Utopian and Dystopian Visions

Course Information
TitleΟυτοπικοί και Δυστοπικοί Οραματισμοί / Utopian and Dystopian Visions
CodeΛογ 530
FacultyPhilosophy
SchoolEnglish Language and Literature
Cycle / Level2nd / Postgraduate
Teaching PeriodWinter/Spring
CommonNo
StatusActive
Course ID600003992

Programme of Study: PROGRAMMA METAPTYCΗIAKŌN SPOUDŌN 2016-2017

Registered students: 0
OrientationAttendance TypeSemesterYearECTS
Anglikés kai Amerikanikés SpoudésElective CoursesWinter/Spring-10

Class Information
Academic Year2016 – 2017
Class PeriodSpring
Class ID
600072477
Course Type 2016-2020
  • Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Digital Course Content
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
  • English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Sufficient knowledge of the historical trajectory of the English and American literary utopian traditions. Sufficient knowledge of the historical and cultural contexts out of which the selected texts have emerged. Good understanding of the differences characterizing the utopian and dystopian visions of male and female writers (gender and/or race issues). Good understanding of the contribution of such narratives to social change.
General Competences
  • Work autonomously
  • Work in an interdisciplinary team
  • Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
  • Respect natural environment
  • Demonstrate social, professional and ethical commitment and sensitivity to gender issues
  • Be critical and self-critical
  • Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course focuses on utopian and dystopian (anti-utopian) visions in English and American literature. Besides providing a brief history of the literary utopian tradition, the course studies a range of texts written by English and American male and female writers during different historical periods and within different cultural contexts. It approaches the chosen texts from a critical perspective and tries to illuminate the historical, ideological, and political factors that have contributed to the construction of these narratives. It also explores their ideas about social and political regimes and examines their contribution to social thought and social change.
Keywords
utopia, dystopia, English and American literature, political visions, social change
Educational Material Types
  • Multimedia
  • Book
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures391.4
Reading Assigment782.8
Written assigments1585.7
Total27510
Student Assessment
Description
participation in class discussions 10% of the final grade In-class oral report 10% of the final grade in-class test/exam 10% of the final grade Research paper 70% of the final grade
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Summative)
  • Written Assignment (Summative)
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
Jane Donawerth and Carol Kolmerten. Utopian and Science Fiction: Worlds of Difference (1994). Nan Bowman Albinski. Women's Utopias in British and American Fiction (1988). Krishan Kumar. Utopia and Anti-Utopia in Modern Times (1987). Darby Lewes. Dream Revisionaries: Gender and Genre in Women's Utopian Fiction 1870-1920 (1995). Jean Pfaelzer. The Utopian Novel in America, 1886-1896 The Politics of Form (1988). Tom Moylan. Scraps of the Untainted Sky (2000). Tom Moylan. Demand the Impossible (1988). Raffaella Baccolini and Tom Moylan, eds. Dark Horizons (2003). Frances Bartkowski. Feminist Utopias (1989).
Last Update
08-04-2016