This course aims at developing a critical understanding of twenty-first century British culture by focusing on three major issues: feminisms, identities and market forces. Considering theatre as a field in which British culture has been historically rich and globally influential, and a site of debate and negotiation around national concerns and perceptions, this course provides students with the theoretical and methodological tools to identify how the aforementioned key themes are presented and debated in contemporary plays. By linking theory with empirical work, this course also aims at developing critical thinking skills and promote autonomous judgment.

By the end of the course students will be able to:

- discuss a selection of plays in dialogue with a selection of critical literature in the areas of history, theatre, cultural studies and social studies as well as songs, films and newspaper articles;

- understand and discuss how feminisms, identities and market forces have shaped and impacted British society.

Contemporary Britain: Feminisms, identities and market forces

1) Introduction

British theatre and British culture

British theatre and new writing

2)    Feminisms

Penelope Skinner: Linda

Laura Wade: Home, I’m Darling

Nina Raine: Consent

Caryl Churchill: Escaped Alone

Morgan Llloyd Malcolm: Emilia

3)    Identities

Carol Ann Duffy: My Counrty

Leo Butler: Redundant

Carol Ann Duffy: Everyman

Alia Bano: Shades

Bola Agbaje: Gone too Far!

3) Market Forces

Lucy Prebble: Enron

Ella Hickson: Precious Little Talent

Joe Penhall: Blue/Orange

David Hare: The Permanent Way

Richard Bean: Harvest

Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire a good knowledge and understanding of key topics concerning contemporary British culture.

Applying knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the theoretical and methodological tools to understand and comment on key issues pertaining to twenty-first century British culture, and identify how they are presented and debated in contemporary texts. 

Making judgements: students will acquire the critical thinking skills to judge aspects of British culture and will be able to express autonomous opinions on such issues.

Communication skills: students will be able to communicate their ideas, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, clearly and unambiguously; students will be trained to engage with multiple identities and to avoid prejudices and stereotypes.

Learning skills: students will possess the methodological skills, the critical thinking skills and the ability to apply their theoretical knowledge to continue their studies in the field with a high degree of autonomy.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Use of audiovisual aids, group work and group discussions is an integral part of the programme.

Students are invited to visit the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course for further study activities. 

Teaching

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group work and group discussions
• Presentations
• Audiovisual aids

Innovative teaching methods

Activities on the Moodle course page

Flipped Learning

Debate

Course books

Selected parts of the texts and secondary literature (required reading) will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

Assessment

Oral exam

Five questions: three questions on a research topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor, two questions on the course topics (20-30 minutes).

· Knowledge and understanding 50%

· Fluency 20%

· Critical skills 30%

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Extensive self-study (detailed textual and contextual analyses of the texts) using the study material and activities provided on Moodle and, if necessary, authoritative sources available in the web.

Students who perceive gaps in their understanding should contact the lecturer for further explanation as soon as possible.

Course books

Selected parts of the texts and secondary literature (required reading) will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

Assessment

Oral exam

Five questions: three questions on a research topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor, two questions on the course topics (20-30 minutes).

· Knowledge and understanding 50%

· Fluency 20%

· Critical skills 30%

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.