The Power of Word: literature – society – ideology I

Master's seminars

Interest in literary studies

The main topic of this MA seminar is the social functioning of literature. It includes issues related to ways of representing reality in the works of fiction, and the possible influence of literature on the society, which it achieves mainly by means of creating specific images.

The MA seminar aims at preparing students for writing a research thesis devoted to the social functioning of literature. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the analysis of the ways reality is represented and created in works of fiction, reflections about factors that influence this process, and examination of the means of literature’s impact on the society.

The first term of the seminar focuses on presenting the most important methodological approaches to literature in its social context. It is based on reading and discussing several crucial works of literary scholars.

The objective of the first term is also to prepare students to define the topic of their MA thesis and its possible elaboration. Students are also expected to choose their methodological approach and collect a preliminary version of the bibliography. Thus, a part of the course is the technical preparation to write the MA thesis and acquiring practical skills, such as proper quotation and summarizing of academic writings, presenting different points of view, defining research problem, offering logical arguments, as well as formatting bibliography and references. Special attention will be devoted to the problem of research ethics, including plagiarism and the use of AI.

1. A guide to writing a diploma thesis (e.g. A. Dudziak, A. Żejmo, Redagowanie prac dyplomowych. Wskazówki metodologiczne dla studentów, Warszawa 2008; U. Eco, Jak napisać pracę dyplomową. Poradnik dla humanisty, Warszawa 2007).

2. E. Auerbach, Mimesis. Rzeczywistość przedstawiona w literaturze Zachodu, tłum. Z. Żabicki, Warszawa 2004.

3. P. Bourdieu, Reguły sztuki. Geneza i struktura pola literackiego, tłum. A. Zawadzki, Kraków 2007.

4. R. Escarpit, Rewolucja książki, tłum. J. Pański, Warszawa 1969

5. R. Felski, Literatura w użyciu, tłum. E. Rajewska, E. Kraskowska, Poznań 2016.

6. J. Franczak, Literatura i władza. Rekonesans, w: Kulturowa teoria literatury 2: Poetyki, problematyki, interpretacje. Red. T. Walas, R. Nycz, Kraków 2012, s. 439-492.

7. M. Gnieciak, Piekło w komunałce. Analiza praktyk mieszkaniowych opisanych w „Mistrzu i Małgorzacie” Michaiła Bułhakowa, „Kultura i Społeczeństwo” 2017, nr 61(1), s. 207–230.

8. E. Krawczak, Literatura i społeczeństwo. Wokół problematyki socjologii literatury, „Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska, sectio I: Philosophia, Sociologia” 2001, nr 4, t. XXVI, s. 47–56.

9. Literatura i władza. Związki na gruncie rosyjskim w XVIII-XXI wieku, red. M. Dąbrowska, P. Głuszkowski, K. Roman-Rawska, Warszawa 2017.

10. Literatura a władza. Doświadczenie polskie i rosyjskie, red. M. Dąbrowska, P. Głuszkowski, Warszawa 2021.

11. F. Moretti, Wykresy, mapy, drzewa: abstrakcyjne modele na potrzeby historii literatury, tłum. T. Bilczewski, A. Kowalcze-Pawlik, Kraków 2016.

12. J. Rancière, Polityka literatury, tłum. J. Franczak, w: Socjologia literatury. Antologia, Kraków 2015, s. 350-374.

13. K. Roman-Rawska, Nowy realizm w rosyjskim polu literackim po 1991 roku. Literatura i polityka, Warszawa 2020.

14. W kręgu socjologii literatury. Antologia tekstów zagranicznych. Wstęp, wybór, opracowanie A. Mencwel, Warszawa 1977.

15. В поисках новой идеологии: социокультурные аспекты русского литературного процесса 1920-1930-х годов, ред. О.А. Казнина, Москва 2010.

16. Ю.М. Лотман, Сожетное пространство русского романа, в: Его же, В школе поэтического слова: Пушкин. Лермонтов. Гоголь, Москва 1988, с. 325-348 (available online).

17. А.И. Рейтблат, Как Пушкин вышел в гении. Историко-социологические очерки о книжной культуре Пушкинской эпохи, Москва 2001.

18. А.И. Рейтблат, От Бовы к Бальмонту и другие работы по исторической социологии русской литературы, Москва 2009.

19. Б.М. Эйхенбаум, Литературный быт, в: Его же, О литературе, Москва 1987, с. 428-436. (available online)

20. Article cluster Русская литература середины XIX века и социальное воображаемое, „НЛО” 2023, nr 4 (182).

21. Individual reading proposals, depending on the needs and interests of students.

KNOWLEDGE

Student:

- knows the most important methodological approaches to the social functioning of literature;

- knows basic rules of writing and editing an academic work, including quoting, summarizing and referencing scholarly and literary texts;

- knows the basics of the copyright law;

- knows the principles of the authorized and unauthorized use of the AI.

SKILLS

Student:

- is able to present their academic interests related to the topic of the MA seminar;

- is able to present the chosen methodological approach and explain the choice;

- is able to prepare a preliminary bibliography of academic works related to the topic of their MA thesis;

- is able to make notes of academic works they read and to use them in the proper way;

- is able to use proper literary terminology in Polish and Russian when talking and writing about literature and its social functioning.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES

Student:

- is aware of the meaning and importance of literature in its relation with society, feels their responsibility for preservation of the European cultural and literary heritage;

- is aware of the level of their knowledge and skills, can complete and master them;

- is able to define the priorities which will let them achieve their goal, plan their work, and work systematically;

- respects the rules of copyright.

Defining the topic of the MA thesis; completing preliminary bibliography. Preparation for the classes and active participation.

The student has the right to two unexcused absences, each subsequent one requires justification. Exceeding excused and unexcused absences by 50% of classes may result in failing the course. The conditions for passing the course on the resit exam are the same as on the ordinary exam.

If it is not possible to conduct classroom classes, classes will be conducted using distance communication tools, most likely Google Classroom and others recommended by the University of Warsaw.