CO4032 Bad Books

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Standard Comparative Literature cap on numbers in Hons modules (14 students)

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr E Herdman

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module explores the question of literary censorship and asks what makes a book 'dangerous' or 'bad'. Censorship has always been with us in some form in all societies and, over the course of the module, we will explore some examples of this from different times and places, in authoritarian and democratic contexts. These case studies of political, moral and religious censorship will be analysed in order to see what we can learn about these texts, their contexts and why they were considered a threat. We will also look at how the restrictions imposed have been both justified and challenged. Finally, we will consider what these various examples of censorship have in common and what they reveal about the relationship between creativity and control.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE COMPARATIVE LITERATURE HONOURS ADVISER

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 90min seminar per week (x 11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

17

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

132

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Upon successful completion of this module, students should have furthered their knowledge and understanding of modes of censorship; questions of freedom of expression
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students should have furthered their knowledge and understanding of specific examples of censorship (political, moral, religious) of literary texts, drawn from a variety of times and places
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students should have enhanced their interpretive and analytical skills
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students should have enhanced their ability to communicate efficiently and accurately orally and in writing
  • Upon successful completion of this module, students should have enhanced their ability to synthesise complex arguments
  • By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate enhanced independent research skills