Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2016 - ENGL 376 D100

Special Studies (4)

Wilde for the Digital Age

Class Number: 2442

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 11, 2016: Tue, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Two 100 division English courses, and two 200 division English courses.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught.

COURSE DETAILS:

Wilde for the Digital Age

Oscar Wilde needs little introduction. His plays continue to be performed around the world. He remains an icon of queer modernity. Scholars continue to write about the multiple facets of his art and artistic life. What can digital humanists bring to the study of his legacy and how might they advocate for his digital future ? In bringing digital humanities perspectives to bear on our study of Wilde’s life, writings, and times, we will explore the current state of digital humanities scholarship on the writer, learn about digital humanities methods for textual, literary, and cultural study, and explore his aesthetic philosophy in relationship to the theories and practices of digital artistic media.  

Course content will be delivered via lecture, seminar, skills workshop, fieldtrip, and student presentation. In addition to acquiring cultural and historical knowledge about Wilde scholarship, students will practice skills and methods of primary historical research, digital humanities, textual criticism, cultural theory, and writing within the humanities. The final assignment will be a small group digital project. Basic digital literacy will be assumed, but no technical knowledge is required for this course.

Grading

  • Participation (including short in-class and take-home exercises) 10%
  • 4-page critical response to a historical/theoretical argument 15%
  • 4-page critical essay on one of Wilde’s works 15%
  • 6 minute lightning talk 15%
  • 4-page computational analysis 15%
  • Final group digital project (website, blog, movie, map, etc…) 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Oscar Wilde, Complete Works of Oscar Wilde (Harper Collins 1994)

Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley, Salome (Dover 1967)

Moises Kaufman, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (1998)
ISBN: 9780375702327

Other readings and weblinks will be available on Canvas

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

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