FPFVA048 Contemporary Anglophone Literatures and Cultures

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Summer 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Michaela Weiss, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Michaela Weiss, Ph.D.
Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA ( B )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 30 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course is designed to introduce students to the trends and tendencies in contemporary English-written literatures and cultures with special focus on the dystopian narratives that nowadays belong to the most popular literary genres. The production of political, ecological and post-apocalyptic writing became widespread especially after 9/11. It will manifest in a wide range of topics, genres and concerns voiced by writers of different origin’s, ranging from the Canadian writer, eco-feminist and poet Margaret Atwood, songwriter and Nobel prize winner for literature Bob Dylan, American Jewish writer Philip Roth, to South African Nobel Prize winner J. M. Coetzee, and contemporary American Southern writer Cormac McCarthy. The main attention will be given to utopian and dystopian aspects of their works and their relation to current culture.
Learning outcomes
Ability to analyse and interpret literary texts supported by critical arguments Knowledge of textual strategies, forms and genres Awareness of current trends in Anglophone literatures and cultures
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course Presenting the syllabus, course objectives, recommended and mandatory reading
  • 2. Utopia, dystopia, ustopia Defining major terms Origin of the genres Reasons for popularity of utopia and dystopia
  • 3. Major Dystopian texts in Anglophone Cultures: Orwell, Huxley, Burgess, Golding Overview of development of dystopian writing in Britain Context of British popular dystopias Major British dystopian writers and texts
  • 4. Major Dystopian texts in Anglophone Cultures Overview of development of dystopian writing in post war Anglophone literatures Bernard Malamud, Jeanette Winterson
  • 5. South African dystopias Overview of South African Politics, Literature and culture Major representatives of South African writing The work and impact of J. M. Coetzee
  • 6. J. M. Coetzee: Disgrace Reading Disgrace as a social commentary Violence and family Apartheid and power structures
  • 7. The Work of Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan’s songs as social commentary Overview of the production of Bob Dylan Dylan’s songs as poetry and text Context and development of Dylan’s lyrics
  • 8. Margaret Atwood and dystopian narratives Overview of Atwood’s works Margaret Atwood, feminism, and ecology Atwood and dystopian elements
  • 9. Margaret Atwood: Handmaid’s Tale Reading Handmaid’s Tale as a social commentary Violence and family Politics and power structures
  • 10. Philip Roth: The Human Stain Reading The Human Stain as a social commentary Violence and family Politics and power structures
  • 11. Cormac McCarthy and dystopian narratives Overview of McCarthy’s works McCarthy and Southern fiction McCarthy and dystopian elements
  • 12. Cormac McCarthy: The Road Reading The Road as a social commentary Apocalyptic elements Violence and family Politics and power structures
  • 13. Final discussion Summary of the course Discussion on the seminar readings Outlining current trends in Anglophone literatures
Teaching methods
seminar
Assessment methods
Seminar attendance (minimum 75 %) Active participation in the seminar Presentation of a selected text Examination Format Oral group discussion based on the seminar reading
Language of instruction
English
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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