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English 265
Anglophone Literature of the Third World
Rice 109 / Phone 775-8653
Spring 2000
Office hours: Tu,Th 11:00-12:00;
Tu, Th: 3:00-4:15
1:30-2:45 & by appt.
This course, which introduces you to some of the anglophone literatures of the Third World, will examine the problems of definition, analysis, and evaluation that attend our reading and understanding of texts from the Third World. Through a variety of theoretical essays and fictional works, our discussions will address, though not be limited to: a) whether or not terms like "third world" or "post-colonial" are appropriate designations for this work; b) whether or not notions of "marginality," "difference," or "alterity," so often deployed to characterize these works, are effective for understanding them; c) whether or not these works can be valuably studied as enactments of resistance against dominant ideologies and/or cultural formations.
Since these works were written not only at different historical moments, but also emerge from, and address, different rhetorical exigencies, and social, political, and cultural formations, our discussions will proceed through an awareness of these ideologically determined "constraints."
In addition, you will need to purchase a package of xeroxed materials from the English Department Secretary in Rice 130, during office hours of 8:00-4:30. The cost of the package is $ . Please bring in exact amount of purchase.
February 8:
Introduction: Details about course, readings and papers.
Questions of reception: refer to "At the Receiving End" and
"Reimagining Familiar Dichotomies".
Feb. 10:
Essays by Jameson and Ahmad: "Third World Literature in
the Era of Multinational Capitalism" and "Jameson's Rhetoric
of Otherness and the National Allegory".
Feb. 15, 17:
Selections from No Sweetness Here
Feb. 22, 24:
Nervous Conditions
Feb 29, March 2:
Breath, Eyes, Memory
Mar. 7, 9:
Spivak, "In a Word," "Marginality," "Burden"
Mar. 14, 15:
Conferences for Paper I
March 16:
Paper 1 due; no class
March 21, 23:
A Question f Power
March 25-April 2:
SPRING BREAK
Apr. 4, 6:
God of Small Things
Apr. 11, 13, 18:
The Moor's Last Sigh
April 20:
Robbins "Comparative Cosmopolitanism" and Brennan
"Cosmopolitans and Celebrities"
Apr. 25, 27:
The English Patient
May 2:
Bhabha, "Signs" and Papestergiadis, "Restless Hybrids"
May 4, 9:
The Buddha of Suburbia
May 11:
Wrap-up; Evaluations
May 12, 13, 14:
Conferences for last paper.
May 16:
Paper 2 due
You will write two papers (10-12 pages each) in which you will present a sustained, well-developed argument organized around a central, coherently stated thesis. You should make your critical assumptions explicit and, as far as possible, reflect on those assumptions in the course of your essay. You are encouraged (though not required) to show me early drafts of your papers for comments. You may revise final drafts as well for a better grade. You will also keep a journal where you will jot down your "responses" to every text we will read in class. During class discussion, I will call upon various students arbitrarily to read from journal entries. This way, hopefully, I will ensure that everyone comes prepared, and everyone is called upon to participate in class discussion. At the end of a two- or three-week period, I will look through the entries. The journal will not be graded.
Papers must be submitted on the dates they are due. You will be penalized a grade per day (e.g., lowered from B to B-) for unexcused late submissions. You can ask for extensions, but only by contacting me before the date the paper is due.
Lectures will be kept to a minimum and class will proceed mainly through discussions to which every student must contribute. This will require you to do your reading on time, to assiduously jot ideas and responses down in your journals, and come prepared to participate intelligently and provocatively in class discussions.
Papers 1 and 2 will count for 70% of the grade (35% each); your participation in class discussion will count for the remaining 30%. You cannot pass the course unless you have completed all your written work.
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