ENG4328 – Literature and Censorship
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course considers the role of censorship in relation to literature and the theatre, focusing on cases from British literary history. We will acquaint ourselves with some theoretical and historical works on censorship, in addition to the development of the law, literary criticism and other discourses that can be related to the regulation of literature. We will investigate the primary text with the aim of interpreting both the text-internal and text-external factors that helped cause problems with the censor. The main focus will be on the period 1880-1930, but our discussions of Lawrence and the censorship of the theatre will take us up to the 1960s.
Learning outcome
You will learn to develop an awareness of the importance of institutional dimensions for the production and reception of literature, and to develop an awareness of the special features of the medium of the book. You will acquire knowledge of some of the varied historical functions of censorship, and develop your analytical and critical skills through confronting these literary texts and their contexts.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students who are not part of the literature programme will need at least 20 study points from courses in English-language literature, English language or civilization.
Recommended previous knowledge
Good written and oral abilities in English.
Teaching
The course will consist of a double seminar each week throughout the semester, totalling 28 hours. There is a mid-term break (one week in autumn term, two weeks in spring term) during which the students are expected to prepare obligatory assignments and otherwise study on their own. Students are required to participate in the seminars throughout the entire semester.
Examination
The student will have one oral presentation (pass/fail) on a given topic and will need to submit a written thesis numbering 10 standard pages, which may later form a starting point for the master’s thesis. The thesis will be marked according to a graded scale from A to E for a pass and F for a fail.
Other
Minimum 3 students, maximum 15. Students admitted for the Master programme in literature (English language specialisation) will be given priority.
With a somewhat extended reading list, the module will count as 15 study points in the old system.