| Unit name | Victorian Fiction: Art and Ideas in the Marketplace |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL30117 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Emily Coit |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit explores the ways in which market forces shaped, and were shaped by, the art of fiction in the Victorian period (1830s to 1890s). Topics to be covered might include: the rise of literacy and the creation of new or niche markets for fiction; the impact of new technologies of printing and distribution; the effects of new modes of publication (the weekly ‘number’, magazine serialization, etc.); the professionalization of authorship; the rise of the short story; critical debates over ‘realism’ and the social, political, and ethical purposes of fiction; censorship and the negotiation between writers and publishers as to what can be ‘said’ in fiction; aestheticism and resistance to the market as a measure of value. Practice in research using databases such as 19th Century British Library Newspapers and British Periodicals supports traditional modes of intensive reading and critical analysis of literary works, and enhances students’ real-world understanding of art as a social practice.
The aims of the unit are to develop a sophisticated, critically reflective understanding of these phenomena, based on research and study including digital archives and other online resources; and to enhance skills of analysis and communication.
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
1) demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the historical conditions in which British fiction was written, published, and received in the Victorian period (1830s to 1890s);
2) demonstrate detailed knowledge of a range of primary texts, and analytical skills including the evaluation of historical and biographical data and of the material features of texts by different authors in different genres;
3) show a sophisticated understanding of the pressure of market forces on the art of fiction, and on cultural practice;
4) demonstrate competence in research using digital resources and the application of such research to critical analysis of relevant Victorian fiction;
5) reflect critically on the ideas and texts they study and communicate effectively in writing.
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including long- and short-form lectures, group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.
*1 x timed assessment 2000 words (67% ) [ILOs 1-5]
