To enable students to develop a broader understanding of the historical development of the Gothic genre and its relationships to other literary and cinematic genres. To facilitate research skills in relation both to primary material and key theoretical and critical debates. To broaden and deepen students' understanding of relationships between literature, film and other visual and technological media. To interrogate definitions of Gothic and to evaluate both the distinctive characteristics and conventions of the genre and the stability of boundaries between Gothic and other literary and cinematic genres.

(LO1) Develop a historical perspective on the emergence and development of the Gothic genre from the 18th century to the present, identifying key literary and cinematic works and their relationship to other cultural and/or artistic movements.

(LO2) Develop skills of critical analysis of both literary and cinematic works and of theoretical approaches to the text/film relationship.

(LO3) Understand and evaluate key critical debates about and theoretical approaches (psychoanalysis, feminism, deconstruction, etc.) to Gothic fiction and film.

(LO4) Relate generic tropes and conventions to wider cultural considerations (artistic, political, religious, technological, etc.) and vice versa.

(LO5) Develop skills of critical writing, incorporating both conceptual argument and detailed close analysis of literary texts and films. Develop an appropriate technical and/or theoretical vocabulary for critical analysis of literature and film.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S4) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S5) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation

(S6) Information skills - Critical reading

(S7) Information skills - Evaluation

(S8) Personal attributes and qualities - Initiative

Topics covered typically include: Gothic beginnings (18th century and Romantic Gothic). Developments in nineteenth-century Gothic (e.g. urban and imperial Gothic). Cultural and historical relationships between Gothic literature and film. Psychoanalytic approaches to horror. Visual technologies and multimedia Gothic. Haunting and spectrality. Postmodern Gothic.

Teaching Method 1 - Tutorial: 1-hour face-to-face per week with small group (up to 9 students)
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Shift to standard departmental model for 30-credit module hybrid delivery due to Covid. Tutorials will focus on discussion of primary texts and/or films each week, including opportunities for students to practice and develop skills of close reading and film analysis.

Teaching Method 2 - Workshop: 2 x 1-hour remote online workshop per week with whole cohort
Notes: Shift to standard departmental model for 30-credit module hybrid delivery due to Covid. The schedule of workshops will include two interrelated strands: (1) Historical and key critical contexts of the Gothic; (2) Approaches to Gothic film, including the Gothic in adaptation.