In this module we will investigate the emergence in the nineteenth century of a literature which articulates not only the conditions of urban working-class experience but attempts to represent its literal voice (accent/dialect). We will focus on writers from the Midlands and North of Britain and examine the particular influence of location and context (class, urban geography and industry); students will be encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach where appropriate. We will trace the development and persistence of the regional voice in literature until the latter part of the twentieth century. At this point the political urgency for self-representation transfers to the immigrant or second-generation experience and we will discuss certain cross-over texts which conflate the regional and immigrant voice. We will conclude the course by considering the representation of the regional voice in other twentieth-century media (film, documentary, soap, scripted reality TV) and assessing the relationship between these cultural forms.

Portfolio of 4000 words likely to include a 3000-word essay and short project/oral report. (Learning Outcomes 1- 5)

Creative Writing students will have the opportunity to submit a short story, drama or poem in the genre of 'kitchen-sink realism' closely aligned to the texts studied. This should be accompanied by 500-word critical introduction detailing how you have used the tone and motifs of the genre. A one-off two-hour creative writing workshop will be arranged for creative writing students who want to do this option.

Key Information Set:
100% coursework

Library holdings
Video/DVD
Internet
City Museum
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

Arnold Bennett (1902). Anna of the Five Towns. Penguin Classics, 2001.
H. Lawrence (1913). Sons and Lovers. Penguin Popular Classics, 2011.
John Braine (1957). Room at the Top. Arrow, 1989.
Shelagh Delaney (1959). A Taste of Honey. Heinemann, 1992.
John Wain (1966). 'Down Our Way'.
Tony Harrison (1978), From 'The School of Eloquence' in Collected Poems. Penguin, 1987.
Alan Bleasdale (1982). Boys from the Black Stuff. BBC
Meera Syal (1996). Anita and Me. Harper Perennial, 2004.
Desperate Scousewives. E4, 2011.

Teaching will be delivered via workshop, incorporating short lectures where appropriate, individual and group exercises and group presentations. Students will also have the opportunity to conduct independent research and field work.

Key Information Set:
16% scheduled teaching and learning activities
84% guided independent learning