特殊研究演習I[イギリス研究コース]

Beginning with a short introduction to cultural geography, this course will introduce students to key figures of British nature and landscape writing from the turn of the 20th century through to the present day. The class explores the various ways in which writers have tried to represent the vibrant spaces and dynamic wildlife that surrounds them, from wilderness to urban ‘edgelands’. You will think about how the changing of landscapes, and the communities who inhabit them, has had an impact on the way we think about and describe the natural world. The course aims to reflect nature writing in the widest sense of the term, and therefore covers a range of conceptualisations and engagements with nature, including those found in travel literature, folklore, urban and cultural geography, philosophy, ecocriticism, and more.

The course is designed to help you think critically about the uses of descriptive writings and their connection to the world around us. You will consider nature beyond its everyday representation(s) and will be introduced to more-than-representational and non-representational approaches to the landscape. Furthermore, you will be learning about and engaging in the practice of place-writing, producing your own short creative reflections on the landscape. A number of short readings will provide an opportunity to enable discussion and develop comprehension of the English text itself. Students will be expected to read excerpts on a weekly basis as preparation for in-class activities.