Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2016 - ENGL 434W E100

Topics in the Victorian Period (4)

Class Number: 2270

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 9 – Aug 8, 2016: Thu, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    ENGL 330. Reserved for English honors, major, joint major and minor students.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines issues in Victorian literature and culture in a variety of genres and media from diverse geopolitical regions organized by various critical questions and approaches. Students with credit for ENGL 434 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

The Sexual Archive of the Other Victorians

Fifty years ago, in his bestselling book The Other Victorians, Steven Marcus lifted the lid on the secret textual culture of the Victorians. Unearthing pornographic titles like the Romance of Lust and the 11-volume My Secret Life housed in the Private Case collection of the British Library in London, he advanced Freudian theories about the repressed sexual culture of Britons under the reign of Queen Victoria. This class will study this textual subculture as well as the scholarship that has advanced our understanding of it since Marcus. In addition to studying some key underground works, we will focus in particular on the secret and illicit material practices linked to their production, circulation, and consumption--both in the period and after. Special attention will be paid to text reuse, coded print, bibliographies, and collections/archives. As we learn about this material culture, your final group digital project will be to consider how we might remediate this “archive of feeling” (to use Ann Cvetkovich’s term) in a digital age.

Note 1: We will be reading and discussing sexually-explicit and sometimes offensive Victorian literature and new media.
Note 2: It is not necessary to know French, but reading competency will be a benefit, as some of the collections and bibliographical materials are in French.

Grading

  • Participation & Attendance 10%
  • Blog (8 entries, includes revision) 30%
  • Oral Presentation (12 minutes + discussion + final report) 20%
  • Final Project Proposal (1000 words + annotated bibliography) 10%
  • Final Group Digital Project 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Steven Marcus, The Other Victorians
Anonymous, My Secret Life
Anonymous, Teleny
+ TBA
+ Other materials will be made available via 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:

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

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site contains information on what is meant by academic dishonesty and where you can find resources to help with your studies.  There is also a section on tutoring.  

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS