OPO Reading Assignment Literary and Visual Culture

6 ECTS

All three assignments have to be sent to : jan.baetens@kuleuven.be

(there are no classes for this assignments)

Description and aim of the “prep program”

Since not all students that have been accepted for the international MA in cultural studies,
have a background in arts & culture and/or are not necessarily familiar with the cultural
context that is necessary to take the classes, they are requested to combine their normal MA
program with a so-called “prep program” (actually a “complementary” program). This
program is a self-study program of three reading assignments, each of them evaluated via a
short personal report, that they can start as soon as they have been accepted as a cultural
studies student in Leuven. The actual registration for the course has to be made together
with the general enrollment for the MA program. Submission of the various assignments can
be done during the first semester of the MA program. The whole prep program involves the
reading and reviewing of six books, which may be read in any edition.

Reading assignment for art history (Modern Period)

Learning outcomes
The student should acquire insight in the chronology and dynamics of artistic action of the
indicated period (the "long 20th Century"). This firstly requires basic encyclopedic
knowledge. Next, the student should develop a critical attitude toward the key concepts and
issues. Finally, s/he should be able to discuss specific images of the period.

Content
The reading material offers an overview of art (architecture, painting, sculpture,
photography and newer media) of the twentieth century. Within this framework, a number
of works of art and art schools are further developed and certain publications or research
methods are discussed.

Ian JEFFREY, Photography. A Concise History, London, 1981

Nikos STANGOS, Concepts of Modern Art, London: Thames and Hudson, 2003

Evaluation
3000 words essay that uses and confronts the main ideas and concepts of Jeffrey and
Stangos as applied to a comparative analysis of a major Belgian work of art (and don’t forget
that there is more than Magritte!) and a work from the same period but realized in another
medium by an artist of the student's home country. The comparison should take into
account (theoretical) elements of the book by Jeffrey as well.
Submission: before the end of the 1st Semester (but students are encouraged to submit as
soon as possible – even before their arrival in Leuven if they want)
Submission revised version (if necessary): one month after the submission

Reading Assignment for Cultural Studies

Learning outcomes
The student should acquire insight in the historical development of the discipline as well as
on the major theoretical, methodological, social, and political issues that are at stake. The
student will be capable of engaging in a critical discussion of the use of the most important
concepts in the analysis of contemporary culture.

Content
The reading material involves both a handbook and a selection of essays gathered by the
major reader in the field (at least 3). The selection of these texts must be made in light of a
possible master thesis topic.

Chris BARKER, Cultural Studies. Theory and Practice, London: Sage, 2012
Simon DURING, Cultural Studies Reader, New York: Routledge, 2007 (3 essays, chosen
according to the research preferences of the student)

Evaluation
Paper: A short (3000 words) essay that offers a critical rereading of the Barker handbook in
light of the selected essays of the During reader.

Submission: before the end of the 1st Semester (but students are encouraged to submit as
soon as possible – even before their arrival in Leuven if they want)
Submission revised version (if necessary): one month after the submission

Reading Assignment for Literary Theory

Learning outcomes
The student should acquire an elementary set of concepts and tools for the analysis of texts
as well as develop a more systematic reflection on literature as a social and cultural
phenomenon.

Content
Literary Theory provides a survey of the most important theories developed from ca. 1900
onward to explain and analyze the diversity and complexity of literature. Questions that are
discussed, among others, include: What is "literature"? What is reading? In what way does
literary language differ from ordinary language? How does literature relate to society? What
does it teach us about ourselves? And what can we learn about history from literature?

Hans BERTENS, Literary Theory: the Basics, London: Routledge, 2013

Pierre BAYARD, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, London: Granta, 2008

Evaluation
Paper: the student will be asked to write a 3000 words essay about how literary theory can
be useful for cultural studies (more precisely for the possible thesis topic that he/she is
envisaging). The argumentation should rely on both Bertens and Bayard.

Submission: before the end of the 1st Semester (but students are encouraged to submit as
soon as possible – even before their arrival in Leuven if they want)
Submission revised version (if necessary): one month after the submission

Contact
jan.baetens@kuleuven.be