Fall 2020 - WL 100 D100

What is World Literature? (3)

Class Number: 7472

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 19, 2020
    Sat, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores how texts travel beyond their cultures of origin, influence other cultural contexts and ideas, and become works of world literature. Introduces the concepts of cross-cultural literary criticism and translation. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:


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FICTION has long investigated what it is to move from place to place along with one’s social & political settings, but what of the movement of our feelings? Beginning from Euripides classic dramatization of the threatening boundaries between public virtues & private passions, we learn to see how the problem of the self in WORLD LITERATURE acquires new metaphors as it travels from place to place.  Following our introduction to the ethics of the body, we explore Oyono’s 20th Century novella of race & hypocrisy in Africa; Eileen Chang’s Hong Kong stories; Marguerite Duras’s exploration of love across racial lines; &, lastly, we view the “Summer 1966” segment of the Italian film La meglio gioventù (The Best of Youth). Each of our short texts and film segments contemplate how cultural & personal outlooks change when they are forced into the open; and each explores the same question: if ‘language is the main instrument of man’s refusal to accept the world as it is,’ how might crossing boundaries be a way of rebelling against difference?

PLEASE NOTEPrerecorded LECTURES will be made available through SFU Canvas. Students will view these on their own time prior to the synchronous Tutorial portion of each week’s class. The Tutorials require student availability at the set times and days that are scheduled for them. Students choose only one of two Tutorial sections: these occur TUE 1230-120PM or 130-220PM.

Students must be logged onto Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate (Canvas) for the weekly Tutorial. 

NB: different translations exist for two texts – ensure that you source the correct translation: Robert Bagg for Euripides &  Karen Kingsbury for Chang.  The Chang text is a collection of stories: we read three of these: “Jasmine Tea,” “Aloeswood Incense,” and the title story, “Love in a Fallen City.” 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Introductory understanding of World Literature as a field practice                                                                                  
  • Basic comprehension of terms and concepts of literary criticism                        
  • Ability to cognize and compare literary texts as social discourses                        
  • Ability to undertake comparisons across different cultural media

Grading

  • Participation and Attendance 15%
  • Short Paper 15%
  • Quizzes 20%
  • Term Paper 20%
  • Final Exam 30%

NOTES:

ATTENDANCE:  

Regular online attendance & engagement are mandatory for successful completion of the course. Attendance will be taken.  It is your responsibility to log in to class on time & to stay to the end. Please let me know in advance if you are unable to make a class on medical or other grounds, or if you must leave early.  

IMPORTANT: students must provide a note for missed classes (medical or otherwise) – or seek permission beforehand.  Unexcused absences reduce your final grade as follows: second absence 3% / third absence 6% / fourth absence 10% / after five absences you cannot pass the course as you have not completed it.  

ESSAY & OPEN BOOK EXAMS:  

Term Paper topics will be distributed beforehand.  If you wish to write the essay on a topic outside those given, approval must be sought from me.  You will need to reference at least two scholarly texts relating to your topic (i.e. literary criticism).  There are extensive print resources at SFU library <http://www.lib.sfu.ca/> and article & book length commentaries exist for the works on our reading list.  The short essay and quizzes/exam will occur in real-time (synchronously): all students receive questions and submit responses within the same limited period.

GRADING: Converts to Grade Point Average

A+         95-100%              B+         80-84%                C+          65-69%                D              50-54%

A            90-94%                B            75-79%                C            60-64%                F              0-49%

A-          85-89%                B-          70-74%                C-          55-59%

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  

Plagiarism is a serious academic offence.  It will result in the failure of an assignment, course, or more serious disciplinary action.  All ideas must be correctly referenced according to MLA format, both in the case of direct quotations & paraphrased material.  I will go over formatting as we move closer to the take-home essay.  Information on plagiarism can be found at:  

<http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html>
<http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html>

ONLINE SOURCES:  

Remember, very few online sources are acceptable for citation.  Peer reviewed online journals (ie: via JSTOR, MLA, SPRINGER) are welcome; personal web pages, blogs, study sites and so on do NOT count as academic resources.  Use bound journals or as available through the online resources of the SFU library.  For MLA format go to: < https://www.lib.sfu.ca/help/cite-write/citation-style-guides/mla >          

PLEASE NOTE THE SFU POLICY STATEMENTS BELOW:  

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site 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             http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

 

REQUIRED READING:

Hippolytus, Euripides ( trans. R. Bagg ). Oxford.
ISBN: 978-0195072907

HouseboyFerdinand Oyono. Waveland.
ISBN: 978-1577669883

Love in a Fallen CityZhang Ailing / Eileen Chang. NYRB.
ISBN: 978-1590171783

The Lover, Marguerite Duras. Pantheon. 
ISBN: 978-0375700521

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).