Hauptseminar The North of England Radical Perspectives

‘The North’ has always been more than a state of mind, defining itself in contrast to the rest of England. However, ‘northernness’ in England goes beyond the usual stereotypes marked by life in what are now post-industrial cities. The former cotton mills have been transformed into luxury apartments, and ‘northern grit’ has become an increasingly desirable commodity for people bored or outpriced by life in the South of England. Yet Northern England is home to diverse local identities which extend beyond the markers of Yorkshire, Geordie or Scouse accents. This course will aim to give students an insight into what makes the North of England so distinct from the rest of Britain. The cities of Liverpool and Newcastle, respectively located on the north-western and north-eastern coasts, have a rich and varied history which makes them the ideal candidates for understanding ‘northernness’ from a cultural studies perspective. Liverpool in particular has long had a reputation as a radical city, resistant to reforms imposed by the London-centric government. This course will look at the ways northern cities have refused to conform throughout the years, exploring the numerous social movements they have spawned and addressing the undeniable impact of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government in the latter half of the Twentieth Century. A reader will be made available to students from the Copyshop Schug und Real GbR at Reckhammerweg 4 early on in the semester. Anglistik Universität Duisburg-Essen SoSe 2016 M. A. Schwab Graham Milena M A