- Students acquire insight in the interaction between imagination and social changes in different historical contexts;
- They build up their knowledge of utopian world literature;
- The students learn to apply theories;
- Students become familiar with comparative and historical approaches in literary studies;
- Students use and improve their knowledge and skills acquired at "Cultural Criticism/Verbeelding als cultuurkritiek;
- Students receive training in writing and presenting.
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In this course students study utopian and speculative literature as narrative tools to imagine the future. At the same time they learn that these utopian texts reflect a historical setting and mindset. We will study the function and meaning of utopian texts at two turning points in history: the age of colonialism and the scientific revolution (16th-18th century) and the social-economic tensions and changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Central in these two periods is that we focus on the interplay between the European and non-European visions on possible futures. In the early modern period utopian writers and thinkers have to adapt to a broader geographical (The New World) and philosophical (a New Worldview) perspective. They have to deal with their role as colonizers (cultural superiority vs cultural relativism) and scientists (positivism vs scepticism). In the second period utopian writing itself is becoming a global endeavour, and often takes the shape of a literary dialogue between (former) colonizing and colonized countries. In both periods the role of utopia’s and dystopia’s in social and political constellations will be addressed. How does literature intervene in conflicts and debates on science, religion and politics? How can utopian optimism or irony develop into pessimism and (dystopian) scepticism?
This is the third course of the World Literature specialisation.
LAS and TCS students who follow this course as part of the core curriculum of their major, need to complete a compulsory preparation course/assignment. See for more information: https://tcs.sites.uu.nl/
Lingua Receptiva (Luistertaal)
This course can be followed in Lingua Receptiva. This course is offered in English. The course is also open to students who only have a receptive understanding of this language (as lingua receptiva). If required, these students can participate in Dutch and take the exam and write assignments in that language. If you want to make use of lingua receptiva, please contact the teacher after enrolment. Please note: if you make use of lingua receptiva, this course will be registered as one of the elective modules of your programme. In this case, the course cannot count as a language-specific course within the major or minor part of your programme.
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