Utopian Imagination

Course goals

During this course, students:

1. Build up their knowledge of utopian and dystopian world literature, acquiring insight into the interaction between imagination and social changes in different historical contexts
2. Gain knowledge of relevant (online) collections of sources, learning clearly to justify choices in the research process 
3. Work with historical and contemporary case studies and present the results of their research academically and creatively.

Content

In this course students study utopian and dystopian literature as narrative tools to imagine the future. At the same time they learn that these speculative texts reflect a historical setting and mindset. We focus on European and non-European visions from different time periods on possible futures and the interplay between them. In the early modern period European utopian writers and thinkers had to adapt to a broader geographical and philosophical perspective. They had to deal with their role as colonizers and scientists. Following this historical moment, utopian writing is becoming a more visibly global endeavour and often takes the shape of a literary dialogue between (former) colonizing and colonized countries. In each of the case studies the role of utopias and dystopias in social and political constellations will be addressed, exploring issues such as gender, the postcolonial and the environmental. How does literature intervene in conflicts and debates on science, religion and politics? How can utopian optimism or irony develop into pessimism and (dystopian) scepticism?

Additional information

Please note: the time slot shown here is not yet final and may still be modified until the 3rd Wednesday in September. 

This is the third course of the specialisation Literature across Borders.

This course has priority rules and a waiting list. Your enrolment is guaranteed if you are:

• a student in the BA Literary Studies enrolled in the specialisation Literature across Borders.
• a student in the BA TCS enrolled in the hoofdrichting Moderne letterkunde.
• an exchange student and meet the course’s entry requirements.

In all other situations, you will be placed on a waiting list if you enrol in this course. For any remaining slots in the course, lots are drawn among the students on the waiting list. 


LAS and TCS students who follow this course as part of the core curriculum of their major, need to complete a compulsory preparation course/assignment. See for more information: https://tcs.sites.uu.nl/

Lingua Receptiva (Luistertaal)
This course can be followed in Lingua Receptiva. This course is offered in English. The course is also open to students who only have a receptive understanding of this language (as lingua receptiva). If required, these students can participate in Dutch and take the exam and write assignments in that language. If you want to make use of lingua receptiva, please contact the teacher after enrolment. Please note: if you make use of lingua receptiva, this course will be registered as one of the elective modules of your programme. In this case, the course cannot count as a language-specific course within the major or minor part of your programme.