Since starting college four years ago, I’ve taken a few classes that I can label as life-changers (Women Writers Around The World and Gender Studies included). These kinds of classes have proven most valuable to me because of their ability to broaden my perception and understanding of the world. These classes kicked my ass, in the best way, by forcing me to question society.
This semester, I was able to add Contemporary LGBT Literature to the life-changers list. Planned, proposed and taught by Dr. Curt Herr, LGBT Literature (working to be renamed Contemporary Queer Literature for the fall semester) has indeed kicked my ass. It has expanded my knowledge and understanding of LGBT history in ways I never knew I needed.
Dr. Herr gave me a window into the process of creating such an important and impactful course. LGBT Literature was proposed about 15 years ago. When the course was first offered, Kutztown University’s English department was expecting low enrollment. But curious KU students quickly filled the class and Dr. Herr never looked back.
Today, LGBT Literature digs into the post-Stonewall side of LGBT history. Dr. Herr wanted this course to focus on the advances made in LGBT rights, and providing healthy images of LGBT folks. He wished to shine a light on the “totally overlooked part of American history.”
He absolutely succeeded. Since starting this class, I have learned about so many books, plays, movies, historical events, individuals, and whole movements that I was completely ignorant of. As Dr. Herr intended, I have begun to “question and evaluate the fear rather than the integrity of the human spirit.” Just like my other life-changer courses, LGBT Literature has asked me to step back and widen my perception of the society around me.
When I asked Dr. Herr what the one thing he hoped students would get out of this class was, he simply replied, “Celebration.” So, if celebrating the human spirit and the incredible power of the people sounds like something you need right about now, I strongly suggest enrolling in Dr. Herr’s course, soon to be titled Contemporary Queer Literature, at some point in your KU college career.
(The texts required for LGBT Literature, as of spring 2018 semester)
The next course Dr. Herr is working on bringing to KU will focus on how to teach young adult queer novels for secondary education majors, so keep an eye out for that too!