Admission requirements
BA in Literary Studies or related discipline
Description
Literature not only reflects upon social and political issues, it also shapes them, helps them develop and (de)legitimizes them. In that sense, literature is not separate from society; rather, it lies at the heart of how we understand the social and political. In this course, participants study three core concepts that enable them to understand the interaction between literature and society. More specifically, students study how literary concepts such as narrative, fiction and voice play a pivotal role in shaping our views on politics, trauma, environment and global identity among others. Participants thus learn how literary strategies shape the social and political sphere in which we live.
To begin, narrative is employed well beyond the domain of literature, to explain and legitimize social, cultural or political institutions, events and histories. Companies like Starbucks create narratives, and so do cities when they are thinking about city branding and governments in their attempt to ‘sell’ their policy. So how can we use our literary expertise in narrative analysis to understand these phenomenon? And how are these shaped by a specific (Western) understanding of narrative and literature?
Similarly, fiction lies at the heart of some of the most pressing issues in politics, identity and medical sciences today. For example, we have no exact definition of what ‘death’ means: medical, juridical and psychological insights converge here, clashing in what can only be called a fictional construct. By being attentive to how society must employ fiction in all of its nooks and crannies, to hold the place together, we can use our expertise in literature to contribute to a critical analysis of society. Finally, other voices (or polyphony) shows how literature’s ability to orchestrate and combine contradictory voices in one and the same story can serve as the ideal starting point for an analysis of the post-national, multicultural global societies that are currently emerging.
Course objectives
By the end of this course, participants
1) Understand the various ways in which literature impacts the social and political dynamics of European society today.
2) Can define, reflect upon and critically employ core concepts in literary theory (narrative, fiction, voice) to analyze, describe and explain the role of literature in society.
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures mixed with workgroup class meetings.
Course Load
Weekly two-hour seminar (2×13 hours): 26 hours
Weekly reading assignments (8×13 hours): 104 hours
Mid-term assignment and preparation: 50 hours
Final paper: 100 hours
Assessment method
Midterm Exam: written exam with essay-questions (40%)
Active participation during the seminars (10%)
Final paper (50%)
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used to provide students with additional information/reading material.
Reading list
The following novels and dvd’s will be used during the lectures and seminars and should be purchased by all participants:
J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace, Vintage Publishing: London 2000
Tom Lanoye, Fortunate Slaves, World Editions: Breda 2015
Toni Morisson, Beloved, Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 1992
Registration
Students need to register in uSis for classes, exams and final papers.
When registering students of the MA Literary studies take priority. The deadline for registration is August 15. All other students should contact the coordinator of studies: Jurjen Donkers
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
For questions about the content of the course, you can contact the teachers: dr. J. Müller or dr. B. Ieven.
Administration Office: Van Wijkplaats
Coordinator of Studies: Jurjen Donkers.
Remarks
This course is also suitable as an elective for students from the other Literary Studies tracks. A detailed programme will be sent to participants to their umail address, after registration in uSis.
Maximum number of participants: 20. No new participants will be admitted after the first meeting.