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| Semester | fall semester 2021 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Thomas Manson (thomas.manson@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | With the turn of the twentieth century came a period of intense political, societal and artistic change, realised in the emergence of literary modernism. However, modernist discourses have often overlooked rural communities and landscapes, instead positioning the metropolitan city as the locus of modern life. With this in mind, this course considers the ways in which a range of authors, poets and essayists have navigated the developments of modernity in the context of rural spaces, covering the late nineteenth century through to the Second World War. From Thomas Hardy to Virginia Woolf, we will discuss how these writers engaged with an English countryside experiencing rapid industrialisation, modernisation and a crisis of identity in the face of a crumbling empire. In the process, we will scrutinise historic and literary characterisations of the rural as pastoral idyll and changeless backwater, and through our chosen authors, reconsider the role of the countryside in the formulation of the modern world. |
| Learning objectives | Students will gain an understanding of key ideas and tropes related to rural modernity (such as pastoralism, Deep England, etc.) as well as an understanding of modernism more generally. In relation to these ideas and tropes, students will analyse the formal, political and philosophical aspects of our chosen texts, refining their analytical skills as well as their ability to apply theory and wider historical sources to the texts in question. |
| Bibliography | Please purchase the following texts: - Thomas Hardy. "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". - D. H. Lawrence. "The Rainbow". - Virginia Woolf. "Between the Acts". The specific editions should be either Penguin Classics or Oxford World's Classics. All other texts will be made available on ADAM. |
| Comments | This course will take an interdisciplinary approach, considering the works of artists and filmmakers alongside our chosen texts. As part of our discussions in class, there will also be the opportunity to reflect on how these texts relate to current issues concerning rural landscapes. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | It is strongly recommended that this course is taken only after the successful completion of the "Introduction I: Literary Studies" and "Introduction II: Literary Theory" proseminars. |
| Course application | Please sign up via MOnA and by e-mail to thomas.manson@unibas.ch. Places are limited to 25. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 23.09.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 30.09.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 07.10.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 14.10.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 21.10.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 28.10.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 04.11.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 11.11.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 18.11.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 25.11.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 02.12.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 09.12.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 16.12.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Thursday 23.12.2021 | 16.15-18.00 | Nadelberg 6, Grosser Hörsaal |
| Modules |
Modul: Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Active participation and oral 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 |