Intendierte Lernergebnisse
By way of hands-on lecture input, student projects and/or presentations as well as self-directed studying, students will practice and thus acquire critical/cultural thinking skills that will help them develop a critical understanding and appreciation of irony and satire in literature and its various facets (e.g., movies, games).Carefully chosen examples which make the subject easier to understand and highlight specific themes and concepts: to be announced (in class).Important notice: Blended Learning integrates thoughtfully structured online activities into face-to-face courses. Detailed instructions about the schedule and procedure will be provided via e-mail and Moodle. To stay up-to-date, please make sure to check your AAU inboxes on a regular basis.
Lehrmethodik inkl. Einsatz von eLearning-Tools
Dynamic lecture inputs for theoretical and basic background; close readings of reading assignments; in-class discussions; presentations; quiz... and much more!
Inhalt/e
There are many types of satire such as Horatian, Juvenalian, and Menippean. Not all forms of satire are humorous, although some generate humor. In order to generate satire, writers use various techniques such as exaggeration, absurdism, ridicule, and irony (e.g., in Macbeth, we witness an instance of dramatic irony where the characters on stage do not know the truth although the audience does).Food for thought: What we call the "absurd" is the impenetrable brick wall that we run into in our search to find inherent meaning and significance in a world that lacks it. In fiction, the "absurd" notion of satire/irony manifests as narratives in which its characters are faced with the need to find meaning in meaningless situations. While these terms might evoke an image of comedy, it isn’t necessarily comical. It goes from the ridiculous to the sublime, from a heartwarming comedy to a gut-wrenching tragedy, exploiting a wide array of feelings and situations in which the lack of answers and purposes loom over us. Satire, irony, dark humor, tragedy, comedy, hyperbole, and other storytelling motifs shed a light into the matter of the relentless and often fruitless search for realization and understanding (Toledo, 2017, Taste of Cinema).Primarily tackling unique themes and concepts of irony and satire in literature and, at times, other related topics (e.g., drama, film, video games), students are encouraged to learn the basic principles, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of literary texts and more. Specific examples will then highlight the importance of taking a closer look at what makes analyzing irony and satire so fascinating.
Erwartete Vorkenntnisse
No prior knowledge required.
Literatur
Reading packets will be provided in digital form on a regular basis. There is no need to buy any books.