Admission requirements
BA (or equivalent) degree in a relevant field (see Admission requirements MA Literary Studies). In case the course is full (registration-wise), MA Literary Studies - English students will be prioritised, followed by students from the MA Literary Studies - Literary in Society track.
Description
Gothic, Horror, SF and Noir fiction are four of the most well-established popular-culture genres exploring the presence of evil in human societies. Each in its own way, seeks out and explores the darkest corners of a particular culture, at a particular time, shining a spotlight on what is often hidden by the thin but shiny veneer of “civilzation.” Since the rise in popularity of the Gothic novel in the late eighteenth century, these genres have been criticized at various moments (by Colerdige, Wertham, and the NVLA, for instance) for their potential to corrupt the innocent minds of young readers and viewers. Taking a different approach, this course focuses specifically on the ways in which Gothic, Horror, SF and Noir can be understood as popular-culture genres deeply concerned with ethics (with a heritage in medieval morality plays). Through their interest in the dark, forbidden, grotesque, weird, toxic and alien such fictions confront readers and viewers with the shadow-side of dominant ideologies, common sense notions of normality and other forms of conventional wisdom that influence widespread beliefs about right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood. In doing so, these fictions can express nuanced and challenging perspectives on dominant human ethical standards and behaviours that critically engaged readers can dissect and operationalise in their exploration of contemporary real-life ethical conundrums: the persistent marginalisation of minority communities, the normalisation of environmental pollution, or the manipulative tendencies of mass media, and so on.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students
Will have developed knowledge of a selection of ethical theories
Will have further developed their academic research and analytical skills in relation and the study of popular-culture productions in the genres Gothic, Horror, SF, and Noir.
Will be able to apply the critical insights developed from the study of ethics in popular-culture productions to the exploration of real-life ethical challenges in social, economic, political and scientific-technical areas.
Will have developed the specific transferable skill of making a conference poster presentation, which will also allow them to further developed their oral communication skills.
Will have developed broader inter-cultural understanding of ethics through the study of materials from different eras and cultures.
Will have consciouslesly reflected on absorbing peer feedback via their poster presentation.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Research
Assessment method
Assessment
A mid-term academic poster assignment (30% of final grade); this assignment also involves discussion and feedback.
A short response paper on Everyman (not graded but feedback given)
A research-essay proposal (not graded, but feedback given by the tutor).
An MLA style Research Essay (70% of final grade)
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher (resulting in a final grade of 6 or higher).
Resit
Students with a final grade lower than 6 will have to resit the insufficient parts of the courserwork.
Inspection and feedback
Written feedback will be provided to both assignments. Students should scrutinize this feedback and sohow they have absorbed the relevant parts in their final essay. Students can contact the tutor to discuss all feedback.
Reading list
A selection primary and secondary sources as e-texts via Brightspace
Chester Himes, The Real Cool Killers (Penguin)
Dorothy B. Hughes, In a Lonely Place (Penguin)
Stephen King, The Green Mile (Orion)
Samanta Schweblin, Fever Dream (One World)
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Roadside Picnic (SF Masterworks)
We will also watch the films
Robert Wiene (dir), Hands of Orlac (1924)
Enki Bilal (dir),* Immortal* (2004)
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal
Remarks
N.A.