Contemporary British Fiction. Tradition and Multiculturalism: syllabus
Document Actions
Andrew Monnickendam, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Weeks 1 - 3
Andrea Levy, Fruit of the Lemon, 1999
Topics: Emigration, immigration and roots; narrative styles; the themes of diaspora and return; exoticism, realism and nostalgia; and, whose Britain? How does and should assimilation proceed? Questions of gender are also significant.
Weeks 4 - 6
Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal, Tourism, (2006)
This book is meant to be provocative and offensive, in stark contrast to the first text. It deliberately goes against the grain in its criticism of consumerism, modern sexuality and multiculturalism and everything connected to political correctness. Its descriptions of sex are quite graphic. While being anti- many things, it also was marketed in the most efficient way, employing precisely those methods it attacks. What exactly does this story tell us about 2008?
Weeks 7-9
Julian Barnes, The Lemon Table (2004)
This short collection of stories allows the student to reflect on the modern world by reading stories that summarise one primary concern of all the previous texts and introduce one which is new. Many of these stories associate old age and high art. In other words, it will soon die; are we right to be so pessimistic? What is culture and what is its role in 2008? Second, it provides one of the few accounts of one of the most fundamental concerns of our culture, ageing, both from humorous and tragic perspectives.
Week 10-11
We will read a series of short texts and articles, both literary and discursive.
Week 12
This week is kept in reserve for discussion and for concluding our thoughts.
Andrea Levy, Fruit of the Lemon, 1999
Topics: Emigration, immigration and roots; narrative styles; the themes of diaspora and return; exoticism, realism and nostalgia; and, whose Britain? How does and should assimilation proceed? Questions of gender are also significant.
Weeks 4 - 6
Nirpal Singh Dhaliwal, Tourism, (2006)
This book is meant to be provocative and offensive, in stark contrast to the first text. It deliberately goes against the grain in its criticism of consumerism, modern sexuality and multiculturalism and everything connected to political correctness. Its descriptions of sex are quite graphic. While being anti- many things, it also was marketed in the most efficient way, employing precisely those methods it attacks. What exactly does this story tell us about 2008?
Weeks 7-9
Julian Barnes, The Lemon Table (2004)
This short collection of stories allows the student to reflect on the modern world by reading stories that summarise one primary concern of all the previous texts and introduce one which is new. Many of these stories associate old age and high art. In other words, it will soon die; are we right to be so pessimistic? What is culture and what is its role in 2008? Second, it provides one of the few accounts of one of the most fundamental concerns of our culture, ageing, both from humorous and tragic perspectives.
Week 10-11
We will read a series of short texts and articles, both literary and discursive.
Week 12
This week is kept in reserve for discussion and for concluding our thoughts.
