Coursework to comprises of:-
An essay (2,500 words)
OR
A piece of creative writing in the magical realist style (2,500 words)
The text discussed in the first essay may not be written about in the final essay.

This module surveys the development of the magical realist novel throughout the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first. In doing so, it traces emergent voices from political positions which are marginalised in Western society: voices which must alter the standard realist contract in order to express their difference from hegemony. Through a study of this literary style, we will debate issues relating to gender, 'race', ethnicity, postcolonialism, nationality and class. In addition, we will keep a steady focus on postmodernity and its implications for the traditional realist novel, thus maintaining a strong theoretical and philosophical bent to this module.

Contact teaching will be a mix of of lecture, workshop and small group discussion. Students will be expected to work both independently (on research and preparation for both classes and assessments) and as part of a team (on some class exercises).

OHP
Video/DVD
Library
Internet

Examples of texts (which may vary)
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967)
Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie (1981)
Nights at the Circus - Angela Carter (1984)
The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan (1995)
Venus as a Boy - Luke Sutherland (2004)

Selected Secondary Material
Faris, W.B. and L.P. Zamora eds. (1995) Magical Realism: Theory, Hostory. Community. London: Duke U.P.
Bowers, Maggie Ann (2004) Magic(al) Realism. London: Routledge.
Mendoza, P.A. (1983) The Fragrance of Guava: conversations with Gabriel Garcia Marquez. London: Faber and Faber