Writing Race, Gender, and the Social: Experiments Beyond Representation (Q3199)

30 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

This module considers how writers explore new forms as a response to social and political tensions. We ask how literary techniques operate in contemporary and historical contexts shaped by racism, sexism, and other forms of exploitation and oppression – and we ask to what extent writing can be a part of projects for liberation.

The module will require that students read a wide range of texts that eschew easy generic categorisation. Students will also develop their own writing, and up to 50% of class time may be devoted to workshopping student work. A particular question or problem may be selected by the tutor each year.

Readings might include work by Renee Gladman, Ursula K LeGuin, Fran Ross, Craig Santos Perez, Jordy Rosenberg, Wendy Trevino, Muriel Rukeyser, Juliana Spahr, Jay Bernard, Walter Benjamin, Bhanu Kapil, and Isabel Waidner.

The module will help students to bring creative writing and critical practice together in order best to navigate their aims and objectives for writing. Assessment will involve a critical/creative portfolio.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2021/22. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.