People from many and diverse occupations feel compelled to write in response to past and present injustices and about human rights; journalists, creative writers, lawyers, historians, philosophers and sociologists. They may write to seek redress or policy change, or they may simply want to bring wrongs to public attention. But to do so, they face common problems of representation. What forms of writing are appropriate? Which are possible? What ethical and political sensitivities and sensibilities are constraining? Are any liberating? What skills do they need to develop to write effectively and well? How is the matter of ‘truth’ addressed in different media and how does this affect the nature and content of representing wrongs?
On this module, we will examine the ethical and practical elements of writing about human rights or social injustice in varying contexts and media, looking at classic and contemporary non-fiction and fiction as well as other forms of creative writing forms and expression.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS MODULE IS OPEN TO STUDENTS IN ENGLISH AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS
This module will introduce students to the interdisciplinary study of human rights and creative writing. In particular, the module will explore: (1) how we might read literary texts and other forms of media from the perspective of human rights discourse; (2) what literary and other critique can add to the study of human rights; and (3), the explanatory power of different modes of writing in the context of the law and politics of human rights.
The module will be self-reflexively critical, posing the question of whether human rights offer an efficacious and ethical framework that might yet revitalize the moral vision and political hopes of those committed to the autonomy, dignity, and liberation of peoples.
You will have the opportunity to investigate and write about human rights related topics of your own choosing, working towards producing an assessment that is part creative writing and part critical analysis. We shall begin to think about these projects when we meet for our first seminar, and we shall use subsequent seminars in part to work towards final drafts.
Along the way, we shall also examine writing on selected contemporary crises and issues with the help of a professional journalist to illustrate questions of technique, competing political and media agendas, ethical dilemmas and legal constraints that those writing about injustice/human rights commonly face.
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.
Each week through different themes (such as slavery, treatment of the ‘other’, enduring conflicts etc) we will develop our understanding of human rights and how writing can respond to injustice. We will look at journalism, non-fiction, blogs, fiction, poetry, even academic work and consider how they relate to human rights as a potential unified concept. Readings are provided on moodle for you to see how others have written about these subjects.
We will also look at different writing conundrums in the context of these themes:
Throughout, I will give as much space and time as I can for you to explore your possibilities for writing, setting weekly writing assignments to help you develop your work. We will discuss these in seminars or one-to-one sessions.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
To be confirmed each year
This module will introduce students to the interdisciplinary study of human rights and creative writing. In particular, the module will explore: (1) how we might read literary texts from the perspective of human rights discourse; (2) what literary critique can add to the study of human rights; and (3), the explanatory power of different modes of writing in the context of the law and politics of human rights.
texts and themes of human rights cross borders at all times
Critical analysis, creative writing, oral presentation, research
as above
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 18 sessions of 1 hour (12%) |
| Seminars | 7 sessions of 1 hour (5%) |
| Private study | 125 hours (83%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
No private study requirements defined for this module.
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 word essay | 50% | No | |
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2500 word creative work on a topic of your choice relating to any theme of the module: everything we do in lectures and seminars is designed to help you compose this creative piece. You can write in any style you wish: fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, screenplay, stage script etc but you should speak with the module convenor first. |
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| Reflective Diary | 50% | No | |
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Diary of no more than 2500 words that reflects on what you have learned on the module, both in terms of the weekly work in seminars, lectures, readings and in your writing exercises and, ultimately, during your composition of your final submitted creative piece. |
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Feedback via Tabula and one-to-one formative feedback on composition of final assessment
This module is Optional for:
This module is Unusual option for:
This module is Option list A for:
This module is Option list B for:
This module is Option list E for: