Current Debates in Literary Studies

Course goals

Students:

• acquire knowledge of and insight in the latest debates (current debates) in cultural theory;
• are able to use this knowledge in literary analysis as a theoretical lens;
• are able to report the results of the analysis in an adequate academic presentation, in writing and oral presentations.

 

Content

The course introduces students to current cultural theories and criticisms, following the more canonical and historical perspectives covered in the course Cultural Criticism (period 3, year 1). Themes may change year-on-year but may include: critical ecologies and environmental humanities, sex/queer/trans/critical race studies, media studies, decoloniality, intersectionality, narrative and (anti-)globalisation, necropolitics, memory studies.

In covering these debates, students also (further) develop critical reading skills, theoretical and methodological approaches to the debates discussed, skills to discuss these debates and communicating them to professional audiences. They also learn to use these debates as critical frameworks for literary analysis, and in turn to read literary text as transforming, enlightening, or adjusting a specific debate. 

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

• a student in the BA Literary Studies.
• a student in the minor Literary Studies.
• 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.