The main objectives of this module are: To deepen students knowledge and understanding of theoretical developments and current trends in comparative literature; To give students a solid grounding in the methods of comparative literature; To explore the nature and function of cultural representations of the past; To analyse a variety of literary texts and films from different cultural backgrounds which rework key historical experiences; By the end of this module, students will be able to use a number of analytical tools in order to explore the connection between the past and its cultural representation from a comparative perspective in a variety of cultural backgrounds.

The re-assessment, reworking and re-imagining of the past is an essential part of contemporary cultural production as it is closely related to postmodern ideology and to the reconfiguration of collective narratives. This module will explore such issues from an international comparative perspective. After an introduction on methodologies in and theoretical approaches to comparative literature, it will focus on the relationship between history and representation through the exploration of subaltern collective memory and the role of textual and filmic re-writings of history. The module focuses on the cultural representation of the recent past in Austria, Germany and Spain. Within this, it pays especial attention to the European experiences of National Socialism and World War II, the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Dictatorship. The core aspect of this module will be the study of the subjective re-writing of history through fiction, both textual and filmic, and its effect/impact on the formation of subaltern and alternative narratives of the past.

Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the main objectives of comparative literature and of the main debates about the application of the discipline and its interaction with other scholarly areas. Use a number of analytical tools in the study of cultural artefacts from a comparative perspective. Combine effectively different theoretical approaches in the construction and development of comparative analyses of cultural production. Compare and contrast different textual representations of the past in verbal and written forms.

Discuss the connection between the past and its cultural representation from a comparative perspective in a variety of cultural backgrounds. Justify their own engagement with the use and purpose of comparative literature in the study of the reconstruction.

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The module consists of 3 hours weekly in which lecture and tutorial modes are combined. Students will be asked to contribute and participate to the discussion of both theoretical and application aspects in class. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to compare and contrast different forms of representation of the past in Austria, Germany and Spain by means of a presentation and an essay, which will form part of the assessment for the module.