From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week, we take a look at notable science fiction and fantasy US author Ursula K. Le Guin.
Le Guin was born on October 21, 1929, in Berkeley, California and died on January 22, 2018, in Portland, Oregon.
Many of her works were heavily influenced by anthropology, including language.
What
Some of Le Guin’s notable works include Tales from Earthsea, The Left Hand of Darkness, and The Dispossessed.
Where
These texts are often set in imagined, fantastical worlds.
When
These works predominantly set in the distant future.
Why
Le Guin’s works may be of interest to AU learners who enjoy themes of “anthropology, gender, environmentalism, and anarchism.” In addition, these works may be of interest to students who enjoy themes of “[h]ome and homecoming.”
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the works of Ursula K. Le Guin are available in a variety of disciplines, including those that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ANTH 275: Faces of Culture: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, a junior-level, three-credit curse, which “focuses on the cross-cultural study of human diversity … [and the] patterns of social organization, the family, economics, politics, religion, the arts.” (Please note that this course does not require prerequisites).
In addition, student may be interested in ANTH 354: Language and Culture, a senior-level three-credit course, which “investigates topics found in the field of linguistic anthropology and linguistics—one of four subfields of anthropology.” (While this course does not require prerequisites, the above-mentioned ANTH 275 is recommended). Happy reading!
Beyond Literary Landscapes was a column proposed to me quite a while ago, and while it doesn’t receive a lot of views, I like to think of it as like a desktop calendar quote, just reminding you of some of the diversity and breadth of literature out there, and how it can all be studied at AU. As one of our most consistent columns, it would be an odd Best Of issue that didn’t have one. The October 11th edition, here, was recommended by a Voice reader as it was a reminder of a favorite author, so worked exactly as intended.