Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of English Studies
- Code
- BMI-ANGD17-CK3aE.03
- Title
- Philosophy and Cultural Criticism - Foundations and Perspectives: Interdisciplinary approaches to humour
- Usual semester
- Spring
- ECTS
- 3
- Language
- en
- Learning outcomes
- The aim of the course The aim of this course is to deepen students’ knowledge of how to approach historical, literary and cultural research by introducing them to the use of humour and laughter as a lens through which we could investigate the complexity of socio-cultural transformations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The course will aid to familiarise students with the interdisciplinary approaches in humour studies and equip them with the skills and knowledge to conduct and present their research in view of the wider historical context. a) Knowledge Awareness of different disciplinary approaches and how to use them in combination with one other in order to apply them to interpret a wide range of humorous primary sources Proficient use of academic English language and advanced vocabulary, both in comprehension and in composition Knowledge of various possible literary, historical and cultural interpretations, trends, tendencies, within the context of Humour Studies b) Abilities Ability to read and interpret primary and secondary in English and differentiate between them Ability to learn independently, and to carry out relevant research Ability to place relevant primary and secondary sources in their correct cultural and historical context Ability to express themselves clearly about the topics with a correct use of English Ability to recognise the connections and links between various sources (text-based or audio-visual) and their cultural/historical contexts Ability to analyse works of art in a broader sense, applying them to our everyday lives c) Attitude Openness towards the topics, methods and views raised in class Accepting of opinions, even if they are contrary to their own Openness to the possibility of a variety of interpretations Striving to master various analytical methods Trying to address any use-of-English problems that may arise, and showing an openness to humorous primary sources that may prove difficult to comprehend for a first reading/listening Readiness to engage in constructive discussion and debate with peers and instructors d) Autonomy and Responsibility Ability to work independently with a wide range of primary sources featuring humour across multiple disciplines, with the help of relevant secondary sources Formulating their own opinions and contrasting them with those of their peers and instructors Carrying out independent research and formulating the results independently Patient listening to and respect for informed opinions Developing educated and ethically responsible opinions, ready to communicate them to prospective students Maintaining a critical and open-minded approach to the material presented
- Course content
- Course Content This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature and wide-ranging methodologies of Humour Studies. After gaining an insight into the richness of humour research, we will examine sociological, psychological, philosophical, political, and historical approaches to humour in a variety of genres and sources including literary examples, stand-up and sketch comedy, as well as cartoons/caricatures, among other audio-visual sources.
- Assessment method
- Term mark; 5-point scale. The course applies continuous assessment throughout the semester and is made up of three (3) components: Students’ attendance of the classes and their active contribution to discussions and debates there, based on their assigned weekly readings, will demonstrate their reading, critical analytical and speaking skills, and thus make up 30% of their final grade. Another 20% will be testing their comprehension and writing skills, in the form of brief homework assignments on Moodle 4. The remaining 50% will be derived from short presentation (12-15 min) at the end of the semester, which will include an analysis of freely chosen humorous primary source(s), applying the humour theories and research methodologies covered during the semester. Continuous participation in classroom discussions and homework assignments prepares students to practice the skills of concisely articulating their arguments, as well as the ability to interpret a variety of primary sources and place them in their appropriate socio-cultural context.
- Bibliography
- Literature (compulsory and/or recommended items): Attardo, Salvatore, ed., Encyclopedia of Humor Studies (SAGE Publications, 2014). Berger, Arthur Asa, “6. From Carnival to Comedy: Literary Theory and Humour”, in Blind Men and Elephants: Perspectives on Humor (Routledge, 2017). Genova, Dafina.“Grasping political cartoons? Not an easy matter”, European Journal of Humour Research 6:1 (2018), pp. 85-99. McGraw, Peter and Caleb Warren, “Benign Violations: Making Immoral Behavior Funny”, Psychological Science, Vol. 21, No. 8 (2010), pp. 1141-1149. Morreall, John, “Humour and the Conduct of Politics”, in Sharon Lockyer and Michael Pickering, Beyond a Joke: The Limits of Humour (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005), pp. 63-78. Sorensen, Majken Jul, “Humour as a Serious Strategy of Nonviolent Resistance to Oppression”, Peace & Change, Vol, 33, No. 2 (2008), pp. 167-190. Weaver, Simon. “The ‘Other’ Laughs Back: Humour and Resistance in Anti-racist Comedy”, Sociology 44:1 (2010), pp. 31-48.