Lions and Unicorns

You may encounter them in the heraldic signs of England and Scotland, you may hear them roar, or they may be pink and fluffy and dancing on rainbows: Lions and unicorns have inspired the imagination of artists and ordinary people for centuries, yet whereas the king of all animals is sure to exist in our real world, there is still some debate going on whether the same can be said for unicorns. Be it as it may, in the upcoming winter term, students attending this project seminar will set out to explore the various manifestations and significations of lions and unicorns in literature, film, history, economy, art and the internet. After an introductory session, we will meet for three-hour sessions in a two-week rota during the term, in order to discuss the metaphorical implications and the various significations and meanings attributed to our two beasts of interest in different media manifestations. For our discussions, students will be expected to work on one example each – choosing a topic from a list that is available on the moodle page for this course (you can find it under the courses of Fakultät I/ Anglistik / Anglistik: Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaft; the site should currently be open access without a special password; please let me know if you encounter any problems with the access). Further suggestions of your own are very welcome. Just contact me by mail. As this is a project seminar, all students who need more than just a -Studienleistung” (or 2 LP), will be expected to contribute to the project, namely a student conference held on two days in the first week of the term break. You will be expected to present the results of your research in a 15-20 minute paper (depending on the number of participants, two students may work together). In addition, students taking this course for Module 8 in MA LiWi will also be expected to help in preparing the conference, for example by doing some public relations work, acquiring funding, organizing the general procedures, or editing the proceedings (yes, if everything works well, we shall find a way to publish your contributions. A list of secondary literature with theoretical reflections on lions and unicorns and a list with novels and films featuring lions and unicorns that may be selected as topics for your presentations will be available on the moodle page for this course from August on. This page will be open access during the time of LSF registration. Students with a keen interest in participating can already select topics for presentation and contact the instructor. Anglistik - Literatur- und Kulturwissenschaft Studierende aus den alten Lehramtsstudiengängen müssen die Zwischenprüfung absolviert haben. For students in MA LiWi 2011ff who wish to do Module 8 or the complete Module 7 in this course: In order to obtain the 9 LP for the project seminar, which completes Module 8, you must fulfil all of the following requirements: regular and active participation in class, including required reading; poster presentation in class on one of the texts/films on the list (or of your own choice, if agreed by instructor); 15-20 minute presentation at the conference plus written elaboration for the proceedings; contribution to conference organization For students in other study programmes and students of MA LiWi 2011ff who wish to do only part of Module 7 in this course: 2 LP/3 LP SL: regular and active participation in class, including required reading; poster presentation in class on one of the texts/films on the list (or of your own choice, if agreed by instructor) 5 LP/ 3 LP SL and 3 LP SL (MA LiWi, 7.1 and 7.2 Studienleistung only): regular and active participation in class, including required reading; poster presentation in class on one of the texts/films on the list (or of your own choice, if agreed by instructor); 15-20 minute presentation at the conference 7 LP/3 LP SL plus 3 LP PL: regular and active participation in class, including required reading; poster presentation in class on one of the texts/films on the list (or of your own choice, if agreed by instructor); 15-20 minute presentation at the conference; written elaboration of the presentation for the proceedings Universität Siegen WiSe 2014/15 Univ.-Prof. Dr. Müller Anja