ENG W170  PROJECTS IN READING & WRITING
TOPIC:	Outlaw Country: Representations and Appropriations of Rural
American Rebellion and Lawlessness
INSTRUCTOR:  Andy Oler

14723	MWF	1:25pm – 2:15pm	SY 108
9297	MWF	3:35pm – 4:25pm	BH 147

The figure of the outlaw has been central to American culture,
appearing repeatedly in literature, popular music, and film.
Through critical reading and writing about several outlaw stories
and figures, this course will investigate shifts in representations
of outlawry and ask: Why does the outlaw matter?  How do individuals
and society deal with the outlaw?  How is the figure of the outlaw
important for “normal” people and normalcy?  What about the outlaw
is figured as national and what as regional or rural?  What is the
difference between telling a story about an outlaw and claiming to
be one?  Course inquiry will begin with “dime novels” about Wild
West outlaws and will transition into recent films engaging outlaw
iconography, such as No Country for Old Men, Brokeback Mountain,
Traffic, Thelma & Louise, and Raising Arizona.  Finally, we will
explore how “outlaw country” artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon
Jennings, and Willie Nelson adopt and adapt outlawry into their
music and image.