AustLit

Why do we read for leisure? And what influences the reading choices we make? Twenty-first Century Literature: Texts and Contexts examines a selection of prize-winning, acclaimed and/or notorious twenty-first century fictions and non-fictions. We follow the commercial and critical circulation of these works. We explore some of the cultural and institutional contexts that shape contemporary literature: publishing, bookshops and on-line selling, authors as celebrities, literary prizes and festivals, the prevalence of book clubs, the function of contemporary literature in schools and universities, and literary censorship. We examine the impact of these cultural and institutional forces in light of literary theories of authorship and readership.

This topic aims to:

• encourage students to read and critically interpret a range of twenty-first century fictions and non-fictions
• explore literary theories of genre, authorship and readership
• explore cultural theories of consumption, value, and taste
• reflect upon and compare literary industries
• encourage students' research and application of primary and secondary literary/cultural studies sources
• connect issues from this topic to contemporary life/politics
• provide opportunities for students to practise written forms
• further develop students' oral and written communication skills
• encourage self-directed learning and collaborative learning