Comparative literature
Comparative literature is the study of literature in ways which go beyond particular national or linguistic boundaries. In practice, comparative literary studies are of two main kinds: substantive studies of the literature of two or more languages or literary cultures; and generalising studies of the literary process itself, for example in literary history, or in the sociology or psychology of literature.
Critical theory
Critical theory is a term which has come to signify a whole series of contemporary approaches to textual and cultural criticism, for example, hermeneutics, structuralism, semiotics, poststructuralism, theories of ideology, psychoanalytic theory, and so on. Such theories have been central to recent work in literary studies, theatre studies and cultural studies.
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is the study of cultural texts not normally included in the `canon' of `high' literature, for example the texts of popular fiction, television or cinema, and of the various social and historical contexts within which such texts are produced.
Drama and theatre studies
Drama and theatre studies is the study of various kinds of performed texts and of the ways in which their performance is enacted. In practice this area is concerned not only with drama but also with may other aspects of the theatre such as dance and music.
English literature
English literature is the study of English-language literatures, in practice those of the British Isles, North America and Australasia. Some subjects emphasise the study of the English language, some the study of a particular author in depth, some the formal elements of literary genres, and some the critical and scholarly methods of studying and writing about English literature. Others consider English literature in a context of social history and the history of ideas, others in relation to film. Some subjects may combine a number of these approaches.
English literature is taught on the Caulfield, Clayton and Peninsula campuses. Comparative literature and cultural studies, critical theory, and drama and theatre studies are taught only on the Clayton campus. Fiction writing is taught only on the Peninsula campus.
Pass courses
Comparative literature, critical theory and cultural studies are taught by the Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies. Minor or major sequences can be taken either in comparative literature or in cultural studies or in a combination of both, all three counting as a sequence in comparative literature and cultural studies. Undergraduate comparative literature subjects study literary texts only in English translation.
A minor sequence can be taken in critical theory. Critical theory subjects may be included in minor or major sequences in comparative literature and cultural studies, drama and theatre studies or English literature.
Drama and theatre studies is taught by the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies. Minor or major sequences can be taken in drama and theatre studies.
English literature is taught by the Department of English. Minor or major sequences can be taken in English literature. Members of the Department of English are also actively involved in the Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies and the Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies.
It is possible to take a double major in any two of comparative literature and cultural studies, drama and theatre studies, and English literature. A major in any one of these may be combined with a minor sequence in any other or with a minor sequence in critical theory.
Honours courses
Honours studies can be taken in comparative literature and cultural studies or drama and theatre studies or English literature. Fourth-year honours theses in comparative literature are normally required to deal with literary texts in the original language.
Combined or double honours may be taken in any two of comparative literature and cultural studies, drama and theatre studies, and English literature.
Critical theory subjects may be included in any single, combined or double honours program in comparative literature and cultural studies, drama and theatre studies, and English literature. The Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies and the Department of English both advise intending honours students to include at least one critical theory subject in their undergraduate major.
Graduate studies
The Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies offers an MA by research only and a PhD in comparative literature, cultural studies or critical theory, and an MA by research and coursework in critical theory or in cultural studies. Students intending to proceed to graduate research in comparative literature are normally required to read literary texts in the original language.
The Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies offers graduate supervision leading to the degrees of PhD and MA by research only, though candidates are normally enrolled in the Department of English.
The Department of English offers an MA by research only and a PhD across a wide range of literary, cultural and theoretical studies, and an MA by research and coursework in English. The department has particular strengths in pre-1800 literature, national literatures (especially American and Australian), genre studies (especially drama), biography, women's studies, and bibliographical and textual criticism.
For further information, students should consult the Arts graduate handbook for 1995.