Dr Angus Wrenn, CMK. C614

For all undergraduate students as an outside option. Students can take this course in any year of their studies. This course will be capped at 24 students.

Although an A-level pass or equivalent in Literature is useful, it is not an absolute requirement (especially for General Course students).

(a) Study of contemporary (chiefly post 1990) world literature in the context of modern globalised society, covering prose, poetry and drama; (b) Focus on: cultural imperialism, decline of national frameworks; authors with global identity; 'commodification' of literature; individualism in modern liberal democracies and social fragmentation in the post-totalitarian context; (c) study of individual authors, in English translation where relevant. (d) several related trips to galleries and theatre productions during the year; (e) extensive use of archive recordings of authors, and video; (f) students are encouraged to draw upon their background in their main discipline, and to read widely.

Two hours per week, featuring (a) lectures on a range of authors and themes; (b) classes including students' presentations; (c) revision workshops; and (d) tutorials.

Two essays per year and presentations.

Benjamin Zephaniah Propa Propaganda; George Szirtes Collected Poems; Douglas Coupland, Generation X; Viktor Pelevin, Babylon; Tom Stoppard, Rock-n-Roll; Vaclav Havel Leaving; Monica Ali, Brick Lane; Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist; Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness; Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita; Milan Kundera, Ignorance; Zadie Smith, White Teeth

Three hour written examination (75%) and coursework project (25%).