CLAS2891: Classical Receptions & Contemporary Culture

• CLAS1301 or CLAS1601 (It is recommended, but not required, to have taken CLAS1701)

• None

• None

• To build on the work of Level 1 module CLAS1701 so that students develop knowledge of the relationship of classical antiquity and contemporary culture via classical reception studies.
• To develop critical thinking skills in classical reception studies and relevant cultural and critical theory for analysing and critiquing the relationship of classical antiquity and contemporary culture.
• To help prepare students for the final year dissertation who may wish to work on areas of classical reception by providing them with key skills in in this area.

• Lectures provide case-studies for exploring the relationship of classical antiquity with contemporary culture using a range of media (examples of possible media include: visual arts, film, television, performing arts, video games, advertising, animation, comics, music, children's media, books). Lectures also introduce relevant cultural and critical theory and their application in the work of classical reception studies.
• Seminars open up lecture topics for discussion and provide a forum to evaluate relevant scholarship in relation to the summative assessment.
• Oral presentations provide a forum for students to present their progress on the summative assessment to each other and receive feedback.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students will have gained knowledge in the scope and range of classical receptions in contemporary culture, and through the summative project work they will have gained specialised knowledge in one particular area of the relationship of classical antiquity and contemporary culture.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Students will develop critical thinking skills in classical reception studies and in relevant cultural and critical theory for analysing and critiquing the relationship of classical antiquity and contemporary culture.

Key Skills:

• To produce and manage a piece of independent project work, which demonstrates understanding of the relationship of classical antiquity and contemporary culture using classical reception studies. Students will develop written skills and oral presentation skills through producing well-structured arguments, evaluating primary sources and secondary literature, and independent interpretations of their source materials.

• The assessment for this module is made up of two summative components: a 3500-word project and a 1500-word literature survey:
• Summative 1. The project: an independent project devised by the student that critically appraises the relationship between classical material and contemporary culture in a particular cultural artefact (book, tv series, a film, comic, art-work ...), considering features such as overt vs. covert referencing, modes of reception (from parody, to imitation, to translation and adaptation), intended audience, cultural appropriation, treatment of political and socially contentious issues.
• The module will provide a list of artefacts that would form a fruitful analysis, but students are encouraged to research their own artefacts, which are discussed and approved by the module convener.
• Summative 2. A literature survey related to the project topic, which uses some of the theoretical tools provided in lectures and discussed in seminars.
• Formative oral presentations enable students to present on the project design and articulate and develop their ideas for their summative project.

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