ENG41570 World-Systems,World-Literature

Academic Year 2022/2023

*** Not available in the academic year indicated above ***

Throughout the last decade, materialist theories of literary criticism have adopted world-systems frameworks in order to generate new modes of comparative socio-historical analysis of world literature. These modes of critique might be collectively designated “world-literary criticism,” indicating methods of literary analysis that are comparative in their thrust and attuned to the ways in which literature mediates the structural and geographical divisions of the modern capitalist world-system and the intersections of hierarchies of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Using critical frameworks that draw on world-systems theory, world-ecological criticism, globalization, this module will explore “global” novels and literary forms (including speculative fiction and experimental poetry) that attempt to map the local experiences of globalization and combined and uneven development in relation to the larger world-system and world-ecology of capitalist modernity. In particular, we will attempt to define “world-literature” and ask what kinds of new forms and aesthetics are invented in the attempt to represent ecological and economic crises at planetary scales. We will read novels, short fiction, and poetry alongside extracts of theory from the fields of world-literary criticism, resource criticism and the energy humanities. Literature from countries including India, Australia, Africa and the Americas will be positioned alongside extracts of theory from Jason W. Moore, Immannuel Wallerstein, Giovanni Arrighi, Leerom Medovoi, Michael Niblett, Benita Parry, Imre Szeman and others.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

-Knowledge of key concepts in world-systems theory and critical approaches to world literature
-Ability to analyze ‘structural homologies’ between works of world literature
-Increased ability to critically evaluate differences in form and aesthetics
-Understanding of uneven development and familiarity with the impact of globalization on literary production

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

20

Specified Learning Activities

50

Autonomous Student Learning

130

Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Approaches to learning may include student presentations, group work and group-led discussions, and pre-prepared questions on texts. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Final Essay, approx. 5000 words Unspecified n/a Graded No

80

Continuous Assessment: Participation, Contribution, Presentations Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Hannah Boast Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Martin Gilroy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Anne Mulhall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sean O'Brien Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Caleb O'Connor Tutor
Deborah Schrijvers Tutor