CJLB101 Gaps and Indeterminacy in Literary Work

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jan Tlustý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jan Tlustý, Ph.D.
Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Veronika Bromová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 B2.41
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 3/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of this seminar is to introduce and critically examine various theoretical approaches to indeterminacy, gaps, and “unknowing” in literary works by reading selected theoretical texts. Participants will analyse primarily texts representing phenomenological philosophy, reception aesthetics, poststructuralism, possible-world theory, and contemporary narratology. Specific concepts will also be applied to the interpretation of selected works of world literature (Kafka, Beckett, Coetzee, Murakami, P. Roth, Kundera, and others).
Learning outcomes
The seminar participants will learn to:
- understand the concept of indeterminacy in a broader literary-theoretical and aesthetic context;
- pay attention to indeterminacy in the history of Czech and world literature;
- apply the concept of indeterminacy when interpreting literary texts;
- consider the particular methods and interpretation approaches in broader philosophical, aesthetic and cultural context.
Syllabus
  • Basic principles of phenomenology (E. Husserl);
  • - the seen and the unseen (Merleau-Ponty);
  • - literary work as an intentional object (R. Ingarden);
  • - indeterminacy as a condition of the work’s effect (W. Iser);
  • - the inspiration of unintentionality (M. Jankovič);
  • - the aesthetics of negation (T. W. Adorno);
  • - the principle of minimal departure (M .L. Ryan);
  • - implicit meanings and gaps (L. Doležel);
  • - gaps, cruxes, and overreading (H. P. Abbott);
  • - the novel’s wisdom of uncertainty (M. Kundera).
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ABBOTT, H. Porter. Real mysteries : narrative and the unknowable. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2013, x, 178. ISBN 9780814212325. info
  • ISER, Wolfgang. The act of reading : a theory of aesthetic response. Johns Hopkins pbk. ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980, xii, 239. ISBN 0801823714. info
    not specified
  • RYAN, Marie-Laure. Possible Worlds, Artificial Intelligence, and Narrative Theory. Bloomington 1991
  • HUSSERL, Edmund. Ideje k čisté fenomenologii a fenomenologické filosofii. Translated by Erazim Kohák. Vyd. 1. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2006, 380 s. ISBN 8072981293. info
  • JANKOVIČ, Milan. Cesty za smyslem literárního díla. Vyd. 1. Praha: Karolinum, 2005, 354 s. ISBN 8024610132. URL info
  • MERLEAU-PONTY, Maurice. Viditelné a neviditelné. Translated by Miroslav Petříček. 2., opr. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2004, 278 s. ISBN 807298098X. info
  • DOLEŽEL, Lubomír. Heterocosmica. Fikce a možné světy (Heterocosmica. Fiction and Possible Worlds). Vydání české první. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, 2003, 311 pp. ISBN 80-246-0735-2. info
  • KUNDERA, Milan. The art of the novel. Translated by Linda Asher. Rev. ed. New York: HarperPerennial, 2000, 165 s. ISBN 0060932945. info
  • ADORNO, Theodor W. Estetická teorie. 1. vyd. Praha: Panglos, 1997, 581 s. ISBN 8090220541. info
  • INGARDEN, Roman. Umělecké dílo literární. 1. vyd. Praha: Odeon, 1989, 419 s. info
Teaching methods
Seminar is based on class discussion.
Assessment methods
Written essay.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
General note: Předmět bude otevřen a vyučován při minimálním počtu 6 zapsaných studujících.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
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