ENGLISH 216 : Modernist Transformations

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Taking transformation as its theme, the course focuses on a selection of influential Modernist works that map out some of the possibilities for the avant-garde in the early twentieth century. Students will expand their knowledge of modernism as a multimedia, multicultural phenomenon and exert their imaginations and research skills as they consider its relevance to contemporary cultural production.

Course Overview

This course takes transformation as its theme and a selection of influential Modernist works from the first half of the twentieth century as its focus. We will explore poetry, experimental prose and visual works that map out some of the possibilities for avant-garde art and literature, asking how cultural producers responded to a period of dizzying change. Along the way we might investigate topics from the role of cities in the development of modernist art to changes in gender roles, the influence of new sciences like psychology, and the results of technological development for culture. Our reading list is likely to include poetry by H.D. and T.S. Eliot and prose fiction by Jean Toomer and Virginia Woolf, in addition to secondary works.

Modernism is one of the most exciting developments for writing and art in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. There have never been so many ways of accessing the textual and contextual treasures of the period, and in this course we will put many of them  into play in order to reveal the rich context of Modernist art and its relevance for contemporary cultural production.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I in English Restriction: ENGLISH 206, 222, 322

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Display their knowledge of modernism as a multimedia, multicultural phenomenon. (Capability 1 and 3)
  2. Analyse poetic, fictional and visual representations using a variety of interpretive tools. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Research and communicate independently and in groups. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Explore a variety of ways of reading poetry and fiction within the context of English literature studies. (Capability 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Draw creative/critical connections among different kinds of media, national contexts and time periods. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 100% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

While the distribution of those hours will vary each week, as a general rule you can expect about three hours of participatory 'lectorials', four hours of reading and thinking about the content and three hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at all scheduled activities including lectures and tutorials to receive full credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Required course book and works of fiction available at Campus Bookstore.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

I do not find SET evaluations useful, and instead use mid-semester formative evaluations to adjust the paper according to the needs and wishes of each individual cohort of students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 31/10/2023 10:09 a.m.