July 2006
Studies in Fiction: Motorcycle Literature, Speed and Masculinities
Katherine Sutherland
THOMSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY
Department of English & Modern Languages
ENGLISH 314 - 3
Studies in Fiction: Motorcycle Literature, Speed and Masculinities (3,0,0)
Winter 2006
Instructor: Dr. K. Sutherland
Course Description
Of particular relevance for students interested in interarts, gender or culture studies, this course will explore cultural constructions of speed in relation to history, technology, masculinity and marketing, all through representations of motorcycles and riding in literature and film. It might be argued that speed is the dominant cultural value of the twentieth and early twenty-first century; students will be asked to consider how this value is revealed in motorcycle literature and films.
Texts/Materials
She’s a Bad Motorcycle, ed. Geno Zanetti
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig
The Perfect Vehicle, Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Make Haste, Slowly: The Mike Duff Story, Michelle Duff
Riding with Rilke, Ted Bishop
Student Evaluation
Essay one.................................1000 wds......................................20%
Essay two.................................2000 wds......................................30%
Oral presentation................…..20 min........................................….20%
Final exam.................................3 hrs...........................................….30%
Course Topics
Week 1 Jan 9 Introduction
Jan 11 Fulton in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Week 2 Jan 16 Guevara in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Jan 18 Barger & Coyote in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Week 3 Jan 23 Easy Rider--film
Jan 25 Wolfe & Thompson in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Week 4 Jan 30 Heidegger readings*
Feb 1 Simon & Paulsen in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Week 5 Feb 6 Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Feb 8 Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Week 6 Feb 13 Girl on a Motorcycle--film
Feb15 Lopez & Kushner in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
ESSAY ONE DUE
February 20-24 READING WEEK
Week 7 Feb 27 Make Haste, Slowly: The Mike Duff Story, Michelle Duff
Mar 1 Make Haste, Slowly: The Mike Duff Story, Michelle Duff
Week 8 Mar 6 Kierkegaard readings* & Johnson in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Mar 8 Haraway reading*
TOPIC FOR ESSAY TWO DUE
Week 9 Mar 13 Virillio reading* & McCoy in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Mar 15 McGuane & Noren in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Week 10 Mar 20 Faster—film
Mar 22 Marcus reading*
Week 11 Mar 27 Greenfeld in She’s a Bad Motorcycle
Mar 29 Futurist Manifesto*
Week 12 April 3 The Perfect Vehicle
April 5 The Perfect Vehicle
ESSAY TWO DUE
Week 13 April 10 Riding with rilke
April 12 Riding with Rilke
*in ‘’English 314 Readings’’ on reserve in library
Late Policy: Essays must be submitted in person in class on the due date; essays not submitted as specified will be considered late. Late papers will receive a grade but no comments or corrections either in writing or in person. Essays will not be accepted after the final class of this course.
Plagiarism
Please see policy in the TRU Calendar and attached description. Where palgiarism is discovered, the student will receive a grade of ‘0’ in the course.
Writing Center
If the Writing Center is recommended at any time, please make an appointment at OM2674 or call 371-5689.
Essay Descriptions
Essay one : Compare two selections from She’s a Bad Motorcycle showing how the same theme is presented differently by two authors. The contrast may be considered in terms of style, content, or both.
Essay two : A topic created by the student must be submitted for approval on March 19.
All essays must conform to MLA style.