Reading & Composition

André Breton defined surrealism as “psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express—verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other manner—the actual functioning of thought. Dictated by thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern.” But to what extent can we begin to comprehend this mode of thinking? Can we actually uncouple reason from thought? And if we could—would it even be fruitful? Although we can only hope to touch on the surface of some of these questions as they guide us through the semester, we will survey some of the predecessors, followers, and dissenters of surrealism, paying close attention to how authors have addressed, refuted, reformulated, or ignored these questions.

This course satisfies half of UC Berkeley’s Reading & Composition sequence and is recommended for students who have completed R1A or have placed out of the R1A requirement. Given the time constraint of summer classes, students will be expected to complete reading assignments (approx. 200 pages per week) and writing at an accelerated pace. Students will improve their skills in critical thinking, reading, and analytical writing as they learn how to write with clarity and precision as we address each stage of the writing process. In addition to regular attendance, reading, and participation, assignments include an introductory paper and a series of essays—drafts and revisions—as well as other writing exercises. Ultimately, students will be able to effectively incorporate secondary sources into analytical writing, and the course will culminate in a research paper of 9-10 pages.