Detective Fiction

Catalog description

Who dunnit? Why do we keep asking this question? You dunnit. Readers have an investment in finding answers to puzzles and to threatening narrative situations. In this course on one of the world's most popular literary genres, you will not only learn of its origins, but about theories of why you keep reading these stories. The texts begin with the Memoirs of Eugene-Francois Vidocq and stories of Edgar Allan Poe, and run though contemporary novelists such as Sara Paretsky and Natsuo Kirino. Why is this genre appeal so popular in so many cultures? There will be a strong comparativist slant to the course; students will be encouraged to explore the cultural context of Natsuo Kirino's and Stieg Larsson's novels which, like many of the classics, provide fertile ground for comparison to film adaptations. Recommended preparation: Academic Inquiry Seminar (AIQS) or SAGES First Seminar. Counts as a Communication Intensive course.