immature and shitty desu

>> No.12837663
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12837663

>>12835597
I got you bro

>> No.12837668
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12837668

>>12835597
Honestly your ideas are missing the point of an intro to lit class

>> No.12837671
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12837671

>>12835597
In my opi

>> No.12837676
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12837676

>>12835597
nion you should start with more general lit.

>> No.12837682

Diary of a Drug Fiend by A. Crowley
Sex and Drugs by R.A. Wilson
Hunter S. Thompson, werke

>> No.12837702

>>12837663
Oh Cherry! Like "Taste of Cherry", the film set in Iran? Sounds like it covers a number of important topics. Interesting how the description reads "during the midst of the American Opioid epidemic." to describe the scene for drug addiction. That's so 2019! OMG love it.

>> No.12837809

>>12835597
>books would be good to teach Freshman and Sophomore students at a university that connect with those themes?

Unironically Infinite Jest

>> No.12837817

Jesus' Son is a good book

>> No.12837832

>>12835657
>it's my first day on the job do it for me
kys retard

>> No.12837865

>>12837809
True, and it could even function for addiction in general (ie the sad stork), but it's probably too long for anything beyond excerpts.