L.008.32405 Aestheticism and Decadence at the Fin de Siécle

Lehrende: Christina Flotmann

Veranstaltungsart: Hauptseminar

Orga-Einheit: Anglistik/Amerikanistik

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Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 50

Voraussetzungen und Empfehlungen:
Introduction to Literary Studies, basic seminars literary studies for the different degree courses

Literatur:
Students are expected to purchase Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (e.g. the Wordsworth Classics edition) as well as a reader containing further course material which will be available at tdm copyshop from the beginning of September.

Kommentar:
In the course we will theoretically explore aestheticism and decadence, two artistic movements which shaped the final decade of the 19th century in England. The 1890s were characterized by the slow erosion of Victorian institutions such as the empire and the accompanying decay of the era’s value system. Aesthetic and decadent writers reacted to these social and ideological changes often prefiguring modernist or even postmodernist critical stances.
We will particularly look at texts by Oscar Wilde, one of the main representatives of fin de siècle aestheticism to see how he challenged the façade of Victorian earnestness and propriety. Apart from some of his shorter texts we will read and discuss his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Wichtige Hinweise:
Attendance in the first session is mandatory.
Information on requirements for 'qualifizierte Teilnahme' and 'Prüfungsleistung' will be provided during the first session.