Course Title: Postcolonial Literature
Course Duration: 14 Weeks
Overall Goal: To develop a thorough understanding of postcolonial literature, its historical context, theoretical foundations, and critical themes related to identity, power, and representation.
Week 1: Historical Context of Postcolonial Literature
Topics: Overview of colonialism, independence movements, emergence of postcolonial literature.
Suggested Readings: Orientalism by Edward Said (Introduction), Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (selected chapters).
Discussion Questions: What historical factors contributed to the rise of postcolonial literature? How does colonial history shape contemporary narratives?
Week 2: Postcolonial Theory
Topics: Introduction to key concepts such as power, identity, and "othering" in postcolonial theory.
Suggested Readings: The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon (selected chapters), Can the Subaltern Speak? by Gayatri Spivak.
Week 3: The Empire Writes Back: Language and Power
Topics: The role of language as a tool of colonial authority and postcolonial resistance.
Suggested Readings: Decolonising the Mind by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, selected works by Chinua Achebe.
Week 4: Hybridity and Identity in Postcolonial Writing
Topics: Hybridity as a product of cultural exchange and colonial influence.
Week 5: Gender in Postcolonial Literature
Topics: Gendered perspectives in postcolonial literature; intersections of gender and colonialism.
Week 6: Resistance and Nationalism in Postcolonial Literature
Topics: Expressions of nationalism and anti-colonial resistance in postcolonial works.
Week 7: The Representation of Trauma in Postcolonial Literature
Topics: Trauma as a result of colonization and its psychological impact.
Week 8: Identity and Migration
Topics: The impact of migration, diaspora, and displacement on identity.
Week 9: Race and Representation
Topics: Race as a critical lens in understanding postcolonial identities and experiences.
Week 10: Language, Power, and Resistance
Topics: Further exploration of language as a means of power and resistance in postcolonial contexts.
Week 11: The Representation of Women
Topics: The specific challenges and roles of women in postcolonial literature.
Week 12: Environmentalism and the Land
Topics: The connection between land, colonial exploitation, and environmental concerns.
Topics: Religion and spirituality as both colonial tools and sources of cultural resilience.
Week 14: The Future of Postcolonial Literature
Topics: Evolving themes, contemporary issues, and the future directions of postcolonial literature.
Modifié le: Friday 1 November 2024, 20:19