Aufbauseminar Speciesism and Consumption in the Canadian Novel Mo 14:30h

This course will examine theoretical and literary explorations of the and ideas of speciesism' and consumption' in Canadian fiction. As a theoretical construct, speciesism is derived from primarily post-colonial concerns and re-negotiates boundaries of human life that were shaped in the creation of racism and class-distinction. Coined by Richard D. Ryder in the 1970s, the term has since gained significant appreciation, not the least in Peter Singer's influential, yet controversial, theory on the role and importance of the animal. Consumption as a concept is closely linked to the question of distinction between animal and human life and will therefore form the second focal point of the seminar. The Canadian novel as a genre that is shaped by questions of survival and cohabitation exemplifies both terms beautifully. We will discuss three main texts, which are to be acquired before the start of the semester, as well as additional excerpts from theoretical and literary texts that will further emphasise the elaborate on the diversity of the terms consumption and speciesism. The novels to be read are: Barbara Gowdy's The White Bone, Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman, and Ann Tracy's Winter Hunger. Critical engagement with genre theory and narrative analysis will complement our reading and feature into our analysis of the ideas of speciesism and consumption. Barbara Gowdy, The White Bone. London: HarperCollins (1998). ISBN: 978-0312264123 Margaret Atwood, The Edible Woman. London: Virago, (2009 [1976]). ISBN: 978-0860681298 Ann Tracy, Winter Hunger. Gose Lane (1991). ISBN: 978-0864921260 Bemerkung Please ensure that the the respective novels and additional material are read prior to their discussion in class. All additional texts will be provided on ILIAS. Please also note that active participation or providing supplementary work in the seminar is a requirement for obtaining a BN. Anglistik u.Amerikanistik (BA, PO 2011) Kernfach Universität Düsseldorf WiSe 2016/17 Rahn Judith