Introductory description

EN127-30 The Written World

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module introduces Creative Writing students to the literary and cultural theories that will underpin more specialised scholarly and creative study at levels 5 and 6. They will study some of the writing and ideas that shape our understanding of the purpose, complexities and challenges of reading, writing, translating and interpreting literature in the present day. Each week a theoretical or critical text is paired with a literary text to enable students to consider the relationship between abstract ideas and concrete contexts.

Term 1: Writing and the Text

Week One: Introductory lecture on Writing and the Text
Week Two: Defamiliarisation
Week Three: Narration
Week Four: Intention
Week Five: Translation
Reading Week
Week Seven: Ideology
Week Eight: Genre
Week Nine: Dreams
Week Ten: Originality

Term 2: Reading and the World

Week One: Introductory lecture on Reading and the World
Week Two: Signs I
Week Three: Signs II
Week Four: Identity I
Week Five: Identity II
Reading Week
Week Seven: Art
Week Eight: Empire
Week Nine: Readers
Week Ten: Institutions

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate familiarity with and a broad understanding of key critical theories of literary and cultural production and reception
• Relate abstract theoretical and critical approaches to concrete literary and cultural products and contexts
• Reflect upon the relationship between theories of literary and cultural production and actual literary and cultural practice
• Assess literary and cultural artefacts within their cultural contexts
• Adjust to university-level scholarly standards, as appropriate to Level 4 students, as well as protocols of academic presentation, including referencing. Show an appropriate command of the protocols of textual analysis and critical argument.

Subject specific skills

• Demonstrate familiarity with and a broad understanding of key critical theories of literary and cultural production and reception
• Relate abstract theoretical and critical approaches to concrete literary and cultural products and contexts
• Reflect upon the relationship between theories of literary and cultural production and actual literary and cultural practice

Transferable skills

No transferable skills defined for this module.