Popular Genres
UndergraduateTAS-HEN2112024
Course information for 2024 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Popular Genres
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Apply knowledge of the textual, social, and industrial dimensions of twenty-first century book culture to the study of popular texts and genres.
- Construct and support scholarly arguments appropriate to the study of popular genres through: a. The critical analysis of selected novels b. Selection, evaluation, and comparison of secondary sources.
- Develop and communicate ideas through a. Collaboration and discussion with peers b. Formal academic writing.
- Popular fiction studies: Key concepts and methods
- Popular fiction in the digital literary sphere
- Publishing romance: So many books
- Writing romance: So many happy endings
- Tagging romance: So many subgenres and series
- Reading thrillers: 'James Bond'
- Writing thrillers: 'Jack Reacher'
- Marketing thrillers: 'Girl...'
- Building story worlds: Middle Earth
- Writing fan fiction: 'Harry Potter'
- Adapting fantasy: 'A Game of Thrones'
This subject offers students the opportunity to think critically about some of the most popular texts in Western culture. What makes a bestseller? What are the defining features of major popular genres and how have they changed over time? What roles do genre texts play in contemporary culture? To address these questions, students in this subject will examine a variety of popular genres and subgenres that may range from now canonical fantasy novels to the latest trends in paranormal romance, from classic tales of treasure islands and lost worlds to mind-bending adventures in alternative realities. The assessment tasks in this subject focus on: developing effective study skills for generating persuasive arguments in English studies; conducting research in order to develop and strengthen arguments; and refining communication skills through discussion with peers and formal academic writing.
- Reading Journal (30%)
- Tutorial Participation (10%)
- Research Essay (50%)
- Reflective Statements (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Others
Conditional requisite: 25 points at Introductory level or higher.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement: Weekly lectures and audio/visual resources (1 hour); weekly online participation.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
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Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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