L.008.32830 Contemporary British Fiction and Postmodernism

Lehrende: Prof. Dr. Merle Tönnies

Veranstaltungsart: Oberseminar

Orga-Einheit: Anglistik/Amerikanistik

Anzeige im Stundenplan:

Semesterwochenstunden: 2

Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 30

Literatur:
Works to be purchased:
1) Martin Amis, Other People. A Mystery Story, London: Vintage 1999 (first edition: 1981). This text should be read until the beginning of the semester.
2) Ian McEwan, Atonement, London: Vintage, 2002 (first edition: 2001)
The short stories and theoretical texts will be made available via PAUL.

Reserve Shelf: to be announced

Kommentar:
This seminar for M.A., Ph.D. and advanced Lehramt students will have an analytical and a more abstract side, combining the close reading of British novels and short stories from the 1980s to the 21st century with the reception and application of theoretical approaches to the phenomenon of postmodernism. Switching back and forth between literary works and literary and cultural theory, we will try to chart salient characteristics of postmodernism and to obtain an overview of their possible realisation in the genre of fiction. We will also examine whether the ways in which postmodernist tendencies manifest themselves in the texts change in the course of the three decades under consideration and whether it might be possible to observe an increase or a waning of such impulses at some points.
It is essential for the success of the seminar that participants read the works under discussion. Moreover, active participation is required, and students will be encouraged to select and/or present texts for analysis themselves. Some familiarity with and interest in literary theory and its application is a necessary basis.


Credits: 3 LP: oral presentation with written documentation or short paper
6 LP: oral presentation with written documentation or short paper; Hausarbeit

Wichtige Hinweise:

Important notice
As this is an MA seminar/;'Oberseminar', Lehramt students need to have already completed at least part of their literature Hauptseminare. If in doubt, please contact me by email or in my office hours.