English 124 The Art of Absence Mary Beckman In this writing and literature course, we will study works in which absence is central — works that deal with, in both form and content, loss, lack, anonymity, silence, what's missing, what's unsaid. We'll consider the work of a spectrum of artists and writers — from Patrick Modiano to Alison Bechdel to Ana Mendieta — in a wide variety of genres — fiction, poetry, photography, film, music, etc. Questions we'll ask: How can absence serve to launch a narrative? How do authors and artists communicate via omission? How does the absent entity — be it a person, place, or thing — become, paradoxically, a charged presence in the text? In this class, you will write analytical and reflective essays designed to introduce you to key craft concerns of college writing as well as provide you the opportunity to think deeply about the course's topics and texts. We will pre-write, draft, collaboratively workshop, and revise complex arguments that help us understand our texts, our topic, and our own experiences in new ways.