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Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario
English 399:
Postmodernism and the Role of the Reader
Dr. Sylvia Bryce-Wunder
E-mail: sbrycewunder@wlu.ca
Office Hours / Location: M 11:00 am – 12.30 pm, DAWB 3-129
Lectures: MWF 12:30 – 1:20 pm, Arts Building 2C15
Winter 2013
Course Description:
‘[A] text is made of multiple writings, drawn from many cultures and entering into mutual relations of dialogue, parody, contestation, but there is one place
where this multiplicity is focused and that place is the reader, not, as was hitherto said, the author. The reader is the space on which all the quotations that
make up a writing are inscribed without any of them being lost; a text’s unity lies not in its origin but in its destination’.1
‘The writer's audience is always a fiction […] The reader must also fictionalize the writer’.2
‘Interpretation is not the art of construing but the art of constructing’.3
‘…and then what happened?’4
This course examines a selection of ‘contemporary writings’ – including fiction, poetry, and literary criticism – published within the past thirty to forty
years. Particular attention will be given to the increasing emphasis on the ‘role of the reader’ as an active participant in the experience of reading. Works by
writers such as Lionel Shriver, Tom Leonard, William S. Burroughs, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Alan Warner, Alan Moore, Chuck Palahniuk, and others will be
studied in relation to other cultural forms, past and current developments in literary theory and criticism, and changing social, cultural, intellectual, and
political contexts.
Course Objectives:
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
To develop knowledge and critical understanding in
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the analysis of a selection of works from the ‘contemporary’ period in relation to past and current developments in literary theory and
criticism, with emphasis on the ‘role of the reader’ as an active participant in the experience of reading;
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the symbiotic relationship between developments in contemporary writing and literary theory and criticism, other cultural forms, and
social, economic, cultural, intellectual, and political contexts.
To increase the ability to
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analyse literary texts, visual texts, and critical works;
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apply and communicate ideas and knowledge clearly and coherently in writing (quizzes, midterm, essay, final examination);
o
apply and communicate ideas and knowledge clearly and coherently during general class discussions and group work sessions.
Required Texts:
Christopher Butler: Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press)
Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio (editors): Stories: All-New Tales (Avon)
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel (Harper Perennial)
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel (St. Martin’s Griffin)
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar (Vintage)
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta (New Edition TPB) (Vertigo)
Additional online sources (see ‘Weekly Schedule’ for details)
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Roland Barthes, ‘The Death of the Author’, in Image – Music – Text, trans. Stephen Heath (New York: Hill and Wang, 1977), 148.
Walter J. Ong, ‘Writing Restructures Consciousness’, in Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word (New York: Routledge, 1982, 2002), 100101.
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Stanley Fish, Is There A Text in This Class? The Authority of Interpretive Communities (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1980), 327.
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Neil Gaiman, ‘Introduction: Just Four Words’, in Stories: All-New Tales, eds. Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio (New York: Harper Perennial, 2011), 3.
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Assignment
Quiz #1
Midterm
Quiz #2
Essay
Quiz #3
Quiz #4
Take-Home Final Examination
Due Date
M 21 Jan
F 15 Feb (11:59 pm)
W 6 Feb
M 25 Mar / M 1 Apr / M 8 Apr
M 11 Mar
W 27 Mar
F 26 Apr (11:59 pm)
Value
5%
20%
5%
35%
5%
5%
25%
***This is an intensive, fast-paced course. It is each student’s responsibility to attend lectures, keep up with the readings, bring relevant materials to class,
participate actively in class discussions and group work, regularly check the My Learning Space page for the course, and complete assignments on time and to the
best of his/her ability.
***If a student misses the Quizzes, relevant and documented medical and legal reasons must be provided before a deferral will be granted.
***Midterms submitted after 11:59 pm, Friday 15 February 2013 will be penalised 5% per day late, including weekends. Extensions will be granted for
relevant and documented medical and legal reasons only.
***Instructions and questions for the 2000 – 3000 word essay assignment will be provided separately.
***Note that there are three submission dates for the essay assignment. The first date is the official due date; the second and third dates are automatic extension
opportunities which students may take advantage of if necessary.
Read the following very carefully:
Essay Due Date: Monday 25 March (essays will receive in-text and concluding written feedback in addition to the letter and number grade)
Essay Extension Due Date #1: Monday 1 April (essays will receive concluding written feedback in addition to the letter and number grade)
Essay Extension Due Date #2: Monday 8 April (essays will receive the letter and number grade only)
***Essays must be submitted in MS Word to the EN399 Essay Assignment Dropbox on My Learning Space. Essays must not be submitted in any of the following
ways: to the administrators at the Department of English and Film Studies, using my Departmental mailbox, or by email.
***Essays submitted after 11:59 pm on Monday 8 April will be penalised 5% per day late, including weekends.
***Any additional extensions beyond the two already in place will be granted for relevant and documented medical and legal reasons only.
***Late essay submissions will be accepted up to and including Thursday 18 April at 11.59 pm. Essays received after 11.59 pm on Thursday 18 April will not
be accepted, except for relevant and documented medical and legal reasons.
***Final Drop Date: 8 March 2013
Weekly Schedule (may be subject to change depending on the pace of the class – any changes will be announced in lecture and on My Learning
Space):
Week
1
Class
1
Date
M 7 Jan
Topics and Readings
Introduction and Administration
2
W 9 Jan
Theoretical Issues I: ‘Postmodernism and the Role of the Reader’
Theoretical Issues II: ‘Postmodernism and the Role of the Reader’
Christopher Butler: from Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction
(2-8; 23-4; 50-6)
‘Reader-Response Theory’
3
F 11 Jan
Liz Lochhead: ‘Hell for Poets’
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/hell-poets
Theoretical Issues III: ‘Postmodernism and the Role of the Reader’
Christopher Butler: from Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction
(106; 110-12; 117; 122)
‘Reception Theory’
Tom Leonard: ‘Plasma Nights’
http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/plasma-nights
Assignments/Tests/Due Dates
3
2
4
M 14 Jan
Theoretical Issues IV: ‘Postmodernism and the Role of the Reader’
Christopher Butler: from Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction
(123-27)
‘Interpretive Communities’
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4
5
6
5
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8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
W 16 Jan
F 18 Jan
M 21 Jan
W 23 Jan
F 25 Jan
M 28 Jan
W 30 Jan
F 1 Feb
M 4 Feb
W 6 Feb
F 8 Feb
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17
M 11 Feb
W 13 Feb
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F 15 Feb
William S. Burroughs with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: ‘Words of Advice
for Young People’ (from Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcZxCA8Wbbg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgLcv1mQZBg
http://www.jjjwebdevelopment.com/306sites/burroughs/burroughs.shtml
Michael Moorcock: ‘Stories’ (Stories: All-New Tales 330-50)
Kat Howard: ‘A Life in Fictions’ (Stories: All-New Tales 243-47)
Richard Adams: ‘The Knife’ (Stories: All-New Tales132-34)
Carolyn Parkhurst: ‘Unwell’ (Stories: All-New Tales 233-42)
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Lionel Shriver: We Need to Talk About Kevin: A Novel
Patricia Smith: ‘Skinhead’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klb5TniRGao
http://www.bu.edu/agni/poetry/print/2002/56-smithp.html
Chuck Palahniuk: ‘Loser’ (Stories: All-New Tales194-201)
Kenneth Goldsmith: ‘Soliloquy’
http://www.epc.buffalo.edu/authors/goldsmith/soliloquy/index.html
Roddy Doyle: ‘Blood’ (Stories: All-New Tales 5-14)
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Take-home Midterm will be
posted on MyLearningSpace.
Take-home Midterm due by 11:59
pm.
Submit Take-home Midterm in
MSWord to ‘EN399 Take-home
Midterm Dropbox’ on MyLearning
Space.
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27
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18-22 Feb
M 25 Feb
W 27 Feb
F 1 Mar
M 4 Mar
W 6 Mar
F 8 Mar
M 11 Mar
W 13 Mar
F 15 Mar
M 18 Mar
W 20 Mar
F 22 Mar
M 25 Mar
W 27 Mar
F 29 Mar
M 1 Apr
W 3 Apr
F 5 Apr
M 8 Apr
Reading Week – No lectures
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
John Ajvide Lindqvist: Let the Right One In: A Novel
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Moore and David Lloyd: V for Vendetta
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Good Friday – No lectures
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Alan Warner: Morvern Callar
Quiz 3
Essay Due Date
Quiz 4
Essay Extension #1
Essay Extension #2
The Take-Home Final Examination is due by 11:59 pm, Friday 26 April 2013.
Final Exams must be submitted in MS Word to the EN399 Take-Home Final Examination Dropbox on My Learning Space. Final Exams must not be
submitted in any of the following ways: to the administrators at the Department of English and Film Studies, using my Departmental mailbox, or by email.
Final Examinations received after 11:59 pm, Friday 26 April 2013 will be penalised 5% per day late up to and including 11.59 pm, Tuesday 30 April
2013 (the last day of the examination period). Final Examinations received after 11:59 pm, Tuesday 30 April 2013 will not be accepted, except for
relevant and documented medical and legal reasons.
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Important Notes:
Accessible Learning
Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Office for information regarding its services and resources.
Students are encouraged to review the Calendar for information regarding all services available on campus.
Academic Misconduct
Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism, Turnitin.com. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic
form and have it checked for plagiarism.