Contemporary Literature and Culture – (M.A.)

Contents

At present there are six modules on offer.

Studying the Contemporary:

Covers research methodologies relevant to contemporary studies, an overview of the intellectual, aesthetic and cultural issues relevant to contemporary literary production, and then finally considers a number of key contemporary writers such as Toni Morrison, Martin Amis, John Ashbery, JH Prynne and Salman Rushdie.

Postcolonial Literature:

This module analyses the emergence of post-colonial literatures during and after European colonialism, and their massive impact on contemporary writing and culture in Britain, the US and Europe.

Writing Now:

This module introduces some key writers and theoretical debates informing the composition and reception of innovative poetry and prose. It is unique in focusing on 21st century literatures, and on the ways in which cutting-edge literatures expose the contradictions in contemporary culture.

Popular genres and fictions:

This module examines contemporary popular fictions, and the roots of genres such as Science Fiction, Romance, Detective Fiction, the Western and Travel writing, to investigate how 20th century traditions are renovated for life in the 21st century.

Theories of Practice:

An option offered from our successful Creative and Professional Writing MA, this module considers some key debates from contemporary critical theory and cultural studies, allowing students to theorize the complexities of creativity itself.

The Dissertation:

To prepare you for what is perhaps the most important piece of writing you have yet produced, Brunel´s distinguished teaching staff will work with you in developing a relevant, realistic and original research project in an area of contemporary literature and culture of your choosing. Our team offers close supervision and regular contact, as you work on a long essay exploring the writer or subject of your choice. In addition to our diverse expertise, Brunel´s teaching staff has a long tradition of supporting interdisciplinary and creative projects, and of supporting students to produce work of exceptionally high standard.

Special Features

* Taught by specialists in the field
* Looks at contemporary writings in all their diversity
* Emphasis on close reading of a wide range of literatures
* Theoretically informed by the latest work in the field
* Provides a sophisticated framework of cultural and intellectual contexts
* Only MA in the country dedicated to the widest variety contemporary literatures
* Special emphasis on 21st century and cutting edge writings
* The location of Brunel University in West London places it in the heart of contemporary literary and cultural life
* Important writers and creative practitioners in the School of Arts contribute to teaching the programme and to the research culture at Brunel
* A unique opportunity to construct a programme of study in accordance with your own interests
* You can draw on the School´s new archive of contemporary writing, Archive of the Now, and its Centre for Contemporary Literature