EN4437 American Fiction 1950-2000: Postmodernism and Beyond

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

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

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

Thursday 12.00-14.00

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

Module coordinator

Dr K Ward

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 introduces students to US fiction of the period 1950-2000—a period sometimes referred to as the ‘American Century’—through the chronological study of nine major texts, many of which are associated with ‘postmodernism.’ The selection of texts encourages students to reflect on the utility of postmodernism as a critical framework while reflecting on what is distinctive about US fiction of this period. Students will also be encouraged to study these texts within their discrete socio-political contexts, which include, but are not limited to, the Cold War, radical politics, social movements (such as the Civil Rights Movement, Red Power, and Black Power), and the Asian American experience.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS EN2003 AND PASS EN2004

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Two-hour seminar (x10 weeks) plus 2 optional consultation hours per week (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

20

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

Guided independent study hours

260

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of a range of US prose fiction from 1950-2000, including knowledge of key critical themes and issues in the study of this period.
  • Analyse US prose fiction from 1950-2000 in its historical, political, and aesthetic contexts.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of literary critical debates about this period of US fiction, especially pertaining to modernism, and apply it to the set texts.
  • Interrogate the utility of the term ‘postmodernism’ in the study of this period of US fiction, especially in relation to efforts to diversify the canon.
  • Demonstrate practical analytical and research skills in close reading and discussing this period of US fiction, and in forming sophisticated and informed arguments (both in written work and class discussion).