Literature in conflict

The minor Literature in conflict focuses on the tensions and conflicts between literature and the society in which it functions. You will learn to understand the politics of culture and to interpret the role of literature in current political debates. 

Summary

Number of EC

30 EC

Number of courses

4 compulsory courses

Start

Block 1

Coordinator

Dr. Paul Bijl

Course overview

Literature in conflict

Code minor

LIC-MINOR-14

Entry requirements

None
(not open for students in the BA Literary Studies/Literatuurwetenschappen).

Associated master's programmes
Register between 30 May and 13 June 2022 12.00

Make sure to register for the minor as well as all its courses

Contents

In this minor, you will explore the place and function of literature in relation to topics such as human rights, censorship, political protest, and cultural memory. we will introduce you to the most important issues and current debates in this field. By means of case studies you will learn to see and explain the historical and theoretical connections between literature, law, religion, culture, and politics.

We will address the following topics:

  • the political and legal dimensions of literature as a social institution and the problems and conflicts that arise between political authorities and authors and publishers (e.g. state censorship)
  • the role literature plays in constructing and challenging the cultural memory of individuals and groups
  • how literature can represent (in the sense of depicting as well as itself constituting) acts of political protest and resistance
  • how literature has contributed to the development of Human Rights.

Altogether, these insights will equip you to understand the politics of culture and to interpret the role of literature in current political debates. Each course contributes to your repertoire of important literary and theoretical texts and also to your research skills.

Curriculum

In this minor, you learn about the political and legal dimensions of literature as a social institution and the problems and conflicts that arise between political authorities and authors and publishers (e.g. state censorship). You will learn about the role literature plays in constructing and challenging the cultural memory of individuals and groups. You will explore how literature can represent (in the sense of depicting as well as itself constituting) acts of political protest and resistance. And finally you will study how literature has contributed to the development of Human Rights. Altogether, these insights will equip you to understand the politics of culture and to interpret the role of literature in current political debates. Each course contributes to your repertoire of important literary and theoretical texts and also to your research skills.

Courses

Application and registration

How to register for this minor and its course modules, depends on whether you are a student of Utrecht University or not.

More information

If you wish to know more, or have questions about this minor, please contact the Student Desk Humanities.