This module will introduce you to a wide and diverse range of refugee narratives presented through song, poetry, stories, art, drama, film, photography, autobiography, oral history, and charity sector, media and political reports.
You will explore the complexity and uniqueness of these narratives, gaining understanding of different factors potentially influencing the construction and interpretation of narratives. People may seek to narrate their own stories, speak for themselves and give their own accounts of personal lived refugee experiences. You will reflect upon the challenges people may encounter in communicating personal refugee experiences to others and consider the extent to which first person accounts may be said to belong to those who give them.
The terms "refugee" and "asylum seeker" are used in particular ways in legal discourse, but the way they are used in different types of public discourse varies greatly. The module will look at who may use the term "asylum seeker" and "refugee" and for what purposes, exploring why these identity labels may be embraced by some, but rejected others. Other labels preferred by people who find themselves seeking refuge will be examined. Throughout the module we will consider the influence of factors such as culture, race and gender upon experiences.
You will develop critical insight into how and why stereotypical ideas about people seeking refuge arise, and furthermore the ability to question and challenge stereotypical ideas. You will gain an appreciation of the complex, diverse, messy lived experiences of those who seek refuge and come to recognise that whilst there may be elements of suffering and disorientation, not everyone who seeks refuge is traumatised by their experiences. Indeed, whilst those seeking refuge may experience human rights violations, at times they may experience resourcefulness, creativity, liberation, growth and joy. You will reflect on people's experiences of being labelled an "asylum seeker" or "refugee", deepening their understanding of the complex psychosocial reasons why such labels may sometimes be embraced, at other times rejected and of the dynamic, fluid nature of refugee experience. The module will examine concepts of "voice", "representation" and "power", considering who may secure spaces to present refugee narratives and who may pay these presented narratives any attention.
This module aims to introduce you to the concepts of “asylum seeker” and “refugee” and understand diverse ways in which these terms may be socially constructed, across a wide range of refugee narratives.
You will think critically about questions of identity and identity labels, representation, power and voice and develop a range of academic skills such as questioning and critical thinking, self-reflection and evaluation, Your understanding of and critical insight around key concepts from the course will be assessed through a piece of written coursework selected by you from a choice of essay questions. Through preparing coursework, you will develop your skills in presenting well-structured, well-referenced clear, concise and cogent arguments. You will also demonstrate the knowledge and understanding you gain from the course through responding to four reading assessments.
In addition to developing a range of academic skills, the module will help you develop a range of useful employability skills including:
Communicating complex ideas orally and in writing
Applying psychological concepts to real-world issues
Developing understanding of practical issues in refugee care
Developing understanding of practical issues in oral history
The module will introduce you to speakers with experience of working in the charity sector with refugees and in the field of oral history.
On successful completion of the module, students will:
1. Through exploring diverse refugee narratives, gain a fundamental understanding of the diverse nature of people’s experiences seeking refuge from persecution
2. Through exploring diverse refugee narratives, gain a fundamental understanding of the limitations that any particular form of narrative may have to present people’s lived refugee experiences
3. Think critically about the factors that may influence the shape that refugee narratives may take
4. Gain a fundamental understanding of the terms “asylum seeker” and “refugee” used in legal discourse with reference to the 1951 Convention and appreciate the distinction between these two terms, and other terms such as “economic migrant” and “environmental refugee”
5. Explore how, beyond such legal definitions, these terms may be socially constructed.
6. Develop fundamental insight about how and why stereotypical ideas about people seeking refuge arise and how these may be challenged.
7. Recognise that people hold different, and sometimes shifting, attitudes to being labelled an “asylum seeker” or “refugee” and think critically about how diverse factors may shape such attitudes
8. Show general appreciation for how factors such as culture, race, gender, sexuality, age, social and educational backgrounds, may influence and mediate people’s experiences and the construction of narratives.
9. Develop a general understanding of what practical skills oral history work may entail and an appreciation of its usefulness and limitations as a method for capturing people’s lived refugee experiences
We may tell stories about our lives in different ways, including through autobiographical text, novels, poetry, photography, drama, oral history. Throughout this 10 week module, refugee stories will be shared within sessions to provoke comment, discussion debate and reflection on themes of this module
10 week course:
Week 1 First Introductory lecture followed by a seminar where you will be introduced to the aims of the course and gain an understanding of the terms "asylum seeker" and "refugee" used in legal discourse with reference to the 1951 Convention and appreciate the distinction between these two terms, and other terms such as "economic migrant" and "environmental refugee"
Week 2 Second lecture exploring how beyond such legal definitions, these terms may be socially constructed, followed by a seminar helping you to recognise where they may hold stereotypical ideas about refugees and to develop critical insight about how and why stereotypical ideas about people seeking refuge arise and how these may be challenged.
Week 3 Third lecture exploring diverse refugee narratives drawing on examples of oral history refugee narratives and seminar for students to discuss understanding of the diverse nature of people's experiences seeking refuge from persecution.
Week 4 Actors for Human Rights Theatrical Performance on Asylum Monologues followed by workshop discussion on themes arising
Week 5 Workshop on refugee oral history
Week 6 Lecture exploring diverse refugee narratives with invited guest speakers from refugee charity sector followed by seminar for students to discuss limitations that any particular form of narrative may have to present people's lived refugee experiences
Week 7 Lecture with invited guest speaker from refugee charity sector followed by seminar to help you to think critically about the factors that may influence the shape that refugee narratives may take
Week 8 Lecture examining how people may hold different, and sometimes shifting, attitudes to being labelled an "asylum seeker" or "refugee" followed by seminar for you to think critically about how diverse factors may shape such attitudes
Week 9 Lecture exploring how factors such as culture, race, gender, sexuality, age, social and educational backgrounds, may influence and mediate people's experiences and the construction of narratives, followed by seminar for you to discuss these ideas further.
Week 10 Concluding Lecture, drawing together the themes of the Refugee Voices Refugee Narratives module followed by a seminar for you to further reflect on the themes of the module, raise questions regarding the assignment and give module feedback and evaluation
8 X 1 hour lectures
8 X 1 hour seminars
1 x 1 hour presentation through theatrical performance of Refugee Narratives
1 x 1 hour workshop discussion of Refugee Narratives presented through theatrical performance
1x 3 hour workshop on refugee oral history
The module will be taught by a one-hour lecture followed by a one-hour class. The teaching will focus on providing first a solid foundation in each topic and then a deeper exploration of it. (At level 5 you need to demonstrate a solid foundation and you will excel in assignments if you can also demonstrate a capacity for deeper exploration.)
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.