• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Translation as Cultural and Intermedia Practice

Module description

Translation is not only a linguistic transfer, but also a mode of cultural production and expression. In this module you will explore translation in the diversity of its cultural forms and intermedia practices across the globe, and conversely, how global cultures and the creative industries (cinema, theatre, music, literature and the visual arts) make use of translation as a means of communication, innovation and/or transgression. By looking at various forms of translation (rewriting, adaptation, retranslation and artistic performance), you will investigate how ideas of culture and power are established and/or challenged. You will analyse the role of translators as mediators and the strategies adopted to create cultures. Finally, you will reflect on your own agency as a producer and consumer of translation.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce you to the broad field of translation as a cultural practice, in order to see how translation operates across cultures, genres and media, and how agents of translation employ translation in order to create cultures, and establish and/or challenge systems of power. It aims to provide you with the ability to identify the techniques employed in translation to produce forms of intercultural and intermedia expression, to appreciate the underlying role of translation in the creative industries and to reflect upon your responsibility as consumers of translation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the practice of translation across cultures, media and genres
• 2. Analyse translation strategies and the role translation plays within a web of power relations, cultures and communities
• 3. Demonstrate acquisition of advanced research skills to summarise and synthesise theoretical perspectives on cultural and intermedia translation

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate knowledge of various forms of translation (rewriting, adaptation, retranslation, performance in the arts) and the basic theoretical approaches to translation as a cultural and intermedia practice
• 5. Reflect on practices of translation as cultural and intermedia artefacts, showing awareness of their relations to the context of creative industries
• 6. Find and critically evaluate the tools and resources of the practice of translation across cultures, media and genres

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Adopt a critical approach to the selection and organization of a body of material in order to produce, to a deadline, a written argument of some complexity

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics: 

• Translation across cultures, media and genres
• Various forms of translation (rewriting, adaptation, retranslation, performance in the arts)
• Theoretical approaches to translation as a cultural and intermedia practice
• The role translation plays within a web of power relations, cultures and communities
• Practices of translation as cultural and intermedia artefacts, in the context of creative industries
• Responsibilities and potential of producing and consuming translation as a form of cultural expression

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

• Minors, Helen J. (ed). Music, Text and Translation. London: Bloomsbury, 2014.
• Cronin, Michael. Translation and Globalization. London: Routledge, 2003.
• Cronin, Michael. Translation goes to the Movies. London: Routledge, 2009.
• Tymoczko Maria and Edwin Gentzler (eds). Translation and Power. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2002.  

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/search.php?search=SMLM158

Key words search

Cultural translation, intermedia translation, practice