| Unit name | Comedy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CLAS22370 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Martin |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Can we take the comedy of ancient Greece and Rome seriously? In this unit we will examine a range of comic discourse in the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome to discover how laughter functioned in antiquity both as subversive political critique and conservative social commentary. Theoretical readings on comic violence, carnival, and body humour will inform our seminar discussions and textual analyses on authors such as Homer, Philogelos, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence, and Horace. Throughout the unit we will compare and contrast the classical tradition of comedy with modern comedic discourse, including political satire, live comedy performance, TV sitcoms, and cartoons.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This optional unit allows you to shape the focus of your degree according to your own interests. In common with other units at this level, it will help you to take a more nuanced and theoretically-informed view of the ancient material and to make use of a variety of methods for understanding it. It will also encourage you to think about possible connections between the Classical world and the contemporary one.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
This unit will involve a combination of independent investigative activities, long- and short-form lectures, and discussion. Students will be expected to engage with materials and participate on a weekly basis. Feedback will be provided for both formative and summative assessments, and this will be supported by meetings with tutors.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
500 word creative writing exercise (20%) [ILOs 1-4].
2,500 word essay (80%) [ILOs 1-4].
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CLAS22370).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
