Canon and Literary Theory

Recommended Prerequisites

Students must hold bachelor's and master's degrees, in areas related to literary studies, focusing on theoretical and literary issues and literary epistemology associated with Portuguese literature and other Portuguese language literature. Students must also have some research experience, as well as impeccable proficiency in Portuguese; It is also recommended to be capable of teaching two foreign languages, one being English.

Teaching Methods

This class will be in the form of a seminar. Students will be called on to contribute to the analysis of and questioning of program topics that this class includes, following a synthesis and formulation of questions by the professor. This contribution presupposes participation in class and their subsequent discussion and with the support of theoretical texts or case studies.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this class, students should be able to discuss and develop, in demonstrative terms and with argumentative support, advanced-level questions posed by the canon on the various aspects that the program includes, and in direct relation to themes and sub-themes of literary theory, a perspective that transcends the scope of national literatures.  Similarly, students should be empowered to choose fields or subjects of studies in line with the scientific-pedagogical framework of this program to enable them to develop individual research. In this sense, students must be knowledgeable in tools and routines of research in literary studies.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

This class seeks to problematize research issues leading to academic work, in terms of specific work students will do. Topics for programmatic development: question of the literary canon and literary institution. The contribution of research and teaching literature for the configuration and questioning of the canon. Ideaological and phsycho-cultural dimensions of the canon. The canon issue and the institutional and academic status of literary theory. Axiological and epistemological issues. Canon and issues of literary theory (literary modes and genres, literary periodization, narrative studies, literary criticism, etc.). The canon issue and so-called Lusophony, in a post-colonial context. Institutional, socio-cultural and ideological issues. The problems of the canon, cultural studies and the emergence of digital. The canon issue and the Humanities Crisis.

Head Lecturer(s)

Osvaldo Manuel Alves Pereira Silvestre

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 20.0%
Resolution Problems: 30.0%
Report of a seminar or field trip: 50.0%

Bibliography

ALTIERI, Ch. Canons and Consequences. Evanston: Northwestern Univ. Press, 1990. BLOOM, H. The Western Canon. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1994. BROWNE, R. B. e M. W. FISHWICK (eds.). Rejuvenating the Humanities. Bowling Green: Bowling Green St. Univ. Pop. Press, 1992. DAMROSCH, D. What Is World Literature? Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 2003. LAUTER, P. Canons and Contexts. New York/Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1991. GORAK, Jan.  The making of the modern canon.  London: Athlon Press, 1991. Revista de Estudos Literários, 1. Coimbra: Centro de Lit. Port, 2011. Revista de Estudos Literários, 2. Coimbra: C. de L. P., 2012. ROCHA, J. Cezar de C. Crítica literária: em busca do tempo perdido?. Chapecó: Argos, 2011. SILVA, A. S. da et alii (orgs.). Novos Horizontes para as Humanidades. Braga: Fac. de Filosofia/UCP, 2006. SILVA, V. A. e. Teoria da Literatura. 8ª ed. Coimbra: Almedina, 2009. SMALL, H. The Values of the Humanities. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2013.