AMS-20052: From Modernity to Counter-Culture: American Literature and Social Criticism in the 20th Century

School of Humanities

AMS-20052

From Modernity to Counter-Culture: American Literature and Social Criticism in the 20th Century

Co-ordinator:

Prof Ian Bell Room: CBB1.043, Tel:33012

Teaching Team:

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description

The module is designed to examine the relationship between American literature as a critical force and historical developments in 20thC American society. The approach is to look beyond explicit social “content” or polemical intentions. This involves studying a diverse range of texts in order to explore the relations between literary form, a writer’s extra-literary purposes, and wider ideological factors. As a result, students will be examining the changing and various nature and role of American literature during the modern period. The module’s horizon is an understanding of how literature may be viewed as critical of, or complicit with, the society within which it is produced.

Aims

The module is designed to examine the relationship between American literature as a critical force and historical developments in 20thC American society. The approach is to look beyond explicit social “content” or polemical intentions. This involves studying a diverse range of texts in order to explore the relations between literary form, a writer’s extra-literary purposes, and wider ideological factors. As a result, students will be examining the changing and various nature and role of American literature during the modern period. The module’s horizon is an understanding of how literature may be viewed as critical of, or complicit with, the society within which it is produced.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1 Students will be able to describe and explain key features concerning how American prose and poetry operate within American culture

2 Students will be able to demonstrate skills in textual and historical analysis and argument

3 Students will be able to demonstrate skills in oral communication commensurate to a good grasp of key module issues.

Study hours

11 weeks @ 2 hours seminar = 22 hours
11 weeks @ 4 hours seminar preparation = 44 hours
Assessed Essay preparation = 84 hours
Total = 150 hours

Description of Module Assessment

001: Short Paper weighted 30%

1000-1500 words
Short Paper (1,000-1,500 words) Close textual analysis exercise

002: Essay weighted 60%

3000-3500 words
Assessed Essay (3,000-3,500 words) Thematic/formal analysis, from a range of set titles that should enable students to demonstrate the module’s main learning outcomes.

003: Seminar weighted 10%

Seminar Participation
Participation is assessed according to effort as well as academic ability; i.e., evidence of preparation in response to set seminar topics, readiness to apply the preparation positively in class discussion and quality of contributions. Tutors will keep weekly records to support marks awarded. (See AMS Student Handbook for full details).

Version: (1.03) Created: 08/Mar/2010

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.