Course overview
Postmodernism? Nothing about this term is unproblematic, nothing about it is entirely satisfactory. So begins Brian McHale's study, Postmodernist Fiction. In this course we'll consider the relation between the terms Modernism and Postmodernism, and the relation between Postmodernism and the other -isms and posts- of our time, through our reading of a set of literary texts written in or translated into English, in different countries, over the last half-century or so. Our major focus will be on these texts, which may include novels, short stories, drama and poetry, with a secondary focus on literary theory. Apart from the pleasures of reading and engaging in critical discussion, our aim will be to gain some understanding of how the term Postmodernism is used by different theorists and critics, and how well and in what ways the concept addresses the concerns and procedures of the literary texts in our study. This course will in certain ways follow on from the course on Modernisms, but students who have not done that course are also welcome, and should not feel at a disadvantage.
Course learning outcomes
- Read and understand Postmodernist texts and critical discussions of them
- Draw upon a range of Postmodernist concepts in the context of literary discussion
- Discuss Postmodernist literary texts in the historical and cultural context of their production
- Write coherent and logically argued written material, based on evidence, and engage in evidence-based critical debate
- Work with others in the exploration of ideas, the negotiation of solution to problems, and the production of written and spoken materials
- Collaborate and engage productively and respectfully with their peers
- Use technologies relevant to the university learning environment