GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

A general introduction to popular Western literature, its conventions and formulas, as well as to contemporary tastes in reading.

To guide students to an understanding and appreciation of popular fiction as a distinctive literary field of cultural production. Students will analyze the various features of the field: its use of conventions and formulas; its relation to literature, genre and identity; its readership/fan base; its marketing.

Will be able to gain “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

Lecture, readings, and group work. Reading of recent and past examples of popular literature from a variety of sub-genres, including: action-adventure; romance; horror; science fiction; fantasy; children's. The students will learn to read and think critically and creatively, understanding themes, story lines and character development, and will also learn to identify the conventions of the various sub-genre of popular fiction. Moreover, popular fiction's popularity among the reading public, as well as the readers who drive popular demand will be examined.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction

What is popular fiction? An introduction to the history of popular fiction, how genres develop, and how they are defined. Lecture and discussion.

2[対面/face to face]：Crime Genre 1: Introduction

Introduction to the tropes of the crime genre and its various forms
Topics: film noir, film adaptation, cross-cultural adaptation of genre
Lecture and discussion.

3[対面/face to face]：Crime Genre 2: Sherlock Holmes & Arsène Lupin

Transnational genre flows and internet streaming
Topic: the use of revisionist genre fiction to explore issues of race, class, and religion
Lecture, group work.

4[対面/face to face]：Crime Genre 3: Arsène Lupin and Japanese Culture

Manga and anime iterations of the crime genre.
Lecture, group work.
Essay thesis proposal due.

5[対面/face to face]：Horror 1: Vampire fiction

Introduction to the horror genre
Topics: gender and sexuality, racism and anti-Semitism
Lecture and discussion.

6[対面/face to face]：Horror 2: Vampires in Film

An overview of the genre from the 18th century to the present
Topics: political interpretations, gothic subcultures, sexuality & taboos
Lecture, group work.
Annotated Bibliography due.

7[対面/face to face]：Romance 1: Defining Romance

An overview of the genre from the medieval chivalric romance to the present
Topics: contemporary prejudices against “women’s fiction”, feminist interpretations of the genre, introduction to the Regency Romance subgenre
Lecture and discussion.

8[対面/face to face]：Romance 2: Jane Austen Adaptations

Topics: classical historical romance tropes, feminist & post-colonial re-visions. Lecture, group work.

9[対面/face to face]：Romance 3: Bridgerton

Topics: the debate over Bridgerton and race
Key terms: the female gaze, colour-blind casting, revisionist fiction, gender-blind casting, escapist fiction, alternate timeline.
Lecture, group work.
Essay outline due. Essay workshop, Peer Review assigned.

10[対面/face to face]：Fantasy 1: A Song of Ice and Fire

An overview of the fantasy genre, its origins and genre tropes
Topics: genre fandom, the influence of medieval European history
Lecture and discussion.

11[対面/face to face]：Fantasy 2: Game of Thrones

The Art of Adaptation: how to strike a balance between fan expectations and the conventions of the televisual medium
Topics: Comic-con, Cosplay, and fan culture
Lecture and discussion.
Peer Review of Essays Due.

12[対面/face to face]：Science Fiction 1: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

An overview of the science fiction genre, its origins and genre tropes
Topic: use of genre diction to explore existential crises in contemporary culture (i.e. fears surrounding climate change and nuclear energy)

13[対面/face to face]：Science Fiction 2: Castle in the Sky

An exploration of science fiction subgenres
Lecture and discussion.

14[対面/face to face]：Concluding Lecture and Discussion

An overview of other genres not discussed in depth in class
A class discussion about current genre trends and predictions for the future
Lecture and discussion.
Final Essay due.

Readings and Preparation (2-4 hours each week), the preparation time includes watching video clips.

This is a paperless class. The novels and short stories are all available in digital formats. The lecturer will provide excerpts of the novels for class use. You only need to purchase novels or rent copies of films if you are planning to write your essay on the topic. Secondary sources, videos, and other materials will be made available using online resources or shared files.

Bordwell, David. The Way Hollywood Tells It: Story and Style in Modern Movies. Berkeley: U of California P, 2006.
Fowler, Alastair. Kinds of Literature: An Introduction to the Theory of Genres and Modes. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1982.
Neale Steve. Genre and Hollywood. New York: Routledge, 1999.

Participation (30%), essay thesis proposal (10%), annotated bibliography (10%), essay outline and partner feedback (20%), final essay (30%)

Not applicable.

Bring to class: a notebook, the reading material on a laptop or a tablet, or bring a hard copy of the material. Further information will be provided by the instructor.

None.