Universität Wien

123422 SE Literary & Cultural Studies Seminar / BA Paper / MA British/Irish/New English (2018W)

The Contemporary English Crime Play

11.00 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. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 09.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 16.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 23.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 30.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 06.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 13.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 20.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 27.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 04.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 11.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 08.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 15.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 22.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05
  • Tuesday 29.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Raum 1 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-05

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

There's a dead body on the stage, but who did it?
This course deals with the British crime play and its developments from the 1950s to today. We will ask about the conventions of the genre, the role of generic formulae and plot devices, stage histories and the reception of the plays, and the development of the genre from Agatha Christie's crime plays over absurdist versions to parodies and postmodern rewritings.

In the course, we will not only read the plays, but we will equally think about stage techniques and production contexts. Participants should therefore be ready to take part in more creative exercises such as acting or preparing scenes for production.

Assessment and permitted materials

a) Regular attendance and preparation of session material (students may miss two sessions)
b) General participation in class, including individual contributions, work with a partner as well as work in groups
c) Expert work on assigned readings: each student will be assigned to one source material of the syllabus and provide expert input in the respective session
d) A portfolio of three short writing task that prepare you for your term paper
e) A formal paper of 6.500-8.000 words

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

a) Active participation and contributions in class (including your expert input in your respective session): 20%
b) Portfolio Tasks: 30%
c) Term paper: 50%

Students must attain at least 60% of each to pass the course.

Marks in %:
1 (very good): 90-100%
2 (good): 80-89%
3 (satisfactory): 70-79%
4 (pass): 60-69%
5 (fail): 0-59%

Examination topics

- Input phases combined with group work and classroom discussion
- Student input from your expert session
- Students' written research projects (term paper and portfolio)

Reading list

Primary Texts:
Christie, Agatha (2014 [1952]). The Mousetrap. London: Samuel French.
Shaffer, Anthony (2000 [1970]). Sleuth. London: Marion Boyars Publishers.
Elton, Ben (2005 [1998]). Popcorn. London: Samuel French.
Rankin, Ian and Mark Thomson (2014 [2013]). The Dark Road. London: Orion Books.
This is the final list of texts.
Please buy the texts in the editions given.

Theory and Secondary Literature:
Hesse, Beatrix. The English Crime Play in the Twentieth Century. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
Further secondary literature will be announced at the beginning of term.

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, MA 844;
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.4-322, BA09.2, 10.2, MA4, MA6, MA7
Lehrinhalt: 12-0388

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33