The Modern Contemporary Essay: from David Foster Wallace to Maggie Nelson

About this course

The course examines how modern and contemporary essayists use personal experience, research and varied nonfiction sources to explore subjects such as environmentalism, celebrity, online culture, health, loneliness and mortality. It also considers the essay’s changing place across magazines, literary journals and online forums. Teaching combines tutor presentations, class discussion and small-group work. Biographical material and interview clips provide context for close engagement with the set texts, with attention to the ethical and critical questions raised by contemporary essay writing.

What you'll learn

• Use critical vocabulary to analyse and evaluate modern and contemporary literary essays.
• Discuss critical approaches to topical issues addressed in contemporary nonfiction.
• Examine the ethical implications of incorporating personal biography into essay writing.
• Analyse how essayists combine different nonfiction sources to develop their subjects.
• Assess how the role and status of the essay have changed across print and online forms.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for anyone interested in reading and discussing contemporary essays. Its all-levels designation suggests that learners with different levels of prior literary study can take part, while the format involves contributing to class discussion and small-group work.

• Suitable for learners interested in contemporary literary nonfiction.
• Includes regular reading and discussion of set essays.
• Participation involves both whole-class discussion and small-group work.

Before you go

• Learners will read and discuss three essays each week.
• Readings will be provided close to the beginning of the course.