Ralph Ellison and His Influence(s) Ralph Ellison is a pivotal figure in American letters. His fiction—most notably his 1952 novel Invisible Man—draws inspiration from an encyclopedic list of sources, from Benjamin Franklin’s 1791 autobiography to Norbert Weiner’s 1950 treatise on cybernetics. His oeuvre, in turn, continues to influence creatives like Percival Everett, Spike Lee, Jesmyn Ward, and Colson Whitehead, whose imagined worlds contain distinctly Ellisonian elements. In this course, we will explore Ellison’s fiction, criticism, and photography in this expanded context and learn why Ellison is, in the words of Timothy Parrish, “arguably the most important black intellectual after [W. E. B.] Du Bois,” and “the essential figure of twentieth-century American letters.”

Michael Germana

Reviews and ratings for Michael Germana at Middlebury College.Michael Germana teaches Ralph Ellison,His Influence(s) and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Michael Germana good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Professor Germana was a great introduction to Middlebury. Even without prior knowledge of Ralph Ellison, I never felt left behind because Professor Germana was always thoughtful about addressing questions and supporting all of the students (even those who didn’t talk as much). The course moved quickly, but expectations were clear from the first class. The progress-based feedback on our three research journals made the workload feel manageable. The class was challenging but very rewarding.