Author Archives: Paul Fess

Blog post #2

For this post I would like you to continue thinking through “What is Literature and Does It Matter?,” Literary  Theory: a Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Culler.

Consider the part of this chapter that includes and continues after the section titled “The nature of literature.” In this part of the chapter Culler defines “literature” from several angles. Which of these angles do you find most interesting and useful? Why? 

Blog Post Prompt #1

Below you will find two things to consider for this blog post. Let me know if they are unclear. Also, don’t forget to respond to at least one classmate’s post.

  1. In the first 10 pages of this chapter, Jonathan Culler outlines the question he asks in the chapter’s title: What is literature and does it matter? What, according to you, is the most important aspect of this section of the chapter? Why is it important for thinking about definitions of literature?
  2. Write one question that stayed with you as you read this chapter.

Hello!

Hi everyone!

My name is Paul Fess, and this is my third year teaching at LaGuardia. Before coming to the College I taught at the University of Alabama and the University of Rochester. But, before that I taught at several CUNY schools as part of my graduate program at the CUNY Graduate Center. 

I specialize in nineteenth-century American literature and culture, and I love playing blues and jazz guitar. These days, though, I mostly hang out with these people, my son Andrzej (pronounced “An-jay”), and my wife Krystyna. These are pictures from our trip Poland to see Krystyna’s mom from last summer when we could still travel.