Society and Literary Discourse in English

To become acquainted with the main theoretical contributions to the existing links between literature and society and with the representation of a society within the literary universe, considering the concept, the terminology, the typology, the historical aspects, the main characteristics and the methodology of interpretations.
To understand, analyse and compare literary, historical, cultural, political and visual texts that are representative of the aforementioned links and to reflect on the interaction between the historical, cultural and social context in which the literary production and reception are embedded.
To formulate critical reasoning derived from the analysis of the texts considering their social context. This reasoning must lead to the acquisition of a solid methodology of analysis that would go beyond a simple intuitive approach to the texts object of study.
To relate literary texts and other cultural and artistic expressions such as cinema, music, or art to the sociocultural reality in which they are produced.

The subject tackles the relations between literature and society, placing special emphasis on the political and socio-historical contexts. Likewise, the more relevant ideological and inter-textual relations - and also the main aesthetic aspects - will be considered when analysing and/or discussing literary (con)texts of the English-speaking world.

Basic:

Bercovitch, S. ed. 1994-2004. The Cambridge History of American Literature. Cambridge: CUP.
During, S. 2005. Cultural Studies: A Critical Introduction. London & New York: Routledge.
Carter, R. & McRae, J. 2006. The Routledge History of Literature in English. Britain and Ireland. London & New York: Routledge.
Johnson, P. 1997. A History of the American People. London: Phoenix Press.
King, B., ed. 1996. New national and post-colonial literatures: an introduction. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Lane, R.J., ed. 2013. Global Literary Theory. London and New York: Routledge.
Morgan, K.O. ed. 2009. The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain. Oxford: OUP.
Rojek, C., 2007. Brit-myth: Who Do the British Think They Are? London: Reaktion Books.
Ryan, M. 2010. Cultural Studies. A Practical Introduction. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.


Complementary:

Arana, R.V., ed. 2009. “Black” British Aesthetics Today. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Auslander, P. 2003. Performance: Critical Concepts in Literary and Cultural Studies. London & New York: Routledge.
Butler, J., Laclau, E., & Žižek, S. 2000. Contingency, Hegemony, Universality: Contemporary Dialogues on the Left. London: Verso.
Davis, M. 2007. In Praise of Barbarians: Essays Against Empire. Chicago, IL: Haymarket Books.
Ledent, B. & P. Cuder, eds. 2012. New Perspectives on the Black Atlantic: Definitions, Readings, Practices, Dialogues. Bern: Peter Lang.
McIntyre, D.W. 2001. A Guide to the Contemporary Commonwealth. Houndmills, Hampshire; New York: Palgrave.


Highly recommended:EzProxy service (remote access to 12000 magazine titles, more than 51000 e-book titles and 42 databases, all accessible through reBUSCa and Portico):https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/biblioteca/utilidades/ezproxy.html

(“Memoria do Máster Interuniversitario en Estudios Ingleses Avanzados e as Súas Aplicacións, 2ª edición", pp. 6-7: http://www.imaes.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MEMORIA_ANEXOS-I-II.pdf)

CB7:That students know how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
CB8:That students are able to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of formulating judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
CB9:That students are able to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that support them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
G01- Ability to delve into those concepts, principles, theories or models related to the various areas of English Studies, as well as to become familiar with the methodology required to solve those problems typical of this field of study.
G02:Ability to apply the knowledge gained/obtained within the multidisciplinary and mutifaceted/versatile area of English Studies.
G04:Ability to present experiences, ideas or reports in public, as well as to express informed opinions based on criteria, external rules or personal reflections, for which a sufficient command of the academic and scientific language, both written and oral, will be necessary.
G05:Abilities to investigate and manage new knowledge and information within the context of English Studies.
G06:Ability to acquire/achieve critical thinking that will lead students to consider the relevance of the existing research in the fields of study that make up/shape/define English Studies, as well as the relevance of their own investigations.
E07- Capacity to analyse different types of texts and spoken and/or written discourse in English.
E09:Knowledge of the main models and resources of literary/cultural research in the anglophone world.
E11:Capacity to identify and analyse the most relevant features of the anglophone culture and institutions through texts belonging to different historical periods.

Activities of introduction, debates, individual and group presentations, reading and writing research papers.

Work through the virtual platform, active participation in class discussions and attendance: 20% (Assessed competences: G01, G02, G05, E09, E11)
Individual oral presentation: 30% (Assessed competences: G02, G04, G05, E07)
Final paper: 50% (Assessed competences: G02, G04, G05, G06)


Attendance to all on-site lectures is compulsory (14 hours).
This assessment system applies to both the first and second opportunities.

Students who are officially exempt from attending lectures and those who retake the subject will be assessed on the basis of a final essay.


For cases of fraudulent conduct over exercises or tests, what is included in the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións" will apply: "Fraudulent exams, tests or tasks required for the evaluation of a subject will imply a fail in the corresponding opportunity, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be opened against the offending student. Among others, plagiarised works or those obtained from sources accessible to the public without reworking or reinterpretation and without quotation to authors and sources will also be considered fraudulent". Therefore, the detection of the smallest plagiarism will mean a zero in the subject and the established disciplinary measures will be taken.

FORMATIVE ACTIVITIES HOURS ON-SITE HOURS
- Expository lectures in the
classroom 5 100%
- Interactive sessions
(seminars, debates, presentations
in the classroom) 7 100%
-Tutorials (in the classroom) 2 100%
- Control of readings through the virtual
platform 4 0
- Student's autonomous and group study 11 0
-Writing of exercises, essays, conclusion
or other works connected with the subject 20 0
- Activities in the library, recommended
readings, bibliographical search 20 0
-Search and transfer of information to
the virtual platform 4 0
-Virtual guidance for the elaboration
of essays 2 0

Total of class work hours 14
Total of hours at the virtual platform 10
Total of hours of autonomous work 51

The subject will be taught in English.
Plagiarism of activities will not be tolerated under any circumstance as well as copy and paste from the internet.

IMPORTANT: Emails that do not come from the student's corporate address (USC address) will not be answered.

The USC has additional tutorial support service to help diversity (students with specific needs). https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/inclusion-participacion-social. E-mail: sepiu.santiago@usc.es.