Overview
The study of twentieth-century literary and film texts in the context of contemporary urban Europe, with particular reference to Paris, Prague, Berlin, Madrid, St. Petersburg and Bucharest.
Will your career in cultural studies, media, international law, education, global commerce, international languages, literary studies or history involve Europe and its many cultures or even take you to study there? EURO302 The Culture of the European City opens the way to an understanding of the complexity of selected European-city cultures within their varied social, political and historical contexts.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Culture of the European City |
|---|---|
| Subject | European Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2024 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $981.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points at 200-level or above
- Restriction
- COML 201, EURO 202
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- Suitable for all students with an interest in major European cities and their literary, intellectual, visual art and screen cultures. All material is taught in English.
- Contact
- languages@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Convenors: Dr Cecilia Novero and Dr Peter Barton
- Paper Structure
The paper is organised in two- or three-week modules. Each module may cover the literary, intellectual or screen culture of a different European city. Paris, Berlin, St Petersburg or Moscow, Prague, Bucharest, Rome, Madrid or Barcelona have all featured in recent semesters. Some sessions are run in small groups. Attendance and participation are encouraged.
- Teaching Arrangements
The paper is delivered through three 1-hour sessions that alternate between seminars and lectures.
This paper is taught in conjunction with EURO202.
- Textbooks
The course readings and other supporting materials are available online in Blackboard and/or through the library. You may occasionally wish to purchase one or the other text.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:
- A capacity to relate examples of European urban literary, intellectual or screen culture to changes occurring in European social, political and cultural life since the late 19th century.
- An understanding of the role of literary, film or other discourses in the ongoing construction of notions of "Europe" and "Europeanness".
- Competence in demonstrating an understanding of the contribution of selected examples of European urban culture to the international reception of ideas about Europe's cultural heritage.
- An ability to discern and articulate some of the key formal and aesthetic practices operative in selected examples of European urban literary, intellectual or screen culture in relation to critical perspectives from literary or film theory and cultural analysis.
Timetable
Overview
The study of twentieth-century literary and film texts in the context of contemporary urban Europe, with particular reference to Paris, Prague, Berlin, Madrid, St. Petersburg and Bucharest.
The study of twentieth-century literary, film and performance texts in the context of contemporary urban Europe, with particular reference to Paris, Marseille, Madrid and Barcelona. Will your career in cultural studies, media, international law, education, global commerce, international languages, literary studies or history involve Europe and its many cultures or even take you to study there? EURO302 The Culture of the European City opens the way to an understanding of the complexity of selected European-city cultures within their varied social, political and historical contexts.
About this paper
| Paper title | The Culture of the European City |
|---|---|
| Subject | European Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2025 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points at 200-level or above
- Restriction
- COML 201, EURO 202
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
- Suitable for all students with an interest in major European cities and their literary, intellectual, visual art and screen cultures. All material is taught in English.
- Contact
- languages@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Dr Adelso Yanez
Associate Professor Antonie Alm
- Paper Structure
This paper takes students on a journey through four iconic European cities: Paris, Madrid, Marseille and Barcelona, drawing on a wide range of materials, including literary texts, films, street performances and art, to analyse how these cities shape and are shaped by imagination, cultural influences and social interactions. Students will also be introduced to the concepts of psychogeography and dérive as tools for interpreting and navigating urban spaces.
The paper consists of two one-hour lectures and one tutorial per week over 13 weeks. Weeks 2-8 will be devoted to an in-depth analysis of Paris and Madrid, focusing on themes such as love, connection, diversity and the role of cities as fictional characters. Weeks 9-12 shift the focus to Marseille and Barcelona, exploring themes such as street performance, art and their impact on the urban experience. The first and last weeks of the course provide an introduction to key concepts and an opportunity to reflect on the insights gained throughout the semester.
- Textbooks
The course readings and other supporting materials are available online in Blackboard and/or through the library. You may occasionally wish to purchase one or the other text.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:
- A capacity to relate examples of European urban experience with literary texts, the society of spectacle, and intellectual cinematographic culture since the 20th Century.
- An understanding of the role of literary, film or other discourses regarding the relationship between European urban spaces and human experience since the 19th Century.
- Competence in discussing how the European urban culture reflects and influences broader social, political, and cultural dynamics related to emotions and behaviors.
- Develop writing skills for a nuanced analysis of the complexities proposed by Guy Debord's theory and the contradictions inherent in urban literary, theatre expression and screen culture.
- Assessment details
1. Weekly reflective journal entries on course readings, discussions and personal urban experiences
2. Psychogeographic mapping project of a selected area in one of the cities studied
3. Analysis of a text, film or other media through the lens of psychogeography
4. Final creative project (e.g. short film, photo essay or multimedia presentation) exploring a specific aspect of the urban experience in one of the cities studied