University of Essex

LT394-6-SP-CO:
Law and Literature

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 6

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 15 January 2024

End date: Friday 22 March 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 30 August 2022

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module will examine the interrelationship between law and literature from a variety of perspectives. The module reflects research interests of staff in the Law School and Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies. There is increasing academic interest in interdisciplinary study in law, and there is an established body of scholarship examining the relationship between law and literature from a variety of perspectives.

The perspectives examined in the module will include, but not be confined to, the representation of law in literature, legal texts as literature and how techniques of literary interpretation can inform the study and understanding of law. The module will also present the opportunity for students to examine the nature of interdisciplinary work, exemplified by the study of law and literature.

Module aims

The aim of this module is to explore introductions to relevant literary theory and legal theory, examining issues of textuality, authorship and interpretation as well as contexts. In addition to close reading of selected texts, seminars will explore such issues as justice, morality, and reasoning, trials and courts, campaigns for legal reform, anarchy, crime and punishment, the concepts of race, human rights, migration and theatre and international crimes.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1) Write essays which analyse topics exploring the relationship between literature and law, making use of appropriate vocabulary and techniques, appropriate to this level of study.
2) Demonstrate an awareness of theoretical contexts and frameworks for the study of literature and law.
3) Demonstrate an awareness of the implications of the interdisciplinary study of literature and law
4) Illustrate through comparative analysis the way in which literature and law may be related.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

Anticipated teaching delivery: Weekly 1-hour lecture plus 1-hour seminar

Bibliography

Eagleton, T. (2008) Literary theory: an introduction. Anniversary ed., 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=465240&site=ehost-live.
Etherington, B. and Zimbler, J. (2021) ‘Decolonize Practical Criticism?’, English: Journal of the English Association, 70(270), pp. 227–236. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/english/efab017.
Jane B. Baron (1999) ‘Law, Literature, and the Problems of Interdisciplinarity’, The Yale Law Journal, 108(5). Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/797370.
Glaspell, S. (2010) A jury of her peers. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1559356&site=ehost-live.
Glaspell, S., Bigsby, C.W.E. and Dymkowski, C. (1987) ‘Trifles’, in Plays. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 35–46. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139165969.003.
Edward J. Eberle & Bernhard Grossfeld (no date) ‘Law and Poetry’, Roger Williams University Law Review, 11(2). Available at: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/rwulr11&i=359.
Solórzano, D.G. and Yosso, T.J. (2002) ‘Critical Race Methodology: Counter-Storytelling as an Analytical Framework for Education Research’, Qualitative Inquiry, 8(1), pp. 23–44. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/107780040200800103.
Thomas Ross (1989) ‘The Richmond Narratives’, Texas Law Review [Preprint]. Available at: https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/tlr68&i=397.
Bell, Jr., D.A. (2013) ‘Property Rights in Whiteness: Their Legal Legacy, Their Economic Costs’, in R. Delgado and J. Stefancic (eds) Critical race theory: the cutting edge. Third edition. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, pp. 63–70. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=582281&site=ehost-live&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_63.
Evaristo, B. (2020) Girl, Woman, Other. Penguin. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/409657.
Le Guin, U.K. (2006) The dispossessed. London: Gollancz. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/571411.
Iain M. Banks (no date) Consider Phlebas. Orbit. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/706601.
William Shakespeare (1967) Drama Online - Measure for Measure (Arden Shakespeare Second Series). Available at: https://www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/playtext-overview?docid=do-9781408160237&tocid=do-9781408160237-div-00000030&st=measure+for+measure.
Solga, K. (2009) Violence Against Women in Early Modern Performance. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230274051.
Ahmed, S. (2021) Complaint! Durham: Duke University Press. Available at: https://www-jstor-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/stable/j.ctv1v7zdh2.
Capstick, T. (2018) ‘Migration and Belonging’, in S. Bahun and B. Petric (eds) Thinking home?: interdisciplinary dialogues. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 185–206. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1841155&site=ehost-live&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-143.
Dix, B. and Pollock, L. (2019) Vanni?: A Family’s Struggle Through the Sri Lankan Conflict. Penguin Random House India.
Lynskey, D. (2010) 33 revolutions per minute: a history of protest songs. London: Faber. Available at: https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=3602957&site=ehost-live&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Online Portfolio (Completion of discussion forum posts on Moodle. No submission to FASer)	15%
Coursework	Participation	5%
Coursework	Reflective Log	20%
Coursework	Summative Essay	60%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Katharine Cockin, email: k.m.cockin@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Various

Contact details: LiFTS General Office - liftstt@essex.ac.uk Tel. (01206) 872626

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Eleanor Perry

Institution: University of Kent

Academic role: Lecturer in Creative Writing (Poetry)

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 33 hours, 31 (93.9%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

LT394-6-SP-CO:Law and Literature