Introductory description

People from many and diverse occupations feel compelled to write in response to past and present injustices and about human rights; journalists, creative writers, lawyers, historians, philosophers and sociologists. They may write to seek redress or policy change, or they may simply want to bring wrongs to public attention. But to do so, they face common problems of representation. What forms of writing are appropriate? Which are possible? What ethical and political sensitivities and sensibilities are constraining? Are any liberating? What skills do they need to develop to write effectively and well? How is the matter of ‘truth’ addressed in different media and how does this affect the nature and content of representing wrongs?

On this module, we will examine the ethical and practical elements of writing about human rights or social injustice in varying contexts and media, looking at classic and contemporary non-fiction and fiction as well as other forms of creative writing forms and expression.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS MODULE IS OPEN TO STUDENTS IN ENGLISH AND ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Each week through different themes (such as slavery, treatment of the ‘other’, enduring conflicts etc) we will develop our understanding of human rights and how writing can respond to injustice. We will look at journalism, non-fiction, blogs, fiction, poetry, even academic work and consider how they relate to human rights as a potential unified concept. Readings are provided on moodle for you to see how others have written about these subjects.

We will also look at different writing conundrums in the context of these themes:

• How can we understand human rights?
• How can we define an injustice?
• What evidence can we accept?
• What’s the distinction between truth, lies, perspective and argument?
• How can we write about it?
• What barriers to writing about injustice will we face and how can we overcome them?

Throughout, I will give as much space and time as I can for you to explore your possibilities for writing, setting weekly writing assignments to help you develop your work. We will discuss these in seminars or one-to-one sessions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate enhanced key skills including written and oral communication, self-reflective research, independent and group working.
• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the interdisciplinary study of human rights.
• Demonstrate an advance ability to undertake interdisciplinary study in the context of literary appreciation, criticism and other forms of writing as appropriate.

Indicative reading list

To be confirmed each year

Interdisciplinary

This module will introduce students to the interdisciplinary study of human rights and creative writing. In particular, the module will explore: (1) how we might read literary texts from the perspective of human rights discourse; (2) what literary critique can add to the study of human rights; and (3), the explanatory power of different modes of writing in the context of the law and politics of human rights.

International

texts and themes of human rights cross borders at all times

Subject specific skills

Critical analysis, creative writing, oral presentation, research

Transferable skills

as above