Duration
Sustainability and transition course : 12h Th
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities : 20h Th, 16h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in ancient and modern languages and literatures | 5 crédits | |||
| Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Sustainability and transition course : Justine Huppe, Sybille Mertens de Wilmars
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities : Justine Huppe
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course is entitled 'Ecologies of Literature' and will focus on the issues raised by the confrontation between literary studies and climate and environmental emergencies. Many people are wondering about the relevance and power of literary texts in the face of the ecological crisis: while the world is burning, what is literature doing and - at the same time - what are we doing to our environment when we teach or study literature?
The discussion will be structured in four parts (of unequal length):
Introduction: Theoretical and historical benchmarks for examining disciplinary differences (ecopoetics, ecocriticism, etc.) and concepts in circulation (what do we put behind terms like 'nature', 'living' or 'anthropocene'?).
Representation (literature 'about' the environment): This is the main focus of the course (around twenty hours), in which a number of motifs and issues will be studied (landscape and the invention of a perspective on nature, the relationship between man/animal and human/non-human, fantasies of a 'return' to nature). These questions will be posed to texts of various forms and periods (17th-21st centuries).
Circulation (literature 'as' an environment): The ecology of literature can also refer to the ecosystem formed by literary space. In this sense, we will also examine works and tools that are useful for questioning the circulation of texts on a global scale (tensions between written and oral cultures, between local, regional and national modes of circulation; the threat to 'bibliodiversity', etc.).
Production (literature 'in' the environment): Finally, we will also look at the environmental cost of producing literary texts and the recommendations and observations made by associations involved in book ecology.
Sustainability and transition course
This course aims to provide students with a scientific knowledge base from a full range of disciplines pertaining to the environmental and social issues of sustainability and transition
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
The course is entitled 'Ecologies of Literature' and will focus on the issues raised by the confrontation between literary studies and climate and environmental emergencies. Many people are wondering about the relevance and power of literary texts in the face of the ecological crisis: while the world is burning, what is literature doing and - at the same time - what are we doing to our environment when we teach or study literature?
The discussion will be structured in four parts (of unequal length):
- Introduction: Theoretical and historical markers for questioning disciplinary differences ('ecopoetics', 'ecocriticism', etc.) and concepts in circulation (what do we put behind terms like 'nature', 'living' or 'anthropocene'?).
- Representations (literature 'about' the environment): This is the main focus of the course (around twenty hours), in which a number of motifs and issues will be studied (landscape and the invention of a perspective on nature, the relationship between man/animal and human/non-human, fantasies of a 'return' to nature). These questions will be posed to texts of various forms and periods (17th-21st centuries).
- Circulations (literature 'as' an environment): The ecology of literature can also refer to the ecosystem formed by the literary space. In this sense, we will also look at works and tools that are useful for examining the circulation of texts on a global scale (tensions between written and oral cultures, between local, regional and national modes of circulation; the threat to 'bibliodiversity', etc.).
- Production (literature 'in' the environment): Finally, we will also look at the environmental cost of producing literary texts and the recommendations and observations made by associations involved in book ecology.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of this unit, students will be able to...
-Develop a conceptually sound discourse on the issues raised by the interaction between ecology and literature
-Apply an issue studied in class to a work read independently
-Use a range of notions and theoretical distinctions to good effect
Sustainability and transition course
At the end of this course, and on the basis of the scientific content presented, students will be able to:
- Describe, differentiate and question the dynamics and interactions of the different spheres of the Earth system;
- Describe and analyse the interactions between the human and the Earth systems;
- Demonstrate the importance of considering the issues of sustainability and transition from a systemic point of view;
- Develop a critical and reflective mindset that enables them to analyse current issues;
- Use the scientific knowledge base to combat feelings of eco-anxiety;
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
At the end of this teaching unit, students will be able to...
- Give a conceptually sound presentation on the issues raised by the interactions between ecology and literature.
- Appropriately use a set of theoretical concepts and distinctions to comment on new cases or situations.
- Independently construct a research question.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
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Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
The course on authors at the first and second bachelor's level.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
This is an ex-cathedra course, punctuated by text explanation exercises (distributed or projected during the course) requiring student participation. Occasionally, students will be required to do preparatory reading (an extract, a scientific article, etc.).
Sustainability and transition course
Contents learned autonomously include:
- Videos.
- Video transcripts.
- Additional resources (optional)
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
Weekly class hours are spread over two days (2 hours / 1 hour).
The shorter session is traditionally devoted to a more practical workshop (which often requires preparatory reading and writing exercises).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
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Sustainability and transition course
Remote course
Further information:
The teaching method is distance learning. The course is made up of several videos and recommends optional reading material.
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
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Recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
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Sustainability and transition course
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Videos, optional reading material and guidelines will be provided via the eCampus platform.
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
Further information:
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
/
Assessment methods and criteria
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
Individual written work to be handed in, which will be discussed at an oral examination in session.
Sustainability and transition course
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- Remote
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Further information:
This part of the course must be completed by May 11 for the second term, and September 1 for the second session. This part is for 20 % of the global note.
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
May-June exam session
- In-person
oral exam
August-September exam session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
All sessions combined:
Invidual written work due out of session, to be discussed in an oral examination in session.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Sustainability and transition course
Prof. Sybille Mertens and Florianne Fassotte/Elise Pirenne (durabilite.transition@uliege.be)
Texts, literature and society (17th-21st centuries), II, with a particular focus on social transitions and the future of the humanities
Full professor: Justine Huppe, lecturer in "Literature and society (17th-21st centuries)".
Office: Penultimate door on the left of the 4th floor corridor.
Contact: justine.huppe@uliege.be