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| Semester | fall semester 2009 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Philipp Schweighauser (ph.schweighauser@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | In common parlance, the term 'postmodernism' is usually taken to refer to a variety of things: (1) postmodern art (as an artistic movement of the second half of the twentieth century); (2) postmodernity (as a specific post-WWII socio-economic formation); (3) theories of postmodernity; (4) so-called postmodern theory (which for the most part is more aptly named 'post-structuralism'). This seminar is designed for theoretically inclined students and invites you to disentangle the various notions of 'postmodernism,' with a special focus on the intersections of (1) and (4). We will read and discuss postmodern literary texts by Robert Coover, William Gaddis, and Don DeLillo and screen a number of movies, including David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" and the Wachowski brothers’ "The Matrix". We will also study texts by thinkers who conceptualize postmodernity, including Jean-François Lyotard (excerpts from "The Postmodern Condition") and Fredric Jameson (excerpts from "Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism"). Finally, we will read and think hard about texts by post-structuralist thinkers such as Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Roland Barthes. About half the sessions will be devoted to discussions of theoretical texts, the other half to discussions of relevant literary texts and other cultural artifacts. Robert Coover's magnificent (and long) novel "The Public Burning" will serve as a background text and needs to be read before the beginning of the semester. |
| Learning objectives | You learn to disentagle and bring into a dialog a variety of notions of 'postmodernism.' You learn to read and discuss difficult theoretical texts. |
| Bibliography | Robert Coover's "The Public Burning" needs to be purchased from "Labyrinth" bookshop and read before the beginning of the semester. Additional reading material will be made available as master copies. |
| Weblink | Some material will be made available on |
| Admission requirements | This course is for Liz candidates, for BA-students who have completed their 2nd year (including the paper) as well as for MA students. |
| Course application | Please register via e-mail to Alex Van Lierde (alex.van-lierde@unibas.ch). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: Modern German Literature) Modul Allgemeine Literaturwissenschaft (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul English & American Literature (Master's degree subject: English) Modul Extending the View (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Focusing on the Discipline (Literary and Cultural Studies) (Bachelor's degree subject: Englisch) Modul Vertiefung, Wissen, Praxis (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) |
| 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 | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Englisches Seminar |