Prospectus

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The Function of Irony

Course
2010-2011

Admission requirements

Description

Although nowadays, many associate irony primarily with post-modernism, irony is of all ages. Which is not to say that irony is always employed in the same way. Using the stylistic device of irony, this course studies the differences and similarities of diverse historic schools and periods.
As a stylistic device, irony creates a discrepancy between the explicit utterance and an unspoken implicit assertion. This discrepancy may give irony a “sharp edge” when it is aimed at someone or something. For this reason, irony is not only a rhetorical device or a philosophical concept, but also as an ideology-critical instrument. With irony, other voices can be summoned to problematise or contradict prevailing visions or official messages. Essentially, there are always three parties: an “inflictor”, a “butt” and “accesory listeners/readers” who understand the implicit joke. The division of roles between these three parties is far from fixed. But this variable division of roles is what enables irony to have (politically) subversive affects.
On the one hand, this course deals with different theories concerning irony; on the other hand, different manifestations of irony in romanticism, avant-garde, modernism, post-modernism and post-colonialism are discussed.

Course objectives

To gain an understanding of the major literary genres of previous centuries using irony.

Timetable

Timetable

Mode of instruction

Seminar

Assessment method

Mid-term and final paper

Blackboard

Blackboard is used to inform students and to post assignments, texts, visual material.

Reading list

Reader with articles

Registration

Students have to apply for this course with the registration system of the university uSis. General information about registration with uSis you can find here in Dutch and in English

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply

Contact information

Please contact the instructors, Y.Horsman and P.W.J.Verstraten

Remarks

For more information (in Dutch), consult the website from Literary Studies