EN2S27 - Utopia/Dystopia 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: EN2S27
Module Title: Utopia/Dystopia
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Culture and Animation
Faculty Sub Group: Culture
Module Leader: Alice Entwistle
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100046 - creative writing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

This module will introduce and explore the socio-economic, ideological and cultural contexts informing the conventions and expression of utopian/dystopian ideas through history, from classical times to contemporary literary and cinematic works. The T&L suggests and seeks to enhance critical and creative approaches to primary texts and secondary sources by authors of different gender and cultural identities, drawing on different historical periods and contexts, and in a range of genres, modes and styles. Students will examine relevant cultural-historical, socio-economic, ideological and literary-critical discourses, terms and other expressive tools required for the effective and sustained engagement with texts and ideas at this level of study.

Content Summary

The first term of the 20 week T&L programme will examine the origins, contexts, chief tenets and broad general contours of the utopian literary tradition, drawing on a range of texts representing utopian expression in a variety of genres and modes. A second block of teaching will investigate how those tenets and contours survive or change through time, mapping the contrasts between originary and later models in examples of dystopian thought and expression.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Tutorial 2
Project supervision 2
Independent Study 84
Directed Study 70
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Analyse, reflect on and articulate an understanding of the concept, forms, historical-cultural and socio-economic contexts and political ideologies associated with the tradition of Utopian/Dystopian writing from classical to contemporary times.
LO2 Demonstrate and evidence knowledgeable awareness of the range and variety of approaches appropriate and relevant to the examination of this literary-political tradition at this level of study, in sustained, thoughtful and appropriately expressed and presented written/oral responses to assessment tasks.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Project 1 Critical/creative Composition 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Project 1

Reading List

Study texts will be drawn from the materials specified following list; precise reading guidance will vary from year to year and may range beyond the titles indicated below.
Cuddon, J A. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Critical Theory
Bennett A, and N Royle. An Introduction to Literature Criticism &Theory. 7th ed., Routledge; Plato’s Republic
More, Thomas. Utopia
Samuel Butler, Erewhon
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Herland.
Orwell, George. 1984.
Piercy, Marge. Woman at the Edge of Time.
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale.
Ishiguro, Kazuo. Never Let Me Go.
Vonnegut, Kurt. Galapagos.
Jemisin, N.K., The Fifth Season.