At the end of this course, the students; 1) demonstrate an understanding of historical, cultural and political context of the cold war fiction, 2) approach critically to the key issues and themes in cold war fiction, 3) acquire the knowledge of narrative strategies employed in cold war fiction.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face to face
PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
No
RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL PROGRAMME COMPONENT
COURSE DEFINITION
This course aims to focus on literary and cultural representations of the Cold War, to explore the socio-political tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, and to discuss the struggle between capitalism and communism in the second half of the 20th century. The course explores the effects of the Cold War period on the national and individual identity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality and religion and the discursive construction of the enemy and the other through a close analysis of the spy, espionage, and trauma novels that employ modern or postmodern narrative techniques.
COURSE CONTENTS
WEEK
TOPICS
1st Week
Introduction: George Kennan, ?Sources of Soviet Conduct? (1947)
2nd Week
Martin J. Medhurst, ?Rhetoric and Cold War: A Strategic Approach? in Cold War Rhetoric: Strategy, Metaphor, and Ideology, pp. 19?27.
3rd Week
What is Cold War Fiction?
4th Week
Cat?s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
5th Week
Cat?s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
6th Week
The Last Thing He Wanted, Joan Didion
7th Week
The Last Thing He Wanted, Joan Didion
8th Week
Midterm Exam
9th Week
The Book of Daniel, E. L. Doctorow
10th Week
The Book of Daniel, E. L. Doctorow
11th Week
The Book of Daniel, E. L. Doctorow
12th Week
Warlight, Michael Ondaatje
13th Week
Warlight, Michael Ondaatje
14th Week
Warlight, Michael Ondaatje
15th Week
Revision
16th Week
RECOMENDED OR REQUIRED READING
Belletto, Steven and Daniel Grausam, editors. American Literature and Culture in an Age of Cold War: A Critical Reassessment. University of Iowa Press, 2012
Grausam, Daniel. On endings: American postmodern fiction and the Cold War. University of Virginia Press, 2011.
Schaub, Thomas Hill. American fiction in the Cold War. University of Wisconsin Press, 1991.
Hammond, Andrew, editor. The Palgrave Handbook of Cold War Literature. Blackwell?s, 2020
PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Lecture,Discussion,Questions/Answers,Presentation
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
4
4
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
8
8
Homework
1
5
5
Article Presentation
1
4
4
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)
