Studying at York
Writing in the Marketplace - ENG00080H
Module summary
On this module, we'll examine the production and consumption of literature in the global marketplace, exploring the ever-changing ways contemporary writing is being made, packaged, sold, and valued.
The module combines a critical approach to key issues in contemporary publishing with practical experience organising literary events and producing the department's new literary magazine, with all of the editing, design, and marketing roles these involve. Following the life-cycle of literary products within the contemporary marketplace, we will consider the changing roles of the publisher, author, and book, in relation to emerging technologies, categories and means of circulation, and the function of critics and reader-consumers. Seminars will respond to critical and creative texts that engage with the market conditions discussed, raising key questions about attitudes toward book commerce and the relationship between the UK’s literary economy and wider economic forces. Weekly topics might include: Networks, Production, Anthologies, Prizes, and Politics.
These discussions will be supplemented by the group’s running and editing of the department’s flagship literary magazine, offering those who might be interested in careers in publishing or the creative industries a practical sense of those fields and skills involved.
Professional requirements
N/A
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Spring Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to explore key issues in the contemporary literary marketplace, in order to develop a critical understanding of literature to the business of modern literary production and professional roles within that marketplace.
Module learning outcomes
On successfully completing this module, you will be able to:
-
Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with modern book production;
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Demonstrate an advanced understanding of and engagement with historical and economic contexts shaping the literary market;
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Evaluate key debates and critical approaches to the literary industry;
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Produce independent arguments and ideas which demonstrate an advanced proficiency in critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
The portfolio assessment will typically include:
- Two 500-word contributions to the online literary magazine, which might include articles, reviews, or other published content.
- 2000-word essay on a current issue in the literary marketplace, based on module reading and discussion.
Both of these will be based on formative writing activities, peer and tutor feedback, and seminar discussion.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Formative peer and tutor feedback will be provided before submission of the magazine contributions, and summative feedback will be provided electronically following submission in the Spring Term. If you would like to discuss your feedback, please consult your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours.
Indicative reading
Texts may include:
- John Thompson, Merchants of Culture: The Publishing Business in the Twenty-First Century (Polity, 2012 ed.).
- Sarah Broulliette, Literature and the Creative Economy (Stanford UP, 2014)
- Ben Lerner, 10:04 (Faber, 2014).
- Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’s Diary (Picador, 1996).