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Long before Greta Thunberg, Alexei Navalny, and #BlackLivesMatter—and even before the likes of the ’68 Generation, Sophie Scholl, and Mahatma Gandhi—dissident voices have throughout history reminded us of the importance of minding our business!
In this course, we will explore expressions of dissent in the Americas, focusing in particular on works asking their audience to either take care of business (speak up, do something) or stay out of my business (shut up, let me be). We will take a closer look at pre-twentieth century examples of activism, including a nun’s attempts to reform the Catholic Church from within—through comedy (Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, late 1600s); a monumental rallying cry born out of a tea party gone wild (the Declaration of Independence, 1776); and a group of settlers who learn the importance of paddling their own canoe and keeping their hands away from that of others if they wish to succeed in life, or, simply stay alive (Frederick Marryat, The Settlers in Canada, 1844).
English translations will be provided for all works originally written in another language. |
