Introductory description

The module will introduce students to a range of literary, visual and theoretical material on the contemporary global city. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the module will enable students to understand the material and historical processes that underpin the global city, and to analyse the ways in which writers, film-makers, artists and theorists respond to those processes in their work. It will also facilitate a comparative reading of the geographically dispersed but structurally inter-connected spaces of both cities and literatures.

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.

Indicative syllabus:
Adrian Tomine, New York Drawings
Omar Robert Hamilton, The City Always Wins (Faber and Faber, 2017)
Nora Okja Keller, Fox Girl
Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
Alecky Blythe, Little Revolution (Nick Herne Books, 2014)
Guo Xiaolu, I Am China (Vintage, 2015)
Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians
Sharlene Teo, Ponti
Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance (Faber and Faber, 2006)
Vikram Chandra, Love and Longing in Bombay (Faber and Faber, 2007)
Katherine Boo, Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Portobello Books, 2013)
Samira Khan, Shilpa Ranade and Shilpa Phadke, Why Loiter? Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets (Penguin Books, 2011)
Assia Djebar, Women of Algiers in their Apartment (The University of Virginia Press, 1999)
Chris Abani, Graceland (Picador, 2005)
Ivan Vlasdilavic, A Portrait in Keys (Random House, 2004)

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the significance of the urban to contemporary literature and culture
• Gain a substantive understanding of connected global processes that produce the contemporary global city
• Demonstrate critical thinking and an ability to analyse literary and cultural texts to uncover theoretical contexts, and to synthesize interdisciplinary thinking about the global city.
• Develop an analysis of the ways in which literary and artistic texts formally register the unevenness of material spaces in cities
• Gain the ability to take classroom reading and understanding of the material and apply it to the ‘real world’
• Learn to consider the impact of literary and theoretical analyses in the world we inhabit Learn to write critical analyses The readings will include work by city planners, social activists, film-makers and other practitioners
• Learn to critically synthesise different forms and genres of writing and artistic production on cities
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis is a variety of forms.
• Improve critical thinking skills and written expression.
• Develop independent and imaginative interpretations of literary and critical material.

Research element

Individual reading and research.

Subject specific skills

Gain a substantive understanding of connected global processes that produce the contemporary global city; Develop an analysis of the ways in which literary and artistic texts formally register the unevenness and historical complexity of material spaces in global cities

Transferable skills

Gain the ability to take classroom reading and understanding of the material and apply it to the ‘real world’
Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate information, arguments, and analysis is a variety of forms.
Improve critical thinking skills and written expression.
Develop independent and imaginative interpretations of literary and critical material.