ENG 249 The Weird Nineteenth Century
The nineteenth century contained the rise of industrialism, as well as the rise of celebrity culture, urban living, and the concept of "leisure." It was also frequently terrifying and weird as a result. This class looks at literature and texts from the time period that highlight the dark, bizarre, or delightfully strange side(s) of the 1800s, both in subject matter and in form. Topics of discussion include: Black vampires, how to go about establishing an insanity plea, spirit photography and spiritualism, and whether PT Barnum's American Museum actually contained a mermaid. Texts are from the Americas, rather than only the US.