This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module covers the multifarious struggles of the last ten years as manifested, enacted and expressed in literary texts (poetry, short stories, novels, life-writing, experimental texts), audio/visuals (Graffiti, Street Art, Documentary Films, Music, Stand-up Comedy) and theory (David Harvey, Thomas Nail, Henri Lefebvre) from the US, the UK, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Students will consider the ways in which contemporary literature, art and theory is informed by, reflects upon, and intervenes in the political struggles unfolding in our historical moment. Anchoring the discussion in contemporary struggle in Paris, the module will include some Paris-based visits, tasks and events, then broaden out geographically and conceptually to elaborate the interconnections between immediate sites of resistance and more global phenomena.
Some visits, tasks, events include: A Radical Walk through Paris; Street Art Tour; Museums; Day with the Activist Artist and Authors; Stand Up Comedy on Being Islamic; Audio-Visual Exhibition by Artist from Refugee Camps.
Some themes include: spatial politics and practice, animal struggles, partition countries, migration refugees, and borders, revolution and activism, Black Lives Matter, Islamophobia, postcolonial Europe
Total Contact Hours: 20
Private Study Hours: 280
Total Study Hours: 300
This module is unavailable
Assignment (5,000 words) – 100%
Indicative list, current at time of publication. Reading lists will be published annually
Negin Farsad and Dean Obeidallah. The Muslims Are Coming! Film (2015)
Oona Frawley, Flight (2014)
Han Kang, The Vegetarian. London: Portobello Books (2015)
Henry Lefebvre Right to the City (1996)
Thomas Nail Theory of Border (2016)
Maria Petrides, Kemal B. et al ed. Nicosia Beyond Barriers ed (2019)
Claudia Rankine, Citizen (2014)
Atef Abu Seif The Book of Gaza ed. (2014)
Ahdaf Soueif, Cairo: My City, Our Revolution (2012)
Samar Yazbek, My journey to the shattered heart of Syria (2015)
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1 Demonstrate a wide-ranging knowledge of contemporary literature and arts from several aesthetic and national contexts, including key works of prose, poetry, and graphic novels, art and films;
2 Demonstrate an advanced ability to relate the literary and artistic works from this period to relevant political, cultural, historical and philosophical contexts;
3 Demonstrate a sophisticated range of analytic skills, including close textual analysis;
4 Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the political struggles (via supplementary reading) that informs and reflects upon the literature from this period;
5 Demonstrate an advanced, critical comprehension of the relationship between art and activism.
6 Utilise sophisticated close reading skills to a range of literary texts and to develop erudite and complex comparisons between them.
7 Demonstrate an advanced set of presentation skills, as well as an ability to participate actively and constructively within group discussions.
8 Display an advanced ability to conduct individual research, including the ability to analyse, discuss and deploy secondary texts (both critical and theoretical) from appropriate scholarly resources.
9 Identify and evaluate advanced research questions and an ability to develop clear, reasoned and original arguments.
10 Demonstrate an ability to relate literature to the development and practices of other art forms.
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
