Aims and Fit of Module

This module introduces students to literature that addresses the problem of climate change, particularly the emerging literary phenomenon of ‘climate fiction’. It explores the issues around representing climate change creatively, for example, the challenge of transferring scientific data into imaginative writing while maintaining scientific accuracy. It deals with several dominant literary and cultural frames for representing climate change: apocalyptic and dystopian conventions; questions of climate justice and empathy; and intergenerational ethics. In this way, the module sheds light on the way in which literature, especially fiction, utilises formal strategies of plot, character, and tone, as well as manipulates generic expectations, to give this urgent political, ethical, and environmental problem an imaginative appeal to readers.  It thus fits with the programme aims insofar as it seeks to develop students’ critical understanding of literary forms and techniques and of how literature functions as a communicative and creative tool.

Learning outcomes

A	critically analyse the challenges of representing climate change in literature

B	demonstrate an understanding of the dominant literary strategies and techniques for representing climate change 

C	research, interpret, and evaluate sources, debates, and ideas independently

D	structure and communicate complex arguments in writing

E	effectively present and communicate ideas orally to a group

Method of teaching and learning

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, plus a significant amount of self-study utilizing the facilities of the Learning Mall Online. The module adopts a mixed ‘problem based learning’ approach, with the main core of the module being a flexible semester-long task to design, instantiate and commentate upon a form of utopian community – informed by lectures which cover the rich and varied history of Utopia as a concept, looking at cases in literary culture, international relations, media and communication, and other perspectives within the arts, humanities and social sciences. Seminars will provide students with opportunities to work on their projects and will also provide a forum for continuous guidance on the use and abuse of generative AI in the production of coursework assessments.