Universität Wien

127012 KO Critical Readings in Literature (2016W)

The Asylum: Victorian & Neo-Victorian Representations of Insanity

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 30 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

Dienstag 11.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 18.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 25.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 08.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 15.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 22.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 29.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 06.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 13.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 10.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 17.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 24.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
Dienstag 31.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Concepts of (female & male) insanity, (public & private) institutions associated with it, attempts to treat it (Tuke; Charcot; Freud; Weir Mitchell), and the power structures that pervade all of these (Foucault) during the second half of the 19th century, will be studied in this course alongside their literary representations. This seminar is partly focused on canonical literary texts of the Victorian era (by Brontë, Collins, Braddon, Perkins Gilman, Stoker) and partly dedicated to studying how Neo-Victorian novels (by Harwood and Lucas) work with the cultural topoi installed by their 19th century intertexts. In order to keep the workload manageable, we won’t discuss the Victorian novels in full length or all their aspects, but concentrate on those passages (which will be provided as pdfs) that deal with insanity. You are, however, expected to have a general knowledge of the plot and how/by whom it is narrated for each of the novels. I also urge you to read ONE of the 19th century novels in its entirety over the summer. Jane Eyre is a proto-feminist classic and female Bildungsroman with a headstrong heroine who has a strong sense of self-worth; The Woman and White and Lady Audley’s Secret are both sensation novels with plots of intrigue and attempted murder; and Dracula is a multi-media horror novel, which tells a story of a (sexualised) invasion from the east. The choice is yours. If you already know one of them, pick and read another. The idea is to build up some collective knowledge in the room. There will be a reading test in week three. You’ll tell me which novel you read in preparation and I’ll hand you 10 basic questions on your chosen text. Everybody in class is expected to read the short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and both of the Neo-Victorian novels in full. Since we shall be discussing the 21st century texts in the last quarter of term, you have time to make your way through them.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Prüfungsstoff

Literatur

Texts to be discussed:
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847, novel, UK)
Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White (1859, novel, UK)
Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret (1862, novel, UK)
Texts to be discussed:
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847, novel, UK)
Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White (1859, novel, UK)
Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret (1862, novel, UK)
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' (1892, short story, US)
Bram Stoker, Dracula (1897, novel, Ireland)
Tim Lucas, The Book of Renfield (2005, novel, US)
John Harwood, The Asylum (2014, novel, AUS)

Books to buy:
Tim Lucas, The Book of Renfield [ISBN: 978-0743243544]
John Harwood, The Asylum [ISBN: 978-0099578840]

Background Reading:

Daniel Hack Tuke, Reform in the treatment of the insane: early history of the retreat, York; its objects and influence, with a report of the celebrations of its centenary (1892)
Michel Foucault, Madness and Civilisation: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason (1965)
Sarah Rutherford, The Victorian Asylum (2008)
Catherine Arnold, Bedlam: London and its Mad (2009)

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Studium: BA 612; BEd 046
Code/Modul: BA08.3; BEd Modul 10
Lehrinhalt: 12-3000

Letzte Änderung: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33