Master 2019/2020

Research Seminar "Critical Theory and Research Methods"

Type: Compulsory course (Russian and Comparative Literature)

Area of studies: Philology

Delivered by: School of Literary History and Theory

Where: Faculty of Humanities

When: 1 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Elena Ostrovskaya

Master’s programme: Русская литература и компаративистика

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 44

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Курс является научно-исследовательским семинаром для студентов магистратуры. Его задача – обсуждение современных исследовательских методов и теорий в литературоведении и гуманитарных науках на английском языке. Он реализуется в двух основных форматах: несколько открытых публичных выступлений приглашенных докладчиков и традиционные семинары. Приглашенные докладчики – актуальные участники англоязычной гуманитарной академической жизни, как начинающие, так и маститые ученые представляют свои текущие исследовательские проекты и обсуждают исследовательские методы и критическую теорию. Семинары посвящены обсуждениям классических теоретических трудов и современных гуманитарных исследований с особым прицелом на современные славистические ислледования.

Learning Objectives

• • To acquire the knowledge of some cutting-edge methodology used in the literary studies and in the humanities in the international English academic context, juxtaposing it with the classical approaches to the same texts and areas • To familiarize the students with the bibliographical and electronic resources needed for literary research, to develop their skills of the use of databases with the specific focus on HSE electronic resources • To develop the students’ research skills, to enhance their work on their research papers • To enhance the students’ academic English skills, such as academic writing and public presentation skills

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Know the major theories and concepts discussed in the course; the main electronic resources relevant to their research area; the main reference styles common in the academic journals in the field
• Be able to use the major theoretical concepts in their own research; to use the main electronic resources relevant to their research area
• • Develop skills of conducting literary research and research in the humanities; of acquiring a theory and using it in their own research; of gathering information: finding, evaluating, and synthesizing both secondary and primary sources; of using digital resources for collecting information and research methodology; of oral and written academic communication in the humanities.

Course Contents

• Introduction. Critical Theory and the Humanities. Critical Theory and Methodology in the Humanities. Method vs Theory in Literary Studies. Methods in Data-Collection and Bibliographic Search.
  Introduction. Critical Theory and the Humanities. Critical Theory and Methodology in the Humanities. Method vs Theory in Literary Studies. Methods in Data-Collection and Bibliographic Search.
• What’s New in the New Historicism? Stephen Greenblatt and Literary analysis
  What’s New in the New Historicism? Stephen Greenblatt and Literary analysis
• Postcolonial Theory and Literary Studies.
  Postcolonial Theory and Literary Criticism. Postcolonial Theory and Modernism. Postcolonial Theory and the Issues of Translation
• Presenting Your Research: Public Speaking and PowerPoint. Paper Proposal. Thesis Proposal.
  Presenting Your Research: Public Speaking and PowerPoint. Paper Proposal. Thesis Proposal.

Assessment Elements

• class participation and performance
• conference proposal (abstract)
• paper presentation
• writing sample (paper excerpt)

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.5 * class participation and performance + 0.1 * conference proposal (abstract) + 0.2 * paper presentation + 0.2 * writing sample (paper excerpt)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Greenblatt, S. (2010). Shakespeare’s Freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=347371
• Richter, D. H. (2018). A Companion to Literary Theory. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1713325

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Bhabha, H. K. . (DE-588)119556154, (DE-576)166197130. (2007). The location of culture / Homi K. Bhabha, with a new preface by the author. London [u.a.]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.26555344X
• Greenblatt, S. (2010). Soul of the Age: A Biography of the Mind of William Shakespeare. Biography: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly, 33(1), 293–294. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=51499717