Reading & Composition

Are all disguises deceitful? If you wear one disguise your whole life, is it a lie? This course will investigate various accounts of individuals who live their lives incognito. Drawn from literature, history, film, and television, our case studies will carry us from the annals of Sherlock Holmes to Harry Houdini’s biography, from ancient identity theft to modern Ponzi schemes, from medieval quacks to call-in psychics and televangelists. Which disguises are more convincing, available, or advantageous to some than others? Said another way, which transgressive identities does society sanction or condemn, and why?

Since this is a writing-intensive course, our goal is to engage with these texts and films while communicating our thoughts in writing with clarity and sophistication. Over the semester, we will write three essays, regular posts on bCourses, and at least one creative assignment that addresses the challenges of composition and rhetorical technique.