552.292 (22S) Topics in British Cultural Studies: Neo-slave narratives

Sommersemester 2022

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
11.03.2022 10:00 - 13:00 Z.0.01 On Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to make changes to courses and examinations at short notice (e.g. cancellation of attendance-based courses and switching to online examinations).

For further information regarding teaching on campus, please visit: https://www.aau.at/en/corona.
Lecturer
LV Nummer Südostverbund ENM02003UL
Course title german Topics in British Cultural Studies: Neo-slave narratives
Type Proseminar (continuous assessment course )
Course model Attendance-based course
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 3.0
Registrations 16 (25 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction Englisch
Course begins on 11.03.2022
eLearning Go to Moodle course

Time and place

Please note that the currently displayed dates may be subject to change due to COVID-19 measures.
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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

The aim of this proseminar is to examine the genre of neo-slave narratives. Students will be familiarized with the history of slavery in the Anglophone world and its significance for today, the specific contexts of both slave narratives and neo-slave narratives, and their defining features and recurring themes. They will engage with selected works of the genre and practice their textual analysis skills. They will further practice the analysis and interpretation of texts and media within their specific historical, cultural and literary contexts.

Teaching methodology

Input lectures on theory and historical context, group activities and discussions, student presentations, plenary discussions of assigned texts

Course content

The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the consequent chattel slavery in the Americas is one of the darker chapters in the history of the Anglophone world – but one whose legacy remains present and palpable. Britain’s dominant role in the Slave Trade (and its official abolition) is indisputable – as are the cultural, commercial, and political implications. The enslavement of Africans not only played a foundational role in the history of the United States - its traumatic effects are echoed in the systemic racism of today. Two of the literary progenies of the ‘peculiar institution’ are the slave- and neo-slave narratives. While the former aimed at an autobiographical recounting of the hardships of a life of slavery in support of the then-ongoing struggle for abolition, the latter is a contemporary piece of fiction assuming the perspective of enslaved Africans with a more revisionist appeal.

In a basic crash-course on the history of slavery, we will first develop an understanding for the ‘original’ slave narratives before having a closer look at selected examples. We will then examine the (cultural) context of the emergence of the neo-slave narrative and its modern manifestations.
After this contextualization, we will meet in the form of a ‘book club’ to discuss the two primary readings for this course, Kindred by Octavia Butler and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Finally, we will explore the genre beyond literary fiction and also consider neo-slave narratives and their adaptations in other media (film, TV, graphic novels).

Prior knowledge expected

Please mind the prerequisites according to your curriculum.
No previous knowledge of the subject at hand necessary.

Literature

As part of this class, students will familiarize themselves with various primary and secondary texts pertaining to the tradition of (neo-)slave narratives. For the two main texts to be discussed, students are expected to obtain/get access to any edition of:

Butler, Octavia. 1979. Kindred.
Whitehead, Colson. 2016. The Underground Railroad.

Both novels are available at the university library, and can be made available by the lecturer on demand. Details will be discussed in the first session on March 11.

All other texts, media and material will be provided on Moodle.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Modified examination information (exceptional COVID-19 provisions)

Should Covid-19 related measures not allow for the seminar to take place in present, the course mode and lecture will switch to online. This also applies to assessement (e.g., student presentation via online classroom, activities and assessments on Moodle).

Examination methodology

This proseminar has three pillars of assessment:

  • Active and constructive participation in class (including regular attendance, contributions to discussions and other activities, completion of assigned readings), worth 30% of the final grade

  • A student presentation from a range of preselected topics (including a handout with the most relevant information and sources used), worth 30% of the final grade

  • A proseminar paper (2000-2500 words), free choice of topic as long as it is connected to (neo-)slave narratives, worth 40% of the final grade.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

Participation: regular and punctual attendance, proper announcement of missed attendances, reading of all assigned texts, preparation for meetings, meaningful contribution to discussions.

Presentation: relevance and quality of content, quality and quantity of sources used, use of different media and engaging/interactive formats of presentation, discussion facilitation and moderation.

Proseminar paper: fulfilment of formal requirements, quality and originality of argument/ analysis, quality and quantity of cited sources, proper citations of sources (Chicago Manual of Style).

Final grade:
30% active participation
30% presentation
40% proseminar paper

A positive grade in all pillars of assessment is necessary to successfully complete this proseminar.

Please refer to the department’s policy on plagiarism and, and its code of conduct. Students who do not adhere to these rules will be removed from class immediately.

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Bachelor-Lehramtsstudium Bachelor Unterrichtsfach Englisch (SKZ: 407, Version: 19W.2)
    • Subject: Anglophone Cultural History and Theory (Compulsory subject)
      • ENM.002 Topics in British Cultural Studies ( 2.0h PS / 3.0 ECTS)
        • 552.292 Topics in British Cultural Studies: Neo-slave narratives (2.0h PS / 3.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 15W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Grundstudium Culture (Compulsory subject)
      • 6.1 Topics in British Cultural Studies ( 0.0h PS / 3.0 ECTS)
        • 552.292 Topics in British Cultural Studies: Neo-slave narratives (2.0h PS / 3.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 2. Semester empfohlen

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

There is no equivalent course for the purpose of counting examination attempts.