English - Elective Subject, topic 4: Monsters in the Literary and Cultural Imagination

Course content

This course examines the literary, cultural, and historical preoccupations with the monstrous during the modern period, probing notions of ‘otherness’ and how monstrousness has been socially constructed across time and space. It situates this investigation within the British and American contexts, scrutinising the evolution of the perceived monstrous ‘other’ and its symbolic resonances. The course will examine a range of topics through a variety of media (print, television and film, videogames, podcasts). Across the various weeks, students will consider the production and theory behind the representation of famous monstrous characters like demons, vampires, ghosts, witches, swamp creatures, and zombies, and connect our cultural fascination with these monstrous characters to important themes including, religion, politics, science, etc. This includes a focus on both the gendered and racialised dimensions of monstrosity, scrutinising how the human form has been rendered as dangerous or monstrous.

By delving into this set of topics, our interdisciplinary exploration of monsters will provide students with a deep understanding of the multiple contexts and social factors in which horror, gothic, fantastic, and supernatural ideas and knowledge have emerged and grown during the modern age. The course will have a significant Digital Humanities component that takes up around 50%.

Education

Engelsk

The course is a combination of theoretical instruction, hands-on activities, and collaborative projects in order to foster an interactive learning environment. Students will engage in critical discussions, conduct data analysis, analyse case studies, and apply their digital skills to practical tasks.

  1. Examples of core readings include: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; Bram Stoker’s Dracula; H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu and Shadow over Innsmouth; Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr Moreau; Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland; L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz Le Fanu’s Carmilla; Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Octavia Butler’s Dawn
    In addition to these types of readings, students will critically engage a range of other sources including: films, graphic novels, podcasts, websites, apps, video games, etc.

Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
ECTS
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Aid
Only certain aids allowed (see description below)

HENB01481E: Alle.

HENB01482E: Alle, dog ikke internet, digitale noter eller andre former for tekst, der kan kopieres og indsættes digitalt i eksamensbesvarelsen.

HENB01483E: Alle.

Criteria for exam assessment

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 84
  • Preparation
  • 325,5
  • English
  • 409,5

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
HENB01484U
ECTS
15 ECTS
Programme level
Bachelor
Duration

1 semester

Placement
Spring
Schedulegroup
See link to schedule
Studyboard
Study board of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting department
  • Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting faculty
  • Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinators
  • Robert William Rix   (5-7870786f7e466e7b7334717b346a71)
  • Efram Sera-Shriar   (3-697777446c7971326f7932686f)
Saved on the 01-04-2025

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