HST6003: The Fin-de-Siecle
30 credits (semester 2)
Module Leader: Dr. Tim Baycroft (History) | Dr. Richard Canning (English)
| Module Summary |
Given the relatively recent turn of the millennium, the last few years have seen a huge wave of scholarly attention focusing on notions of the fin-de-siècle, and the end of what was then the previous century - the nineteenth century - in particular. The object of this course is to gain an understanding of the phenomenon of the fin-de-siècle in Europe, and its cultural and literary manifestations, through an analysis of a variety of sources, including novels, poetry, theatre, science and scientific writing, art, architecture, private correspondence, non-fictional prose and criticism - all dating between roughly 1880 and 1910. This interdisciplinary course will draw upon the methodologies of both History and Literature while reflecting upon these sources. This was a period of great instability in respect of norms of conduct and comprehension in respect of gender, sexuality, psychology, class, nationhood and race – responses to such concerns will feature heavily in the chosen literature. In literary terms, the period marks a period of stark transition, and the beginnings of modernism.
| Teaching |
The module will be taught in ten, two-hour seminars. Students will present individual texts or topics in the weekly seminars, and collaborate in one session comparing fin-de-siècle consciousness in the most dynamic European cities of the time, such as London, Paris, Vienna, Moscow or Barcelona.
| Assessment |
Students will write a single essay of 6000 words, on a fin-de-siècle topic to be agreed between the student and the tutor(s).
| Intended Learning Outcomes |
By the end of the unit, a candidate should be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to distinguish between and critically evaluate different schools of interpretation and historical or literary debate, and the attainment of insights beyond the published literature.
- A capacity to explicate and defend and intellectual position while engaging in the interest of other members of the seminar group, as well as placing before them scholarly arguments and historiographical and literary and/or cultural critical debates.
- A more profound understanding of this widely studied period of European History and the literary movements of the period, coming to independent conclusions on matters of interpretation and source criticism.
- An awareness of the different contributions made by the disciplines of History and Literary Studies to our understanding of this period.
- An enhancement of his or her ability to engage in group discussions in a way that is constructive, courteous and cogent.
- An ability to subject to sustained, advanced and rigorous academic analysis a range of texts of the period, towards the exposition of a clear, persuasive and multi-faceted thesis on any germane aspect of the period.