Programme

The course, entitled ‘Emotions, ethics, and politics in literature from an interartistic and intermedial perspective’, focuses on a number of texts from different periods and literary genres which, through the analysis, exhibition and elaboration of certain emotions, convey an ethical and/or political message aimed at stimulating action and developing greater critical thinking in readers, as well as a deeper sense of justice. The theme is addressed taking into account interartistic and intermedial issues, based on the belief that the encounter between writing and the specific languages of other arts and media can prove particularly fruitful for a wider and more effective dissemination of the message. Some of the texts analysed stem from William Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest (1610), and include Aldous Huxley’s novelistic rewrite Brave New World, Angela Carter’s radio pastiche Come Unto These Yellow Sands (1979), and the film adaptations by Peter Greenaway (1991) and Julie Taymor (2010). Other texts considered include Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and its 2017 television adaptation; Tom Stoppard’s radio adaptation of his own play Rock’n’roll (2007); and Benjamin Zephaniah’s dub poetry. While in audiovisual texts images complement and enrich the verbal message, in the case of performance poetry and radio plays, it is the voice, sound and music that directly express emotions and stimulate a greater empathetic response.

Core Documentation

William Shakespeare, The Tempest [1610], any edition.
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World [1932], Vintage classics, 2007.
Angela Carter, Come Unto These Yellow Sands (radioplay), 1979, available online.
Films: Prospero’s Books, dir. Peter Greenaway, 1991, and The Tempest, dir. Julie Taymor, 2010.
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale [1985], Vintage, 1996.
TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, created by Bruce Miller (season 1, 2017).
Tom Stoppard, Rock’n’roll (radioplay), 2007, available online.
Benjamin Zephaniah, Dis poetry and other poems, available online.

Attendance

Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.

Type of evaluation

The exam wil be oral, in English. There will also be a self-assessment test.

Programme

The course, entitled ‘Emotions, ethics, and politics in literature from an interartistic and intermedial perspective’, focuses on a number of texts from different periods and literary genres which, through the analysis, exhibition and elaboration of certain emotions, convey an ethical and/or political message aimed at stimulating action and developing greater critical thinking in readers, as well as a deeper sense of justice. The theme is addressed taking into account interartistic and intermedial issues, based on the belief that the encounter between writing and the specific languages of other arts and media can prove particularly fruitful for a wider and more effective dissemination of the message. Some of the texts analysed stem from William Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest (1610), and include Aldous Huxley’s novelistic rewrite Brave New World, Angela Carter’s radio pastiche Come Unto These Yellow Sands (1979), and the film adaptations by Peter Greenaway (1991) and Julie Taymor (2010). Other texts considered include Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and its 2017 television adaptation; Tom Stoppard’s radio adaptation of his own play Rock’n’roll (2007); and Benjamin Zephaniah’s dub poetry. While in audiovisual texts images complement and enrich the verbal message, in the case of performance poetry and radio plays, it is the voice, sound and music that directly express emotions and stimulate a greater empathetic response.

Core Documentation

William Shakespeare, The Tempest [1610], any edition.
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World [1932], Vintage classics, 2007.
Angela Carter, Come Unto These Yellow Sands (radioplay), 1979, available online.
Films: Prospero’s Books, dir. Peter Greenaway, 1991, and The Tempest, dir. Julie Taymor, 2010.
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale [1985], Vintage, 1996.
TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, created by Bruce Miller (season 1, 2017).
Tom Stoppard, Rock’n’roll (radioplay), 2007, available online.
Benjamin Zephaniah, Dis poetry and other poems, available online.

Attendance

Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.

Type of evaluation

The exam wil be oral, in English. There will also be a self-assessment test.

Programme

The course, entitled ‘Emotions, ethics, and politics in literature from an interartistic and intermedial perspective’, focuses on a number of texts from different periods and literary genres which, through the analysis, exhibition and elaboration of certain emotions, convey an ethical and/or political message aimed at stimulating action and developing greater critical thinking in readers, as well as a deeper sense of justice. The theme is addressed taking into account interartistic and intermedial issues, based on the belief that the encounter between writing and the specific languages of other arts and media can prove particularly fruitful for a wider and more effective dissemination of the message. Some of the texts analysed stem from William Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest (1610), and include Aldous Huxley’s novelistic rewrite Brave New World, Angela Carter’s radio pastiche Come Unto These Yellow Sands (1979), and the film adaptations by Peter Greenaway (1991) and Julie Taymor (2010). Other texts considered include Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) and its 2017 television adaptation; Tom Stoppard’s radio adaptation of his own play Rock’n’roll (2007); and Benjamin Zephaniah’s dub poetry. While in audiovisual texts images complement and enrich the verbal message, in the case of performance poetry and radio plays, it is the voice, sound and music that directly express emotions and stimulate a greater empathetic response.

Core Documentation

William Shakespeare, The Tempest [1610], any edition.
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World [1932], Vintage classics, 2007.
Angela Carter, Come Unto These Yellow Sands (radioplay), 1979, available online.
Films: Prospero’s Books, dir. Peter Greenaway, 1991, and The Tempest, dir. Julie Taymor, 2010.
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale [1985], Vintage, 1996.
TV series The Handmaid’s Tale, created by Bruce Miller (season 1, 2017).
Tom Stoppard, Rock’n’roll (radioplay), 2007, available online.
Benjamin Zephaniah, Dis poetry and other poems, available online.

Attendance

Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.

Type of evaluation

The exam wil be oral, in English. There will also be a self-assessment test.