In Archaic Greece, people considered memory the mother of the muses. Building on this poetic idea, we practically explore the relationship between literature, memory, and imagination.

Our goal is to deepen 'affective entanglements' with texts that you care about and want to work with during the course. By engaging in close-readings, translations, mnemonics, recitations and generative writing, we will privilege the pleasures of literature over literary criticism. Abandoning the 'hermeneutics of suspicion', the course is rooted in the postcritique discourse and memory studies. Beyond the ♥ texts, we will be drawing on the writings of George Steiner, Rita Felski, Lydia Davis, Eliot Weinberger, Susan Sontag and others. 

Arrangements with the mumok cinema are in place that allow those of you interested to curate an evening program based on topics related to the course in June 2022.

• attendance & participation (20%)
• bi-weekly assignment: reading journal (30%) 
• final assignment: ♥ text project (50%)
• The course is conducted in English, but you can work with texts in German or any other language
• students from other departments or universities will receive a place on the course subject to room capacities