Crime Fiction:From Poe to the Present
15.0 ECTS creditsCrime fiction is possibly the most major genre in modern times in terms of impact and sales. It dominates TV listings, cinema offerings, and book shelves. Authors establish characters in serials that readers want to see and read more of. Over time, subgenres have developed steadily. Crime fiction has not traditionally been regarded as high culture, but increasingly, authors of crime fiction too have come to be considered part of the literary canon.
This course presents a historical overview accounting for how the genre was established and has come to evolve over the course of almost two-hundred years. The course begins with the detective stories of Edgar Allan Poe (1841-44), since these establish the trope of the super detective which is just as relevant today, manifest in figures ranging from Sherlock Holmes, in his many guises, to modern detectives such as Greg House. Throughout the course, we will study crime fiction classics from 1841 all the way until today.
This course presents a historical overview accounting for how the genre was established and has come to evolve over the course of almost two-hundred years. The course begins with the detective stories of Edgar Allan Poe (1841-44), since these establish the trope of the super detective which is just as relevant today, manifest in figures ranging from Sherlock Holmes, in his many guises, to modern detectives such as Greg House. Throughout the course, we will study crime fiction classics from 1841 all the way until today.
Progressive specialisation:
G1N (has only upper‐secondary level entry requirements)
Education level:
Undergraduate level
Admission requirements:
General admission requirements plus upper secondary level English 6, or equivalent
Selection:
Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.