Literary Theory and Methodology Jens Kirk Session One: Introduction

Agenda The Course Programme and Homepage The Course Programme and Homepage The Aims of the Course The Aims of the Course Theory Theory An Example: Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code An Example: Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code

The Course Programme and Homepage Programme: Programme: Rough outline of subjects and readings Rough outline of subjects and readings Homepage: Homepage: Study questions Study questions Suggestions for project work Suggestions for project work

The Aims of the Course Supports your 4th semester studies and exam in Literature and Media Studies: Supports your 4th semester studies and exam in Literature and Media Studies: Either: project + oral exam Either: project + oral exam Or: synopsis + oral exam Or: synopsis + oral exam

What the Studieordning says about Literature and Media Studies omfattende kendskab til litteraturvidenskabelige teorier og metoder og forståelse af forskellige metoders forudsætninger, muligheder og begrænsninger og af deres anvende-lighed i forhold til forskellige teksttyper sikker og detaljeret viden om britisk og amerikansk litteratur-, kultur-, ide- og bevidsthedshistorie omfattende kendskab til repræsentative tekster inden for dette felt forståelse af diakrone og synkrone litteratur- og kulturhistoriske periodeafgrænsninger forståelse af sammenhænge mellem den enkelte tekst og personal-, ide-, kultur-, social- og materialhistoriske faktorer sikker færdighed i intertekstuel og kontekstuel tekstanalyse særlig indsigt i et udvalgt emne inden for området på baggrund af emnestudiet færdigheder i problemanalyse, -afgrænsning og -bearbejdning, forståelse af tværfaglige problemkomplekser færdighed i at formidle opnået viden om tekst- og litteraturvidenskab i en adækvat form og evne til selvstændigt at kunne fortsætte egen kompetenceudvikling inden for området.

Literary Theory Theory of what ? Theory of what ? The production of meaning: Sender, message, receiver, context, code The production of meaning: Sender, message, receiver, context, code Context Sender – Message – Receiver Code

An Example: Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code How can the novel be said to think about the production of meaning? How can the novel be said to think about the production of meaning? Does the novel outline activities that somehow are like reading Does the novel outline activities that somehow are like reading Who figures the author? Who figures the author? What represents the message? What represents the message? Who figures the reader? Who figures the reader? What stands for the context? What stands for the context? What images the code? What images the code? What is involved in writing and reading according to Dan Brown? What is involved in writing and reading according to Dan Brown?