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Popular Fiction (ENGL30007)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Online
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Online |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
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, students should 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: 8 August 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
670-322 Genre Fiction/Popular Fiction
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
One essay
| Mid semester | 40% |
A second essay
| During the examination period | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
A class presentation will form the basis of one of the essays.
Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Online
Coordinator Chloe Green Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 8 August 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
- Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley’s Secret
- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- H.G. Wells, The Time Machine
- Tolkien, The Hobbit
- Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
- Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire
- E.L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey
- G. Willow Wilson, Alif the Unseen
- Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda, Monstress
- Ling Ma, Severance
Recommended texts and other resources
- Popular Fiction, Ken Gelder, Routledge
- Subject notes
Students who have completed 106-035 Popular Fiction or 106-035 Genre Fiction/Popular Fiction are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Breadth Track English - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 8 August 2023