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| Semester | fall semester 2012 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Ina Habermann (ina.habermann@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The word 'middlebrow' appeared in Britain in the early twentieth century to describe the vast and growing number of fictional texts considered to be pleasurable reading of a certain quality - the kinds of books the ever more popular lending libraries would offer their customers. The category 'middlebrow' is clearly gendered as well as class-bound and carries assumptions about literary and cultural value. In this course, we will read some typical middlebrow novels from the period when the category was first acknowledged. We will reflect on their status as literature, their relationship to highbrow and lowbrow fiction, on the cultural values implied, on the relationship between literature and cultural identity and on various types of reading experience, and we will also address Q.D. Leavis's contemporary research into these issues. (Don't forget: It's the winter term, and there's nothing like a nice book and a good cup of tea...) |
| Learning objectives | Students will learn to reflect about the categorization of literature, about literary value judgements and about literature's role in the negotiation of cultural identity. They will also develop their skills in literary criticism and presentation. |
| Bibliography | Texts (to be purchased): - E.M. Delafield, "Diary of a Provincial Lady" (1930, Virago Classics) - Dorothy Sayers, "Gaudy Night" (1935) - Winifred Holtby, "South Riding" (1936, Virago Classics) - Daphne du Maurier, "Rebecca" (1938) - Q.D. Leavis, "Fiction and the Reading Public" (1932) Other material will be available as a mastercopy or on ISIS. |
| Weblink | ISIS |
| Admission requirements | This seminar is open to MA students. |
| Course application | Please register via ISIS. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul English & American Literature (Master's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance, active participation, presentation |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |