Spring 2022: EN 104 A1-- "Boston: Zeal, Insanity, and Lawlessness"

Boston has captivated the imagination of locals and outsiders alike for centuries, not only as "The Hub" or "The Athens of America" but also as "Suck City" and the town with "dirty water." In this seminar, we will look at Boston as subject and setting of a number of very different works in order to understand the social, political, historical, and artistic forces that have shaped this great American city, and to figure out whether its often- negative portrayal is deserved. We will debate, discuss, and question how such influences shape a culture or define a city, examining nonfiction from such authors as, Michael Patrick MacDonald, Nick Flynn, and Susanna Kaysen; fiction by Jhumpa Lahiri, Ha Jin, and Dennis Lehane; and poetry by Robert Lowell, Elizabeth Bishop, and Robert Frost. We'll also view film excerpts from Malcolm X, Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Gone Baby Gone, Lift, Mystic River, Blue Hill Avenue, and Spotlight.