We will explore the interrelations and negotiations that take place between verbal and visual culture, in theory, literature, visual art and film, covering a wide range of theorists, novelists, artists and film makers. You will consider diverse theoretical approaches and their recent turns, including Feminism, Marxism, phenomenology, postcolonial theory, animal theory, illness studies, queer theory and posthumanism asking what were the moments that generated certain theoretical turns, and examining how theories intersect with verbal and visual culture. We will discuss social, cultural and national contexts contributing to debates concerning aesthetics and literary history and explore how and where disciplines meet ideologically. The module is intended to be interdisciplinary and considers some or all of the following topics: philosophies of history
perception and embodiment
experience and expression
the politics of racial, differential and queer space
looking as a political act
the ethics of storytelling
contemporary artists’ books
the ecological dimensions of colonialism.
Seminar: 16 hours
Workshop: 16 hours
1000 words Reflection. Assessment Details: Reflections on theoretical and critical debates relating to topics discussed on the module. worth 25%.
3000 words Extended writing. Assessment Details: Research essay on a topic chosen by the student. worth 75%.
Reassessment Method: Single instrument100% written assessment (4,000 words)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. analyse and interrogate the ways in which social, cultural and national contexts contribute to debates concerning theory, aesthetics and literary history.
2. explore critically examples of where the disciplines of theory, literature and art meet ideologically.
3. make connections and comparisons across the range of texts and art studied.
4. reflect critically on scholarship in the studied fields of verbal and visual culture, evaluating different critical approaches and the arguments behind them.
5. make clear, organised and well-substantiated arguments to support their judgements on examples of verbal and visual culture.
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