Postcolonial Literature:

Emerging Topics in Postcolonial Studies

Postcolonial studies ambitiously attempts to analyze, explain, and respond to the cultural legacies of the European colonialism, neocolonialism, and imperialism that have dominated the last 500 years of world history and led to the formation of modern nation states.  This course will serve as an introduction to postcolonial literature and contemporary experiments in postcolonial studies. 
 
After starting with literature and theory from traditional areas of postcolonial studies (Africa, South Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East) this class will involve student-led groups exploring areas where postcolonial theory and approaches are currently emerging as a critical tool of analysis. (See expectations for individual research and group leadership)  Topic might include:

Given the experimental nature of the class this syllabus is provisional and may evolve.

This course will follow WMU policies regarding academic honesty.

WMU has many resources to foster student health and well being. I support the Safe on Campus environment (387-2123). If at any point in the semester if you feel stress, English 5390 does offer free on-line therapy from Eliza!

My office is 723 Sprau Tower, 387-2605. Office hours are after class and by appointment. You can always reach me via email.

Electronic Syllabus

Jan 12 Monday Introduction

Before Class:

Read: Things Fall Apart

In class:

1. Introductions

2. Form groups

3. Lecture "European Colonialism and Modern World Order"

Peter's Projection, Scramble for Africa,

Jan 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  No Class

Jan 26 Monday Xala and theory

Read: Xala

Read: Walter Rodney, from How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (Study Questions) (Rodney, 1972), Frantz Fanon: from Wretched of the Earth, ("Concerning Violence," "On National Culture," "Pitfalls of National Consciousness.")

Feb 2 Monday Theory

Read: "Latent and Manifest Orientalism" (Said, 1978), "Language of African Literature" (Ngugi, 1981), "Of Mimicry and Men" (Bhabha, 1987), "Under Western Eyes" (Mohanty, 1988), "Themes of Resistance Culture" (Said, 1993)

Feb 9 Monday Lit Work

Read one of the following, and bring to class a one page handout (linked below) about what you read and how it relates to postcolonial themes/issues/topics:

Chinua Achebe, No Longer at Ease (1960, Nigeria)
Aimé Césaire, A Tempest (1969, Martinique)  (short) (plus Shakespeare and some theory)
Michelle Cliff, No Telephone to Heaven (1987, Jamaica)
 J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980, South Africa)
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions (1988, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe)
Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood (1979, Nigeria)
Aminatta Forna, Ancestor Stones (2006, Sierra Leone)
Nadine Gordimer, July’s People (1981, South Africa)
Sahar Khalifeh, Wild Thorns (1976, Palestine)
N. Scott Momaday, Way to Rainy Mountain (1969, USA) (short) (plus Morning Girl  and chap 1 of People's History?)
R. K. Narayan, The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961, India)
Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966, Britain/Caribbean)
Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (1997, India)
Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (1981, India) (long!)
Tayeb Salih, Season of Migration to the North (1966, Sudan)
Ousmane Sembene, Gods Bits of Wood (1960, Senegal)
Wole Soyinka, Death and the King’s Horseman (1975, Nigeria) (short)(plus?)
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Devil on the Cross (1980, Kenya)

Feb 16 Monday The Postcolonial Middle Ages

Group 1: Holly Ledbetter & Becky Straple