Reviewing Considered as One of the Fine Arts

Course Description

This seminar takes an experimental approach insofar as it is orientated towards practical criticism as a scholarly and/or creative-writing exercise. After an introductory phase, during which we will consider the basic premises of the art of reviewing, we will try our hands at various genres: reviews of plays, films and novels, reviews of works of literary criticism, comparative analyses of reviews in newspapers, academic journals and on-line resources.
The nature of this seminar also requires viewing/re-viewing as a communal experience. For this purpose, we will attend (as a group) interesting theatre performances and films as they become available in theatres and cinemas during the autumn/winter season.

Required reading:

Tom Stoppard/ Marc Norman. Shakespeare in Love: A Screenplay. Ed. Barbara Puschmann-Nalenz. Stuttgart: Reclam, 2000 (= Reclams Fremdsprachentext). This will constitute one of the major texts to be 'reviewed'.

Prerequisites:

"Zwischenprüfung"

Requirements for Credit:

All participants will be asked to contribute at least one review which will be discussed in class. Instead of a term paper/Hausarbeit students will be asked to hand in a portfolio of five reviews (totalling 15 pp.).

Registration:

To register, please send an e-mail to Prof. Huber before 15 September, stating your name, semester standing, and subjects. To avoid disappointment, please register early, as there is a limit on attendance (25 participants).