123042 PS Proseminar Literature / Literary Studies (2015S)

Outlaws, Villains, Mischief-Makers: Tricksters in American Literature

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik

Continuous assessment of course work

Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Registration is open from Mo 09.02.2015 00:00 to Su 15.02.2015 23:59
Registration is open from Tu 24.02.2015 00:00 to Su 01.03.2015 23:59
Deregistration possible until Tu 31.03.2015 23:59

Details

max. 25 participants

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

ATTENTION!!! Please note that we have an additional session on Wednesday, May 13 (8-10 am) to make up for another session we might need to cancel. Attendance is mandatory!

    
    Thursday
    19.03.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    26.03.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    16.04.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    23.04.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    30.04.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    07.05.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Wednesday
    13.05.
    08:00 - 10:00
    Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
    
    Thursday
    21.05.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    28.05.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    11.06.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    18.06.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13
    
    Thursday
    25.06.
    10:00 - 12:00
    Raum 3 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-13

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Tricksters represent freedom from all restraint, display openness to diversity, and can transform from heroes in one text to villains in the next. Tricksters are active participants in discourses of survival, resistance, and liberation; they are symbols of the past, present, and future, of possibility, liberty, and agency. Tricksters transgress the boundaries of good and evil with their ability to achieve creative breakthrough; they reverse expectations, subvert law and order, and do things that we'd love to do ourselves. In this course, we will critically examine trickster figures as outlaws and villains, law-breakers and mischief-makers, shape-shifters and (super)heroes in American literature.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance, active participation in class, short presentations, weekly readings, short written assignments, research assignments, paper abstract, and final paper.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course will introduce students to representations of the trickster in African American, Asian American, and Native American literature as well as in popular culture. We will trace the trickster's characteristics and developments from its origin in folk tales to contemporary literature and culture, and explore the historical and cultural contexts as well as the academic debates and discourses relevant to the conceptualization of the figure. Students will learn to critically examine texts from different theoretical perspectives and to employ the respective critical terminology. They will also be familiarized with the research and writing skills necessary to write a term paper.

Examination topics

Interactive discussions, group work and individual assignments, short presentations (by instructor and participants), research project, multimedia

Reading list

To be announced soon.
Please be prepared to read an introductory text for the first session on March 19, 2015. Details will be posted on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612; BEd 046
Code/Modul: UF 3.3.3-304, BA10.1; BEd 08a.1, BEd 08b.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-3041

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33