Offered Fall of 2026 (Semester 1)

Why are books banned? Why are writers imprisoned or forced into exile? What do they represent that so threatens the powers that be? This course probes such issues by examining narratives of resistance to totalitarian regimes. Despite circumstances that systematically dehumanize individuals, where basic rights to freedom and dignity are denied, protest squelched, and the odds stacked so heavily against human existence, people still strive for self-expression. In such oppressive conditions, writing often emerges as a political act and a book as an impassioned manifesto. The written word becomes a validation of voice, a vindication of views held steadfastly despite vicious opposition. The firsthand accounts of survival we will focus on will compel us to consider the strategic significance of speech and silence in restrictive environments. Specific case studies will highlight the different and resourceful ways in which people choose to convey dissent. We will also explore the enduring effects of state repression and violence, the psychological imprisonment that persists long after release or escape. The course will culminate in an independent or partnered research project focusing on a text from a period and region based on student choice.