Satire in Western Cultural History

The course is a freestanding course.

The requirement for admission to the course is a Bachelor's degree (of Arts), including an independent thesis of 15 credits, with a major in Ancient greek, English, French, Latin, Spanish or German or an equivalent foreign degree and English level 2/English 6 from Swedish upper secondary school or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test.

In the course, works from the Western hemisphere such as literary texts and visual material is studied in its social, cultural and political context, as well as current research and theories within the field of satire. The course material highlights the relation of satire to close phenomena such as parody, irony and comedy, and discusses the relationship between satire and norms, repression and taboos. The course emphasizes satire as a broad cultural phenomenon across boundaries of time, media and genre. The contents may include English-language material and, in applicable cases, works from other languages. In consultation with the examiner and based on available resources, the student may choose to specialize in a language area other than English for part of the examination.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• give an account of the main characteristics of satire as a cultural phenomenon in literature as well as across boundaries of genre and media;
• outline how norms, social conditions, repression and taboos might influence literary expression within this field;
• account for the main theories that have been used to define and analyse satire;

Competence and skills

• critically and independently apply literary terminology and theories in connection with the course material
• produce close readings and discussions of satirical material with advanced critical and analytical ability;

Judgment and approach

• assess how texts and theories describe the relationship between norms, conventions and genres.

The teaching is given in the form of seminars.

Language of instruction: English

All the aims of the course is tested through oral presentations and written assignments.

A student who has failed a course item is eligible for a retake exam/assignment. In connection with written assignments, supplementary assignments may be offered in order for the student to achieve a Pass grade. Such a supplementary assignment should be done within the stipulated time (normally five working days after the result has been posted). Otherwise, a Fail grade will be reported.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). To pass the course with distinction, the grade Pass with distinction is required on both modules of the course.

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

Equality aspects should be taken into consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.

To follow a web-based course, students must have access to a computer, web camera and stable internet connection.