Παρουσίαση/Προβολή

(63ΛΕ183) -  Αθανάσιος Δημάκης

Περιγραφή Μαθήματος

This course offers an intensive examination of twenty-first-century English prose fiction as a site for interrogating the complex socio-political and cultural landscapes of contemporary Britain. Moving beyond conventional notions of “Britishness,” we will analyse how a diverse group of authors navigate and represent a wide spectrum of issues, from the enduring legacies of Thatcherism to the fluid nature of queer identity. The course is thematically structured to showcase the breadth and originality of contemporary prose (novels, novellas, and short stories). We begin by considering the political shadows of the past through Hilary Mantel’s engagement with Thatcherism and its emotional reverberations. We then explore the multifaceted representation of queer life, sexuality, and AIDS in Alan Hollinghurst’s work and the poignant politics of sexlessness and intimacy in Ian McEwan’s novella. The syllabus then shifts to the crucial issues of diaspora, cultural hybridity, and post-Windrush identity as explored by Zadie Smith and the transnational narratives of Gurnaik Johal. The course will present an analysis of contemporary responses to the Brexit referendum in the novels of Ali Smith and Bernardine Evaristo, who also explores the complex intersection of race, class, and gender. The selected primary texts serve as case studies in formal and aesthetic innovation. We will explore how these authors experiment with unconventional narrative structures, from fragmented texts that mirror the disjointed nature of contemporary life to hybrid genres that blend fiction with other textual forms, such as recipes and essays (Jeanette Winterson). Through a focused inquiry into these works, the course will illuminate the intricate relationship between literary form, thematic content, and historical context. Key theoretical frameworks—including discussions of "transcendental homelessness" and the politics of place—will be deployed to understand how these fictions engage with issues of trans)national identity, postcolonial legacy, cultural hybridity, gender and sexuality, race, history and Brexit. The course will thus provide students with the methodological tools to conduct nuanced literary analysis, fostering an appreciation for the sophistication and critical rigour of contemporary English fiction and the new generation of British writers.

 

Ημερομηνία δημιουργίας

Τρίτη 23 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025