Universität Wien

127012 KO Critical Readings in Literature (2019W)

Displacement in Contemporary North American Literature

6.00 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. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 10.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 17.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 24.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 25.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 31.10. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 21.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 28.11. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 05.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 12.12. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 09.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 10.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 16.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 23.01. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this course, we will examine how (the founding and policies of) Canada and the United States are represented on a spectrum that ranges from causing displacement to providing refuge from displacement in texts from a variety of genres (such as short story cycles, slam poetry, novels, and graphic novels). We will consider, on the one hand, the persisting impact of settler colonialism and slavery in North America and the Caribbean in The Break and At the Full and Change of the Moon, and, on the other hand, how North America becomes a promising, albeit not always welcoming, refuge for the displaced of other nations in Maus and Do Not Say We Have Nothing. In particular, we will focus on the ways in which the descendants of displaced persons negotiate their family history and the role of writing and literature in this process. Our theoretical framework for analyzing the texts will come from, among others, postcolonial theory, psychoanalysis, and trauma theory.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance (at most 2 absences), participation in class discussions, oral presentation, midterm test, written assignments (e.g. discussion posts and response papers), final essay

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Midterm test: 20%
Group presentation: 20%
Essay: 30%
Active participation and short assignments
(e.g. discussion posts and reflection papers): 30%

Each individual assignment must be completed to earn a passing grade.

Grading scale:
1: 100-91p
2: 90-81p
3: 80-71p
4: 70-60p
5: 59-0p

Examination topics

Reading list

At the Full and Change of the Moon by Dionne Brand
Selected poems by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Break by Katherena Vermette
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Maus (Vol. 1 & 2) by Art Spiegelman

Additional readings will be provided on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BA 612; BEd 046/407
Code/Modul: BA08.3; BEd Modul 10
Lehrinhalt: 12-3000

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:20