Universität Wien

123044 PS Proseminar Literature / Literary Studies (2015W)

Landscapes of Murder and Criminal Minds: American Detective Narratives

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

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).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 15.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 22.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 29.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 05.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 12.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 19.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 26.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 03.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 10.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 17.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 07.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 14.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 21.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
  • Thursday 28.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Detective fiction has been (one of) the most popular genre(s) among authors and readers alike ever since its emergence in the 19th century and continues to dominate fiction circulation well into the 21st century. While readers still enjoy classic detectives and amateur sleuths, and the ways they and their techniques responded to their respective cultures and time periods, the last few decades have seen an increasing number of non-traditional, ethnic detectives who show the reader new territories, and open up the genre to entirely new worlds. This development toward perspectives outside the borders of the reader's own life shows the adaptability of detective fiction as well as its continuous efforts in a growing multicultural world.
In this course, we will trace the development and ongoing appeal of detective fiction as well as a variety of critical responses to the genre from literary theorists and critics. We will examine the role of the detective, the author, and genre conventions, among other things, to determine how and why (American) detective fiction has undergone a variety of transformations but still remains the most popular form of genre fiction.

Assessment and permitted materials

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

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This course will introduce students to US-American detective fiction, its origins and evolution between the 19th and 21st centuries. We will work with classic detective texts, hard-boiled authors, anti-detective as well as ethnic detective narratives, and examples from popular culture in the form of movies and TV shows to trace the characteristics of detective fiction, and explore the historical and cultural contexts as well as the academic debates and discourses relevant to the conceptualization of the genre. Students will learn to critically examine texts from different theoretical perspectives and to apply the respective critical terminology to primary texts. They will also be familiarized with the research and writing skills necessary to write a term paper.

Examination topics

Interactive discussions, individual assignments, group work, short presentations, research project, multimedia

Reading list

A reader will be made available at CopyStudio (Schwarzspanierstraße 10), including most of the primary texts we will be discussing. We will also be working with a variety of movies and/or TV shows.
Further 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: We 09.09.2020 00:22