“In “Postcolonial and Decolonial Literature” students will read well-known and lesser- known literary texts to explore the interrelations between literary production and representation on the one hand and legacies of empire and decolonization on the other. The focus will be on literary responses to colonialism and imperialism and to post- and neo-colonial contexts characteristic of more recent times. The course also offers a survey of postcolonial and decolonial criticism and theory. By the end of the course, students will have obtained comprehensive knowledge of the inner diversity of postcolonial criticism and theory as well as the ability to engage critically and in an informed way in the discussion of subjects and themes such as: dynamics of othering and stereotyping; the nexus between power and representation in (post)colonial and multicultural settings; subaltern knowledge; minority writing; migrant literature; the impact of globalisation on literary production; the legacy of classic postcolonial thinkers such as Frantz Fanon for thinking about decolonization today. The course includes literary case studies written in English and in other languages, available in translation.
SLOs for ENG 270, 271, 272, or 273:
These courses are WI (Writing Intensive) and do require final exams. The SLOs for these courses are as follows:
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Students will improve their ability to ask questions of and to read, analyze, and interpret complex literary texts, using relevant literary terminology critically and creatively.
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Students will augment their knowledge of how literature is organized by historical periods, genres, cultures, and cultural formations.
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Students will improve their ability to express ideas by organizing, developing and supporting a description, analysis, or argument in written formats, within the conventions of academic writing.
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Students will produce a significant amount of writing such that the course fulfills the requirements of its mandatory W Focus designation (i.e. 4,000 words).
Texts are all available for free
Potential reading list:
Frantz Fanon, Wretched of the Earth/Black Skin White Masks
Ocean Vuong, Night Sky With Exit Wounds
Qwo-Li Driskill et. al, Sovereign Erotics: A collection of Two Spirit Literature
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions
Patricia Grace, Potiki