Speculative Fictions
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4149 | English | 4 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- ENGL4149
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
Speculative fiction incorporates all those genres that imagine worlds not quite like this one, from science fiction to fantasy and beyond. This module introduces students to a range of such fictions, attending to the generic traditions and historical context from which they emerge as well as their ongoing cultural relevance. Both hugely popular and the object of increasing scholarly interest, speculative fiction allows for theoretical and critical discussion of a range of contemporary issues, from the interest in utopian and dystopian modes of thought, to technology and the posthuman, and debates surrounding alterity and identity. The module examines a range of different media, considering such forms as film and the graphic novel, testifying to the genre’s great scope and its ongoing power to intrigue and enthral as it explores the boundaries of time, space, and the imagination.
Target Students
Only available to on-site postgraduate students in the School of English.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: One 4,000 word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
the ability to combine a variety of research approaches the ability to make connections across different periods and to trace lines of cultural inheritance the ability to engage intelligently and creatively with literary and theoretical material the ability to communicate complex ideas in a variety of verbal and written modesLearning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
- knowledge and understanding of a selection of works from the genre of speculative fiction
- an appreciation of the cultural contexts in which these works were produced
- the ways in whcih these literary works can inform current theoretical discussions
- the intersection of aesthetics, culture and community
Intellectual Skills
- engage in close and logical analysis of texts and arguments
- think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others and to reflect on one's own critical practice
- understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions
Professional/Practical Skills
- articulate knowledge and understanding of literary and theoretical concepts relating to English studies, using appropriate terminology
- analyse texts with an awareness of how circumstances of authorship, textual production, convention and/or audience affect these
- write accurately and grammatically, demonstrating awareness of the importance of style and register in communication, and present written material using conventions appropriate to literary work including bibliographies
- to construct and communicate a sustained analysis of texts, verbally and in writing
- carry out research (including the use of scholarly resources and databases), to evaluate the material so acquired and use it appropriately
Transferable/Key Skills
- work productively with others
- communicate effectively in writing
- communicate effectively in spoken communication
- organise and manage working time, including scheduling tasks and meeting deadlines
- to retrieve information from a range of written and electronic sources and present the results in a clear and accurate fashion
- reflect upon and assess one's own progress, strengths and weaknesses