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Genre Fiction/Popular Fiction (ENGL30007)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 2
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This subject takes popular fiction as a specific field of cultural production. Students will analyse various definitive features of that field: popular fiction's relations to "literature", genre and identity, gender and sexuality, the role of the author profile, cinematic and TV adaptations, readerships and fan interests, and processing venues. The subject is built around a number of genres: sensation fiction, detective fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, pornography, the thriller, and fan fiction. On completion of the subject students should be familiar with some important genres of popular fiction, and some representative examples of each genre and have a developed sense of the role of popular fiction in the broader field of cultural production.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, student will have:



  • a detailed knowledge and understanding of some important genres of popular fiction, and some representative examples of each genre;
  • an ability to apply theoretical concepts of form, ideology and readership to popular novels in order to create new knowledge;
  • an understanding of the role of popular fiction in the social, historical, and cultural contexts that produced it;
  • a sustained engagement with cultural production as it relates to authorship and fan communities in print and digital media;
  • an ability to apply new research skills, high level analysis, and critical thinking to a field of inquiry;
  • effective communication of arguments and ideas, independently and collaboratively, in written and oral formats; and
  • an understanding of how to act as critically informed participants within a community of literature scholars, as citizens, and in professional life.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills;

  • be able to apply new research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry;
  • develop critical self-awareness and shape and strengthen persuasive arguments; and
  • communicate arguments and ideas effectively and articulately, both in writing and to others.

Last updated: 20 November 2024