One Week  is a quintessential Canadian film, showing the diversity of Canada's geography and topography as well as offering a slice of life in Canadian cities and rural environments. The protagonist, Ben Taylor, is a flawed everyman rather than a hero, and the meandering plot line offers ample opportunity to discuss the differences between Canadian film and Hollywood productions. 

We discussed the many representations of Canada and Canadian culture that the film offered. 

Students have to read the Introduction to Margaret Atwood's volume on Canadian literature, Survival, for the next class. 

The geography and migration patterns of the Americas up until the arrival of Europeans

Current demographics of Canada.

For next class students must read Margaret Atwood's introduction to Survival. 

Syllabus

An introduction to Canadian literary theories: Garrison (Frey) Post-Colonial (Moss 2003), Survival (Atwood 2004) and Bio-text (Saul, 2006).

Canada’s political organization and principle cultural traits.

Looking at Canada’s literary production in light of its geography, physical structure and development.

History: from the beginnings to the present-day situation. However, emphasis will be placed on the period from European settlement in the sixteenth century to political and cultural movements in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Novels, short stories and poetry will be read and analyzed in light of the above-mentioned theories.

Evaluation: As this CU is taught in English class oral presentations must be made in English – content, communication and fluency will be more important than grammatical accuracy. Written evaluations may be presented in English or Portuguese.

Attendance and participation in class discussions (15%) – this grade will be attributed for students’ participation in the reflective discussion of set literary and critical texts. It is not merely awarded for presence in class. Moreover, asking pertinent and thoughtful questions is part of the continuous assessment. Each student will be responsible for the discussion of at least one of the set texts.

1^st Written test – geography, politics, historical and cultural development in Canada from 15^th – 19^th centuries (30%)

Group class presentation on research project (15%)

Final written test (40%).

 

Bibliography

Course manual in red copy shop

Atwood, Margaret. In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination. Anchor Books. 2012.

Atwood, Margaret. Survival: a Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2004 [1972].

Conrad, Margaret. A Concise History of Canada. Cambridge: CUP, 2012.

Kröller, Eva-Marie, ed. The Cambridge History of Canadian Literature. Cambridge: CUP, 2009.

Saul, Joanne. Writing the Roaming Subject: The Biotext in Canadian Literature. Toronto: UTP, 2006.

Vance, Jonathan F. A History of Canadian Culture. Oxford: OUP, 2009.

Wylie, Herb. Speaking in the Past Tense: Canadian Novelists on Writing Historical Fiction. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. 2006.

 

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit This CU is taught in English. The principle learning outcome of this CU is to permit an understanding of the nature of Canadian culture through observation of its historic and geopolitical structure, as well as critical analysis and discussion of its literature (short stories and poetry) and artistic production (cinema, photography and music). This will be achieved through a presentation of Canadian history and its geopolitical structure, looking at its progression from a diverse European colonial project to its independent existence despite the presence of a culturally aggressive neighbor. In light of the current events, contemporary Canada is worth observing. Culturally, it is also very dynamic and diverse with – according to the 2011 census – over 20% of the population born under another flag. Economically it is also successful — a member of the G7 while still belonging to the British Commonwealth. Students will be asked to reflect on aspects of Canadian culture and society that facilitate this success.