The explosion of celebrations commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice clarified, for any remaining doubters, that Jane Austen has achieved a lasting international literary fame rivaling even William Shakespeare himself. This course will read Austen’s major novels, view film adaptations, and consider contemporary rewritings and fan fiction of Austen’s works, perhaps the most bizarre of which is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As we read and discuss these texts in comparison with one another, we will begin to tease out both how Austen responded to her culture and how our contemporary culture samples, revises, and even misinterprets Austen’s work. We will consider what makes Austen so marketable and attractive in contemporary mainstream culture, and whether general popularity for an author detracts from their scholarly appeal. Students in this course will study abroad in the UK over spring break, visiting London and Bath; Austen’s home in Alton, England; and the historic city of Winchester, which is the author’s final resting place. This course meets in the evening once a week throughout the duration of the spring semester, both before and after the travel experience. The travel experience will enable students to extend the parameters of the traditional classroom in a meaningful and significant manner. Given the pre and post travel classroom experience, the students will have meaningful opportunities to engage course content prior to departure, experience course content while traveling, and, most importantly, have time for guided reflection upon returning to campus. Course: HONR 345 Faculty Contacts: Dr. Savage| savage@lynchburg.edu | 434-544-8828
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