In the words of Jacques Derrida, „literature … stands on the edge of everything, almost beyond everything, including itself. It's the most interesting thing in the world, maybe more interesting than the world, and this is why, if it has no definition, what is heralded and refused under the name of literature cannot be identified with any other discourse. It will never be scientific, philosophical, conversational.”
Despite literature’s resistance to its identification with any other field, literary works inevitably communicate, in no matter how sophisticated a form, with their reader.
This course aims to familiarize students with four major strands in communication theory which are related to the peculiar field of literature and literary studies.
The introductory presentations/lectures/materials will set the theoretical background for analytical readings of specific literary texts in different genres: fiction, poetry, drama etc. Most of the activities in the course will be practically oriented. Students will be expected to approach literary texts from different perspectives in a series of short written responses as well as participate in online debates and discussions based on tasks assigned by the instructor.
- Teacher: Любомир Терзиев