TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' AMERICA

Catalog description

Open only to juniors and seniors.This course will take a close and deep look at Williams' journey as an American writer from the later 1930's through the 1990's. We will examine what role Williams position as a gay writer played in his reputation and how he used his journey as a gay man in America in his dramas. We will also trace the intersections of the life and work of this important playwright against the backdrop of the history of the country, such as his engagement with the Great Depression, racial strife in the South, the McCarthy period, and the protests of the sixties. The readings will include Williams' famous plays and less well-known works such as Fugitive Kind and Camino Real, as well as his short stories. We will also read works of Williams' contemporaries such as Miller, Clifford, Odets and William Inge in order to locate shared elements between the dramatists and to explore what is unique in Williams' artistic vision.Faculty: D. ROESSEL