Enrolment options

The fox, traditionally known as a sly and cunning trickster figure in folktales across the world, has re-entered the literary scene.

This re-appearance in contemporary fiction marks not so much a re-definition of the fox figure, but much rather the volatile shifting of the fox figure towards an elusive, yet transformative presence. Whether the fox is personified as inspirational and villaneous muse - as in Helen Oyeyemi's novel Mr Fox - or as animal companion and soulmate - as in Paula Cocozza's novel How to be Human - or as one spiritual presence among many animal and natural presences beyond human grasp - as in Tanya Tagaq's fictional memoir Split Tooth - whatever the fox may or may not be: s/he will inevitably draw attention to the intricate entanglements of human and nonhuman animals.

The fox remains a transgressive literary figure who is shown, in the afore-mentioned works of fiction, to constantly move across the human-animal divide. It therefore challenges us, as humans, into awareness of what it means to be human in a more-than-human world.

In this seminar, we will explore the fox's (re-)appearance in three contemporary prose works. We will reach beyond folkloristic readings and aim, rather, for explorations of how the fox's animal presence may be articulated in and beyond the human language of literary texts. Finally, by tracing these humanimal perspectives, we may arrive at an aesthetic as well as an ecological appreciation of the fox's transformative presence in contemporary literature and in the contemporary world.

This course is based on the principles of artistic research: it uses creative writing as a method to promote critical thinking.
Students will be required to participate in creative writing exercises and to share their creative and academic work in various online formats.
 
Please note that this course will be taught online.
 

Self enrolment (participant)
Self enrolment (participant)
Guests cannot access this course. Please log in.