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Fall 2001 | |
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English 148 (3659/4119) |
Rice 128, (440) 775-8571 |
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Office hours: MW,
1:30-2:30 |
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E-mail: Anuradha.Needham@oberlin.edu |
This course will analyze the pedagogies through which (British) colonialism (re)-made colonial subjects and subjectivities. Simultaneously, it will examine the responses, oppositional and otherwise, these pedagogies called forth. The course will focus on the scenes of instruction in canonical texts of empire and in a variety of anglophone texts from the so-called Third World.
Texts:
In addition, we will read the following pieces: Thomas MaCaulay's "Minute on Indian Education," Ngugi Wa Thiong's "On the Abolition of the English Department," Gauri Viswanathan's "Currying Favor," and Edward Said's "Introduction" to Orientalism. You can get these from the English Department Secretary in Rice 130. The cost is $5.00 . Please bring in exact amount.
Tentative Class Schedule:
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Sept. 5: |
Introduction: Discussion of readings, and requirements and procedures |
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Sept. 7, 10: |
"Currying Favor," "Minute," "Abolition." |
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Sept. 12, 14, 17: |
Selections from Black Skin, White Masks |
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Sept. 19: |
Showing of Isaac Julien's film on Fanon |
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Sept. 21: |
Introduction to Orientalism |
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Sept. 24, 26, 28: |
Nervous Conditions |
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Oct. 1, 3: |
Individual conferences for Paper 1 |
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Oct. 5: |
In-class workshop for Paper 1 |
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Oct. 8: |
Paper 1 due; no class |
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Oct. 10, 12: |
Heart of Darkness |
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Oct. 15, 17, 19: |
Season of Migration |
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Oct. 22-28: |
Fall Break |
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Oct. 29, 31, Nov. 2: |
Our Sister |
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Nov. 5, 7: |
Individual conferences for Paper 2 |
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Nov. 9: |
In class workshop for Paper 2 |
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Nov. 12: |
Paper 2 due; no class |
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Nov. 14, 16, 19: |
Abeng |
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Nov. 21, 26, 28: |
Wine of Astonishment |
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Nov. 30, Dec 3, 5: |
Robinson Crusoe |
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Dec. 7, 10, 12: |
Kim |
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Dec. 14: |
Wrap-up; evaluations |
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Dec. 15: |
Individual conferences for Paper 3 |
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Dec. 17: |
Paper 3 due |
You will write three 6-8 page papers for this course. For each paper, you will have to explicitly identify a specific issue/problematic that engages you in a given text or texts, justify why it's worth talking about, clarify the assumptions that undergird your interest in it. Your paper should be organized coherently around this specific issue/problematic and function as a well-developed argument with supporting evidence from examples from the text(s) you choose for analysis. For the first two papers you will discuss drafts in in-class workshops. For the third paper, you may discuss your rough drafts with me in individual conferences. You may revise papers for a better grade/improved argument; revisions are due within a week of my returning graded papers to you. Each paper should cover one, or two, or all of the readings from the immediately preceding section. Thus, paper 1 will focus on the four xeroxed readings, or Nervous Conditions, or Black Skin, or a combination or all of them; paper 2 on Heart of Darkness, or Season, or Our Sister Killjoy, or two, or all of them, and so on.
Late submission of papers is not encouraged, although, in an emergency, I do grant extensions. Extensions must be cleared with me prior to the date on which papers are due. Otherwise late papers are penalized a letter grade for each day they are late.
Due dates for papers are as follows:
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Oct. 8: |
Paper 1 |
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Nov. 12: |
Paper 2 |
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Dec. 17: |
Paper 3 |
My classes are organized around discussions; it is imperative, therefore, that you read and come prepared to discuss all the work assigned for the date on which it is specified. I do not hesitate to call upon specific students whether or not they have indicated their wish to participate. Class participation counts for 25% of the final grade, with papers 1, 2, and 3 counting for 25% each.
You cannot pass this course unless you have completed all the written work.