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EL10504: Contemporary literature & film of the British Isles

[Page last updated: 30 June 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Skills Centre
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 33%, ES 33%, EX 34%
Assessment Detail:
  • Group Presentation (CW 33%)
  • Research Essay (ES 33%)
  • Exam (EX 34%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: This module is suitable for all students This unit is solely for Socrates-Erasmus, Exchange and Visiting students.
Learning Outcomes: Having completed this unit students will be able to:
* identify themes common in post-Second World War literature of the British Isles
* identify and locate literature from different regions of the British Isles
* make connections between literary texts and their social, political, regional and artistic contexts
* apply a variety of methods of critical analysis to literary texts and films
* analyse verbal and non-verbal communication in film
* analyse translation from text to film
* analyse contemporary literary language
* identify characteristics of British film
* identify themes common in British film
* identify and locate film from different regions of the British Isles
* make connections between films and their social, political, regional, artistic and commercial contexts
* make connections between British, European and North American films.


Aims: To gain an overview of the kind of literature and films emerging in recent years from various regions of the British Isles.

Skills: Having completed this unit students will be able to:
* introduce and discuss individually researched material to others (F/A)
* apply a variety of methods of critical analysis to literary texts and films (F/A)
* give seminar presentations, learning to suit their material to their audience and to lead discussion and encourage participation (F/A).

Content: This course looks systematically at the four nations of the British Isles: Scotland, England, (Northern) Ireland and Wales. The course will begin by focusing on works of literature associated with each of the four nations in turn. The second part will then explore films associated with these nations.

Writers studied will include Tony Harrison, Jackie Kay, Kae Tempest, Owen Shear, Colm Toibin, Irvine Welsh and Seamus Heaney.

Several films will be core to the course including:
  • Submarine (Richard Ayoade, 2010)
  • Bait (Mark Jenkin, 2019)
  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Ken Loach, 2006)
  • Ratcatcher (Lynne Ramsay, 1999)
  • Small Axe (Steve McQueen, 2020), a series of films produced for the BBC.


Further works will be explored individually or as examples of the work of specific directors, such as:
  • Sarah Gavron (Suffragette, 2015; Brick Lane, 2007)
  • Mike Leigh (Peterloo, 2018; Mr Turner, 2014)
  • Steve McQueen (Hunger, 2008; Shame, 2011)
  • Ken Loach (I, Daniel Blake, 2016; Kes, 1969).


Themes studied may include place and identity (including specific regional identities); race, class and gender; emigration and immigration; the contrast between modernity and tradition; and humour, fairytale, dream and transformation.

Programme availability:

EL10504 is Optional on the following programmes:

Academic Skills Centre

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.