At the end of this course, the students; 1) Identify the characteristics and major themes of American crime fiction; 2) Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and cultural development of American crime fiction; 3) Respond critically to American crime fiction by using analytical and theoretical concepts.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face to face
PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
No
RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL PROGRAMME COMPONENT
COURSE DEFINITION
This course presents a survey of American crime fiction starting with the mid-19th century with the invention of detective fiction by Edgar Allan Poe to the present day. The aim of the course is to explore a selection of American crime narratives with a particular focus on their generic features as well their social and cultural contexts. The course acquaints students with the formulaic conventions and key terminology of this popular genre and enables them to explore its transformation throughout history by drawing attention to the changing attitudes to justice, truth, state authority, ideology, social order, community, law, and punishment as well as the changing representations of crime, investigation, the criminal, and the detective.
COURSE CONTENTS
WEEK
TOPICS
1st Week
Introduction: What is Crime Fiction?
2nd Week
The politics and types of crime Fiction, Classical detective fiction
'The Typology of Detective Fiction', Todorov
3rd Week
Edgar Allan Poe :'The Murders in the Rue Morgue','William Wilson','The Mystery of Marie Roget', 'The Purloined Letter'
4th Week
'Quitters, Inc.', Stephen King, 'Three-Dot Po', Sara Paretsky, 'The Whimper of Whipped Dogs', Harlan Ellison.
5th Week
Noir: Widespread Panic, James Ellroy
6th Week
Widespread Panic, James Ellroy
7th Week
Midterm
8th Week
Hard-Boiled Detective Fiction: The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler
9th Week
The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler
10th Week
True Crime: In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
11th Week
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
12th Week
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
13th Week
The Talented Mr. Ripley, Patricia Highsmith
14th Week
Review
RECOMENDED OR REQUIRED READING
Bradford, Richard. Crime fiction: a very short introduction. Oxford UP, 2015.
Horsley, Lee. Twentieth-century crime fiction. Oxford UP, 2005.
Lodge, David and Nigel Wood, editors. Modern Criticism and Theory. Longman, 2008.
Raczkowski, Chris. A History of American Crime Fiction. Cambridge UP, 2017.
Worthington, Heather. Key Concepts in Crime Fiction. Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.
PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Lecture,Discussion,Questions/Answers,Other
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
Quantity
Percentage(%)
Mid-term
1
30
Assignment
1
15
Quiz
1
10
Presentation of Article
1
5
Total(%)
60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)
60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)
40
Total(%)
100
ECTS WORKLOAD
Activities
Number
Hours
Workload
Midterm exam
1
5
5
Preparation for Quiz
1
3
3
Individual or group work
14
3
42
Preparation for Final exam
1
5
5
Course hours
14
3
42
Preparation for Midterm exam
1
5
5
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
1
5
5
Homework
1
8
8
Article Presentation
1
5
5
Total Workload
120
Total Workload / 30
4
ECTS Credits of the Course
4
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English
WORK PLACEMENT(S)
No
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES (KLO) / MATRIX OF LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO)
