ATS3989 · Reading across cultures

Overview

Literature is often seen as a representative aspect of a specific culture, language and nation. But what constitutes the cultural, linguistic or national traits and traditions of any literary work is often a matter of contention. In this unit, you will be introduced to a number of literary texts and scholarly concepts that interrogate such defining parametres. In particular, our focus will be on the lens of race, class, sex and gender that informs how literature is studied now. Led by the field of Cultural Studies that emerged circa 1960s, this unit will offer insights into diverse socio-historical and aesthetic-intellectual environments that govern the contemporary study of literature. You will explore texts through methodologies that examine how literature has negotiated, and continues to negotiate, identities in transnational and global contexts. You will have the opportunity to study a range of texts that bring to light connections between and among cultures, as well as learn about the theoretical terms, conceptual methods and contextual frameworks that underpin such study.

Areas of study: Literary studies Global studies

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. critically engage with and evaluate literary and cultural texts from a variety of different cultures and contexts;
2. situate and position these texts in terms of their geographical, historical and socio-political locations and frameworks;
3. assess and analyse these texts from literary, theoretical and critical perspectives;
4. critique and compare concepts relevant to cross-cultural literary communication and engage critically with related scholarly literature and debates.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.