This course explores selected themes in modern and contemporary European literatures, including exile, migration, gender and cultural identity. It will include a comparative approach with selections from several national literatures.
Readings will focus on theoretical and literary texts from modern and contemporary authors. Students are expected to make two presentations, one of a theoretical work and the second of a literary work.
Vertical Tabs
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcomes | Program Outcomes | Teaching Methods | Assessment Methods |
| 1) To explore politics in modern literature. | 1-3, 6-10 | 1,2,3 | B, C, D |
| 2) For the students to gain knowledge in the background of modern politics, and to become equipped with the concepts used in the analysis of literary texts. | 1-3, 6-10 | 1,2,3 | B, C, D |
| 3) To equip the students with the analytical skills for a successful understanding of politics and literature. | 1-3, 6-10 | 1,2,3 | B, C, D |
| 4) To analyse different definitions of the novel and fiction. | 1-3, 6-10 | 1,2,3 | B, C, D |
| 5) To discuss and contrast different positions in politics and literature. | 1-3, 6-10 | 1,2,3 | B, C, D |
Course Flow
| COURSE CONTENT | ||
| Week | Topics | Study Materials |
| 1 |
GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
POLITICS AND LITERATURE |
Materials for the course provided by instructor |
| 2 | Plato / Aristotle | |
| 3 | Machiavelli / More | |
| 4 | Claeys / Lynskey | |
| 5 | Bhabha / Kristeva | |
| 6 | Arendt / Derrida | |
| 7 | Butler / Spivak | |
| 8 | Agamben / Lyotard | |
| 9 | Student Presentations (Theoretical Work) | |
| 10 | Student Presentations (Theoretical Work) | |
| 11 | Student Presentations (Theoretical Work) | |
| 12 | Student Presentations (Application) | |
| 13 | Student Presentations (Application) | |
| 14 | Student Presentations (Application) | |
| 15 | CONCLUSION | |
Recommended Sources
| RECOMMENDED SOURCES | |
| Textbook |
Plato, The Republic
Aristotle, Politics Machiavelli, The Prince Thomas More, Utopia |
| Additional Resources |
Gregory Claeys, Dystopia: A Natural History
Dorian Lynskey, The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of Orwell’s 1984 Homi Bhabha, The Location of Culture, Nation and Narration Julia Kristeva, Strangers to Ourselves Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, Eichmann in Jerusalem Jacques Derrida, Rogues, The Politics of Friendship, Specters of Marx, Of Hospitality, Monolingualism of the Other Judith Butler and Gayatri Spivak, Who Sings the Nation State Giorgio Agamben, Homo Sacer, State of Exception, Memories of Auschwitz Jean-François Lyotard, The Differend, Heidegger and the Jews |
Assessment
| ASSESSMENT | ||
| IN-TERM STUDIES | NUMBER | PERCENTAGE |
| Presentation (20) + Response Paper (20) | 1 | 40 |
| Class Performance | 1 | 20 |
| Final Paper | 1 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER TO OVERALL GRADE | 40 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE | 60 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Course’s Contribution to Program
| COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM | |||||||
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1 | The ability to apply knowledge of English and world literature and social sciences to topics including culture, society, ethics, politics etc. | X | |||||
| 2 | The ability to review, analyse and apply the relevant literature. | X | |||||
| 3 | The ability to carry out interdisciplinary reading and analysis. | X | |||||
| 4 | The ability to utilise the basic concepts and issues of literary theories in developing life strategies | X | |||||
| 5 | Awareness of professional ethics and responsibility | X | |||||
| 6 | Effective communication skills. | X | |||||
| 7 | A sufficiently broad education to understand the global and social impact of literary movements. | X | |||||
| 8 | An awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and the ability to put it into practice. | X | |||||
| 9 | Knowledge of issues in contemporary literature and of the cultural issues of the period. | X | |||||
| 10 | The ability to use sources and modern tools in order to carry out research in cultural studies. | X | |||||
ECTS
| ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION | |||
| Activities | Quantity |
Duration (Hour) |
Total Workload (Hour) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 15x Total course hours) | 15 | 3 | 45 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 14 | 17 | 252 |
| Presentation | 1 | 18 | 18 |
| Final Paper | 1 | 60 | 60 |
| Total Work Load | 375 | ||
| Total Work Load / 25 (h) | 15.0 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 15 | ||