This course descends into the lurid world of pulp fiction in the early twentieth century, torch in hand, to explore the historical emergence of sensational genres such as crime, horror, science fiction, and fantasy adventure, in literature and comics. We will study them, curse them, and revel in them as outlandish experiments with normative ways of thinking about self and society, rivalling those of the high-culture avant-garde. We’ll consult mad scientists, muscled barbarians, woman robots, tentacled monsters, femme fatales, and many more denizens of this barely restrained, rarely woke, modern imagination.
Readings
TBA
Assessment
TBA
Prerequisites
- ENGL 200
- ENGL 290
Additional information
This is a combined graduate and undergraduate seminar. Its aim is to give undergraduates a taste of graduate study in English, but with a workload equivalent to a typical 400-level ENGL course. Its enrolment will consist of approximately two-thirds graduate students and one-third undergraduates.
This course is recommended only for students who have some background in literary theory, whether from ENGL 296 or 297 or some other course with a focus on literary theory. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the English Department at englishdept@queensu.ca.
There are very limited spaces for undergraduates in this course, so enrolment is by permission only. If you are interested in taking it please send your name and student number to englishdept@queensu.ca.
