Fall 2015 - WL 403 D100

After Modernities (4)

Class Number: 7161

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2015: Tue, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units including two 300 level courses in World Literature, English, or Humanities.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores works of contemporary world literature in the second half of the twentieth century. May focus on the postmodern as a response to the modern, on prevalent postmodern genres, or on the postmodern engagement with developments in philosophy, science, and the media in East and West.

COURSE DETAILS:

What is the relation between past and present? Between world, and a nation? When reflecting on popular culture, why is there a frequent use of references made to classical mythology? How relevant are the philosophical ideas emerging from Antiquity? This course will address the aforementioned questions through the exploration of ideas, themes and individual figures that emerge from the Hellenic civilization and are found the 20th and 21st centuries’ literature, art and film. It examines: i) Greek male and female archetypes, philosophical notions and ideas in an international context, ii) offers a critical analysis on the continuities and discontinuities of the representations of Greek individuals and ideas, iii) contextualizes the aforementioned, in discussions on modernity and postmodernity, gender, politics, philosophy, literary theory.  

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Develop writing and presentation skils 
  • Identify different kinds of literary writing 
  • Analyze texts and assess their significance (cultural, historical, political)

Grading

  • Participation 10%
  • Presentation 15%
  • Midterm Paper 40%
  • Final Paper 35%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

REQUIRED TEXTS
Atwood, Margaret. Knopf. The Penelopiad; The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus. 2010. 9780307367303
Shelley, Mary. Penguin Books. Frankestein Or The Modern Prometheus. 2008. 9780141439471
Apostolides, Marianne. Mansfield Press. The Lucky Child; A Novel. 2010. 9781894469470
Coetzee, J. M. Penguin Group. Waiting For The Barbarians. 1980. 9780140283358
Arendt, Hannah. University of Chicago Press. The Human Condition. 1998. 9780226924571

* Further material will be distributed in class.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS