EN3904 Crime and Passion in Popular Culture 1: To 1900

Academic year

2025 to 2026 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 9

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

Only available to those enrolling on the MA Combined Studies or already enrolled on the MA/BSc General degree taken in the evening.

Planned timetable

Tue 6.30 - 9.00 pm

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

Module Staff

TBC

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

Module description

For any student of the contemporary arts, it should be apparent that crime and passion go hand in hand, and few cultural works can be said to evade these categories entirely. Indeed, the terms themselves, 'crime' and 'passion', are more complex than they may initially appear to be, and their application in studying the arts is rich with potential. This module, along with its companion (which covers the period since 1900), will give students some insight into what these terms might mean, and how they have impacted on popular culture through the ages.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE EN2901

Anti-requisites

STUDENTS MAY NOT TAKE ANY FULL-TIME MODULE IN ENGLISH

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture and 1 x 1.5-hour seminar

Scheduled learning hours

25

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

Guided independent study hours

275

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • demonstrate an advanced knowledge of trends in high-, popular-, and counter-culture prior to 1900 that have challenged the hegemonic centre through the arts
  • Analyse critically the use of superficially narrow terms such as 'crime' and æpassion', and transfer this interrogative skill to other disciplines
  • Appreciate the political nature of 'popular' and æliterary' texts, and discuss the implications of both mainstream and counter-cultural artistic output
  • Understand better the historical precedents that have produced the current climate in popular and high culture
  • Critically re-evaluate the changing understanding of the 'self' and the æother' in western society prior to 1900.