City St. George’s, University of London, has been criticised for providing trigger warnings on a literature module centred around the 2005 novel Twilight.
The uni’s “contemporary genre fiction” unit cites Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight as one of its set texts, alongside Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel, Dracula, I am Legend.
According to a freedom of information request, City St. George’s has set more than 20 trigger warnings on the literature, warning students about themes of cannibalism, gruelling pregnancies, and blasphemy, among other sensitive topics.
The uni’s media department noted that “vampire fictions typically address taboo subjects and routinely engage with sensitive topics”, which prompted the inclusion of the warnings.
One of the unit’s set texts is Dracula, I am Legend. Image via Unsplash
However, these cautionary messages have come under fire from some conservative figures.
Speaking to The Telegraph, chairman of the Common Sense Group of MPs, Sir John Hayes, said: “Universities are about encountering new ideas and concepts and when that’s portrayed in visual form it is worthy of unabashed, unadulterated, unabridged study.
“You can’t do that unless you open minds rather than close them. This pandering to a woke set of prejudices are incompatible with the principle of learning through discovery.”
Others agree the warnings are unnecessary, but don’t agree with how they reflect on the student body more widely.
City graduate Mia told The London Tab: “I think students have known, read, watched and learnt about all of these things, so I’m confused as to why the university thinks this is needed.
“The literature isn’t dangerous any way; it’s fantastical, so I don’t understand the point of the warnings or how it relates to wokeness.”
City St. George’s also issued warnings for films included in their “Literary London” module, namely Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Woody Allen’s Annie Hall.
The university said students “should be prepared to encounter such uncomfortable ideas in your reading and class discussion on this module.”
Other unis, such as the University of West England, have faced similar criticism for content warnings.
A UWE spokesperson said: “Content warnings were previously requested by students with sensory processing issues and experiences of trauma.”
City St. George’s and the University of West England has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Featured image via YouTube
