|
|
LITR 5734: Colonial & Postcolonial Literature University of Houston-Clear Lake a. k. a. CRCL 5734: Cross-Cultural Texts in Dialogue Spring 2008 Thurs 4-6:50 pm; B1219 Instructor: Craig White Office: B2529-8 Phone: 281 283 3380 email: whitec@uhcl.edu Office Hours: Thurs 1-3; T 7-9 Course webpage: http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5734 Caveat: All materials on this syllabus are subject to change with minimal notice.
COURSE OVERVIEW Classical texts of European colonialism are read in dialogue with postcolonial texts from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. *********
AFRICA Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1902) in dialogue with Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart (1958) *******
INDIA E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India (1924) in dialogue with Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan (1956)
*******
The CARIBBEAN / The "New World" Daniel Defoe’s Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719) in dialogue with Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy (1990) + Handouts of selected poetry, primarily by Derek Walcott of St. Lucia, winner of 1992 Nobel Prize
Grades and Assignments: Percentages are only approximate, indicating relative weight in considering final grades, which are not computed mathematically but decided subjectively by comparing the quality of a student's thought and writing with that of classmates’ and with wider academic standards.
·
Class presentations, responses, & postings for webpage
(10-20%)
·
Two research postings (20%)
·
Take-home midterm (due within 72 hrs of class on
20-30%) · Final Exam (1 May; 30-40%) Course objectives: (1-3 = Primary Objectives—themes and outcomes throughout seminar discussions and exams)
1. To bring classic literature of European colonialism and emerging literature from the postcolonial world into dialogue.
1a. Intertextuality: To read literary texts as political, economic, and demographic products and agents that provoke responses from other voices and traditions—not exclusively as timeless, autonomous, universal masterpieces.
1b. Historicism: To counter challenges to global knowledge and planetary identity by enhancing knowledge and identifying persistent oppositional themes or identities in cross-cultural dialogues:
1c. To model and mediate the “culture wars” between the “old canon” of Western classics and the “new canon” of multicultural literature by studying these traditions together rather than separately.
1d. To extend this dialogue to a contemporary “third wave” after colonialism and postcolonialism: Can a “post-national” identity be imagined and articulated?
2. To theorize the novel as the defining genre of modernity, both for early-modern imperial culture and for late-modern postcolonial culture. 2a. By definition, the genre of the novel combines fundamental representational modes of narrative and dialogue. These modes respectively control and decenter storytelling.
2b. To extend the intertextuality of the novel or fiction to poetry and film by colonial, imperial, or post-colonial sources, especially Derek Walcott of St. Lucia, West Indies (b. 1930; Nobel Prize for Literature, 1992). 3. To witness Americans’ difficulties with colonial and postcolonial discourse—and learn from this perspective. 3a. Is America (USA) an imperial, colonial, or neo-imperial nation, or an “empire in denial?” (Niall Ferguson)
3b. Compare or contrast the United States’ colonial status and independence from England with other countries’ colonial and postcolonial states.
3c. Does American resistance to or ignorance of postcolonial criticism react to this discourse’s development from outposts of the former British Empire and French / Francophone traditions?
(Secondary Objectives) 4. To observe representations or repressions of gender in the traditionally male-dominant fields of cross-cultural contact and literature.
5. To relate postcolonialism and postmodernism. (These movements emerge together in the later twentieth century and share some stylistic traits.)
6. To develop environmental thinking. Discussions of demographics, population dynamics, immigration, climate change, and other global environmental issues often take place in terms of developed and undeveloped nations, modernization, and “space and place.” (Compared to traditional cultures of the “Third World,” modern cultures of the “First World” or “global culture” usually have little attachment to particular places. Sense of “place” or “rootedness” gives way to abstract space: modern airports, hotels, or malls.)
7. To register and evaluate the persistence of millennial or apocalyptic narratives, images, and themes as a means of comprehending or symbolizing the colonial-postcolonial encounter. COURSE POLICIESAttendance policy: You are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting. You may take one free cut. Attendance may not be taken systematically, but if you miss more than one meeting, you start jeopardizing your status in the course. If you miss more than two classes (especially early), you are encouraged to drop. Partial absences also count negatively. Even with medical or other emergency excuses, a high number of absences (full or partial) will result in a lower or failing grade. If shockingly absent, return and make contact (281 283 3380) or leave message ASAP. More than one absence affects final grades. You are always welcome to discuss your standing in the course.
Academic Honesty Policy: Please refer to the current UHCL catalog for the Academic Honesty Policy. Plagiarism—that is, using research without citations or copying someone else’s work as your own—will result in a grade penalty or failure of the course. Refer to the UHCL catalogue for further details regarding expectations and potential penalties.
Disabilities: If you have a disability and need a special accommodation, first consult with the Health Center and then discuss the accommodation with me. Incompletes: A grade of "I" is given only in cases of documented emergency late in the semester. An Incomplete Grade Contract must be completed. Make-up exam policy: Ask way in advance for times before the regular exam. Professor has the right to refuse accommodations requested on short notice.
Email / webpage contributions & referencesEvery student is expected to contribute and refer to the course webpage on several occasions. Each student will make at contributions to the webpage through the instructor via email or other electronic media. The web address is http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/HSH/Whitec/LITR/5734. If convenient, install it as a “favorite” on your web browser.
Required email contributions: 1. posting for presentation (either poetry or discussion leader) 2. copy of take-home midterm exam (final exam in-class or email)
Required references to course webpage: · Poetry & Dialogue Presentations must refer to at least one similar posting from a previous class. · Midterms and final exams must make at least one reference to previously-posted exams or research projects on webpage.
Options for transmitting your contributions electronically: · All materials for the course webpage should be sent directly to the instructor at whitec@uhcl.edu. Try both of the following · Attach word processing file(s) to an email for whitec@uhcl.edu. (The only word processing programs my computer appears unable to translate are Microsoft Works and Macintosh, though Microsoft Word is fine, as are most others. If in doubt, save your word processing file in “Rich Text Format” or a “text only” or “read” format and then attach it.) · Copy and paste the contents of your word processing file into an email message to whitec@uhcl.edu · If you have trouble with email, save your file to a 3 & ½ “ floppy disk and give it to me. If you put your name on the disk, I’ll eventually return it to you. I may lightly edit submissions for presentation and readability, but most are posted as received. You are always welcome to send a revised copy.
Student computer access: Every enrolled student at UHCL is assigned an email account on the university server, which you may acquire at any university computer lab. Most students use personal email accounts.
Reassurances: You are not graded on your expertise in electronic media but on your intelligence in reading, discussing, and writing about literature. I’ve tried similar email exercises for several semesters; a few students encounter a few problems, but if we don’t give up, these problems work out. Your course grade will not suffer for mistakes with email and related issues as long as I see you making a fair effort.
Course AssignmentsTake-home / email midterm:Due: Due by email by the end of the weekend after 21 February class Weight: 20-30% of final grade Length: 5-10 typed, double-spaced page equivalent Submission format: The midterm must be submitted in electronic form, either by email or on a disk, so that it can be uploaded to the course webpage. Please give your midterm essay a title. Organization requirement: Complete, unified essay, but welcome to include personal references to the course and your experience with it and others. Topic assignment: Introduce, define, and explain the concepts of colonial and postcolonial literature in relation to the following course texts:
One way to imagine the assignment is to describe your learning curve in this course. What knowledge did you come in with of the course’s subject matter, and how have you learned to receive or process its perspectives? What uses may the course and its organization serve in the study of literature and culture? How can colonial and postcolonial texts “talk to each other?” Alternative approaches to midterm essay, separately or in combination:
Work in textual references as examples throughout. If you've had other courses relevant to this one, welcome to mention them with any details that further your point(s). Audience: not only of the instructor but present and future members of the seminar. Welcome to email questions or topics to me Review previous midterms on Model Assignments (required--see above).
Research Postings (2 installments + review in final exam) Due dates: · First Research Posting Due before or during Spring Break · Second Research Posting Due before or with Final Exam Weight: 20% of final grade Describe and email to the instructor (for posting) two (or more) “adventures or experiments in research.” These exercises should be relevant to our course’s subject matter, but they may reflect your personal and professional interests in multicultural subjects. Try to relate your interests to Literature, but not absolutely required. Your final exam will summarize and assess these research experiments as part of your overall learning experience. Range of topics: World history relevant to colonialism, imperialism, or postcolonialism; theoretical terms or movements relevant to postcolonial literature; literary figures or theoretical leaders associated with colonial / postcolonial discourse. The primary orientation is to choose a topic relevant to your interests and those of the course. Grading: Depending on the pace of the semester, grades for research postings may not be returned until the Final Grade Report. This grade will be based on readability, interest, and quality of research. (By interest, I don’t mean whether I would have chosen the topic, but how well the report generates and sustains interest.) Length: 4 paragraphs, plus or minus bibliographic information Bibliographic requirements and information: At least 4 sources, at least some of which should be from reputable scholarship and not just stray internet postings. MLA style is expected. Information may be included in text or more completely in listings at end of posting. Posting to webpage: Email contents to instructor at whitec@uhcl.edu. Instructor will post to webpage and email notification of posting. This may be all the feedback the student will receive until final grade report, but students may always confer for review.
Organization, Content, etc.: Provide a title for your entry that will serve as a web heading or link. This title should indicate the content. The title may take the form of a question.
1st paragraph: Introduce and frame a question you want to answer or a topic you want to know more about. Explain the source or background of your interest; what you already knew on the subject, how or where you learned it or were alerted to it, etc. These backgrounds can be personal as well as educational or professional. At some point in this introductory paragraph, a statement of the question you’re trying to answer should appear.
2nd and 3rd paragraphs: describe your search for answers to your question or topic of interest. Locate, describe, and evaluate at least three sources. Your sources may be print, Web, or personal (as in an interview, lecture, conversation, or anecdote). If Web, provide links. If print, provide bibliographic information. (MLA style is preferred, but the main point of all documentation is to enable your reader to find the source.) If “personal,” provide as much contextual information as possible; welcome to protect privacy.
4th paragraph: What is the answer to your question? Your “answer” may take a variety of forms, as long as you demonstrate learning. For instance, you may find a definite answer to your specific question. Or you may learn that you’ve asked the wrong question, in which case you could conclude by revising your question. In any case, summarize and evaluate what you have learned, and consider what your next step might be if you continued your research along this line.
You may write more than 4 paragraphs, but beyond 6 or 7 paragraphs may push the assignment too far.
Your two postings may be on different subjects or may continue a single subject. Remain aware that you will need to discuss your research journal as part of your final exam question on your overall learning curve.
No web models exist for this new assignment for LITR 5734, but you may see student models of a similar assignment for LITR 5731 Seminar in American Multicultural Literature (Minority) at http://coursesite.uhcl.edu/hsh/Whitec/LITR/4333/models/20065731/rschpost
Class PresentationsEach student will make at least one formal class presentation and may be assigned “informal” presentation responsibilities. Formal presentations include a web-posting before or after the presentation.
As part of the continuing effort to balance student and instructor leadership of our seminar, this semester will feature only two student presentations per class. The options below offer many more presentation options, but these remain only so students can choose if inclined.
Formal Presentations (posting required for course webpage)· Poetry reading-discussion from Walcott’s Collected Poems or handouts · Textual Dialogue review & presentation · Film highlight
Informal Presentations· “reading highlight” · web-highlight of previous student work
Purposes of student presentations: The purposes of these presentations are to develop the class’s seminar style and to give students practice in managing high-level presentations and discussions. The purpose is not to relieve the professor of his assigned duties. (The easiest class to prepare is one in which I just show up and talk for three hours.)
Presentation assignments will be decided partly by student choice and partly by chance; student preferences are not guaranteed. On the opening class day (17 January), students may indicate preferences for presentations on an ID card. Before 24 January I will prepare a draft of the presentation schedule and email it to the class for review. On 24 January everyone will receive a printed-out class schedule assigning students to presentation assignments for the rest of the session.
“Silent Grade” for presentation, responses, web postings, etc. You are graded for the quality of your work in presentations, responses, general class participation, and helpfulness in web postings, but this grade is not announced until the end of the semester, when it is recorded in your “Final Grade Report” (see below). The reason for this “silent grade” is to avoid unproductive behavior from students in relation to the presentations, such as second-guessing, comparing grades, competing to each other’s detriment, or performing to the teacher. Altogether the presentations are a cooperative exercise on the part of the class, so it’s better to keep grading out of sight; however, since some students would work less otherwise, the leverage of a grade is necessary.
General Rules for All Student Presentations: 1. 10-15 minute time limit. Beyond 10 minutes, you’re mostly talking to yourself. The major purpose of your presentation is not to lecture but to share a reading and lead a discussion. Make your major points as quickly and forcefully as possible. To conclude, reinforce your major points and lead into discussion.
Formal Presentations
· Poetry reading-discussion Reader: The chief purpose of this presentation is for the class to share the aesthetic experience of the poem and then to discuss its themes and techniques. The “reader” is responsible primarily for reading the poem in a clear and appropriate style and secondarily for interpreting the poem and leading a discussion of it.
Web posting and webpage use: The reader must use the web projector at least for the review of previous semesters’ discussion of the poem. The reader may also use the web project to show major points of interpretation and questions. These parts may be provided in the week following the class, or they may be mailed to the instructor for posting before the class meeting. In any case, a web posting of your presentation is required around the time of the presentation.
Steps in poetry presentation: · Make sure everyone has a copy of the poem. (Instructor will help.). · Briefly announce the major themes you will highlight. · Read the poem aloud or, if the poem is long, some essential passages. Look up and practice pronunciations of unusual or foreign words before reading aloud. Avoid stumbling over words and asking professor if you got it right. If you are reading passages rather than the whole poem, provide some context for your selections. · Briefly comment on the thematic elements you observed in the poem and the meanings you gathered. Relate the poem to ideas from the course or other texts. But don’t interpret for more than 3 or 4 minutes—the class is usually ready to begin discussing as soon as the poem’s reading is finished, so don’t lose that energy. · Begin discussion by asking a question regarding your interpretation. · Lead and respond to discussion. · At the end of discussion, presenter may be asked to summarize highlights.
End Presentation & begin discussion with a question. The primary purpose of your presentation is to stimulate a seminar discussion, which the presenter leads. The best way to begin a discussion is by asking a question. · Sometimes the students will just sit there, so you might have an extra question ready. Sometimes they’ll want to discuss something besides what you asked, which is okay. Sometimes you have to keep asking and trying different angles until you get a response. Sometimes you simply have to wait a little. · If you don’t ask a question to conclude your discussion, I will ask you a question, to wit: “What’s your question?” or “Why didn’t you ask a question?” · Your question should not be something feeble and formulaic like, “What do you think?” or “Do you see what I’m trying to say?” Base your question on your presentation, identifying a problem you faced in developing your point or highlighting a sensitive issue your presentation raises and how that issue may be addressed. Ask for help! · Student comments should be directed to the presenter, not the instructor, though some variance is natural.
· Textual Dialogue review & presentation This is an exercise in intertextuality— “making the texts talk to each other.” In our course, texts from different cultures meet in the context of colonialism. On days with these presentations, all students should bring both texts. Presenter: The presenter chooses one or two scenes or passages in both texts that are worth reading together for any relevant reason. The scenes may involve similar situations seen from different perspectives, or they may show contact, conflict, or change (for good or bad) in the cultures involved. Or the scenes may simply involve a similar theme or motif, such as religion, exchange, gender, place, etc. Format: · The presenter announces the basic subject of the dialogue—the reason or pretext for reading the scenes or passages together. · The presenter directs the class to the pages on which the scenes occur, sets the context, reads some essential passages aloud while highlighting language or motifs, then repeats the process in the second text, making comparisons and contrasts between the two texts. · The presenter summarizes the point or insight that emerges from the dialogue. · If a previous course webpage posting on the same dialogue exists, the presenter reviews some element of it during the presentation or discussion. · The presenter starts discussion by asking a question based on the presentation and texts, then leads the discussion. · At the end of discussion, presenter may be asked to summarize highlights.
· Film highlight The assigned student will introduce and show a scene or two from a film relevant to the course’s readings or subject. In some cases the instructor will provide a copy of the film; in others the student may rent a copy.
In introduction, follow-up, and/or discussion, connect the film’s subject, treatment, character or action to our course’s texts and objectives. How does the film fit or extend the categories of colonial and postcolonial literature?
Presenter leads discussion following presentation. Given that other students may not know the film otherwise, an extended discussion may not be possible, so a formal discussion-starting question is not required. However, presenter should encourage discussion at least through broad questions; e. g., “How many people have seen this movie?” or “What else did you see in the clip?”
Web postings required for formal presentationsThe web summaries should including a 3-4 paragraph synopsis of the presentation, including references to previous web summaries and the discussion question(s), followed by the respondent’s comments and the discussion notes. Informal PresentationsThese presentations do not require a formal posting, though the “web” presentations will require some use of the webpage.
Reading HighlightThis assignment is a briefer version of the “discussion-starter” assignment in previous classes. Procedure: · Choose a passage (or two brief, related passages) from the day’s reading assignments. · Direct class to page(s)—help with different editions by citing chapters, paragraph numbers or ledes. · Briefly preview reading with context, why you chose it, what to look for, etc. · Read passage aloud. · Briefly comment and invite further comments or ask discussion question based on passage. · No posting required.
web-highlighter The student takes the class to the “Model Assignments” subpage and reviews one or more passages from previous student contributions.
If your assignment is for midterm or final samples, choose passages relevant to the day’s reading assignment or the course’s continuing concerns. Ideally, show passages referring to the day’s readings in pursuit of a larger point.
This informal presentation usually leads to a discussion, but a question is not required. The student is required only to find passages before the class meeting, to use the class computer to find and highlight the passage, read it over with the class, and to comment about why s/he chose the passage and either what s/he learned from it or how s/he differs from it. The student presenter should lead discussion for a few minutes, but the instructor takes over eventually.
How to prepare for or present these materials: · Copy and paste the highlighted materials and sent them before class to the instructor, who adds them to the day’s webpage. · Simply navigate the webpage to the “Model Assignments” sub-page, find the passages, and use the cursor or block to highlight them.
Final Exam Conditions: The conditions under which you take your final exam are variable. All options are open-book and open-notebook.
Content: 2 essays of approximately 1.5 hours each. Essay 1: Describe and evaluate your learning curve in this course. Your essay can’t cover everything in the course, so focus on a central comprehensive theme that can integrate several aspects or dimensions of your learning experience.
Essay 2: Compose a dialogue between 4 or more texts, including at least 2 novels since the midterm. You are welcome and encouraged to refer to one or more student presentations or Research Links from this semester or before.
· The theme or subject of this dialogue is your choice. Your essay should at least acknowledge some course objectives, but you are welcome to emphasize an idea you saw emerging in class that needs your attention. See examples from previous students in final exam samples on Model Assignments.
Final Grade Report: Final grades will be submitted to the registrar according to the usual procedures. I will also email each student a tally of their grades that should be accurate but will be “unofficial” in that none of its information aside from the final grade will be recorded or supported by the university registrar. The message will appear thus:
LITR 5734 2008: Colonial & Postcolonial Literature STUDENT NAME Contact information (email & US Mail addresses, phones, etc.) Absences: Presentation(s) / participation grade: Midterm grade: Final exam grade: Research postings: Course grade:
Reading & Presentation Schedule Thursday, 24 January: Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, pp. 3-54 (up to part III); Chinua Achebe, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness," Norton Critical Edition of Heart of Darkness. · Reading highlight relating Achebe article to Heart of Darkness film highlight: Apocalypse Now
Thursday, 31 January: Conclude Heart of Darkness (54-76; complete); begin Achebe, Things Fall Apart (1-51; through chapter 6). · Dialogue between Heart of Darkness & Things Fall Apart: leader: Corrie Manigold · Poetry reading: W. B. Yeats, “The Second Coming” reader: Danielle Lynch · Web review: Intertextuality
Thursday, 7 February: Things Fall Apart (52-161; through chapter 18) · Poetry reading from Walcott: “A Far Cry from Africa” (17-18) reader: Cynthia Stone · Dialogue between Heart of Darkness & Things Fall Apart: leader: Erica Shillings · Web review: Chinua Achebe, Amos Tutuola, Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Thursday, 14 February: Conclude discussion of Things Fall Apart (through p. 209; complete); Kirsten Holst Petersen, "Problems of a Feminist Approach to African Literature" (handout); · Dialogue between Things Fall Apart & Petersen, "Problems of a Feminist Approach to African Literature": leader: Tanya Stanley · Web review: article on wife-beating in Africa (under “Miscellaneous”) · Web highlight (previous midterms) Highlighter: Karen Daniel
Thursday, 21 February: Take-home midterm due within 72 hours of class meeting. Walt Whitman, "Passage to India" (handout); begin Forster’s Passage to India, section I (“Mosque”), chapters 1-3, pp. 3-34. · Poetry reading from Whitman's "Passage to India" Reader: Talli Ortiz · Web review: E. M. Forster sites · film highlight: Passage to India (d. David Lean, 1984)
Thursday, 28 February: Continue E. M. Forster, A Passage to India (pp. 35-212; through II, "Caves," chapter xx); Edward W. Said, "Orientalism" (handout) · Dialogue between A Passage to India & "Orientalism": leader: Dawlat Yassin · Poetry reading from Walcott: “The Season of Phantasmal Peace” (464-65) reader: C. Vanessa Olivier · Web review: novel of manners; karma
Thursday, 6 March: complete Forster, A Passage to India (through part III, "Temple"; 212-362) · Reading highlight for Passage to India: Cory Owen · Poetry reading from Walcott: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (91) reader: Matt Richards · Web review: Partition of India
Thursday, 13 March: Begin Train to Pakistan. through page 116 (through Kalyug chapter, up to Mano Majra chapter) · Web review: Punjab and the Sikhs; Khushwant Singh · Dialogue between Passage to India & Train to Pakistan leader: corey porter!
·
film highlight: White Teeth (part 1)
First Research Posting Due before or during Spring Break
Thursday, 20 March: No meeting—Spring Holidays
Thursday, 27 March: complete Train to Pakistan (through p. 181) · Dialogue between Passage to India & Train to Pakistan leader: Larry Stanley book highlights: Bharati Mukherjee’s Jasmine presenter: Cory Owen
Thursday, 3 April: begin Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (25-86; up to "The Journal"); Ian Watt, "Robinson Crusoe, Individualism, and the Novel" (handout) · Dialogue with Robinson Crusoe / Poetry reading from Walcott: “Crusoe’s Island” (68-72) reader: Web review: Defoe sites on webpage · film highlight: White Teeth (part 2) presenter: Allison Coyle Thursday, 10 April: Robinson Crusoe (complete, but especially 160 ("You are to understand that now I had . . . two plantations . . . ") through page 233 ("There was another tree . . . ) · Reading highlight for Robinson Crusoe: Dawlat Yassin · Dialogue with Robinson Crusoe / Poetry reading from Walcott: “Crusoe’s Journal” (92-4) reader: Brouke M. Rose-Carpenter · Web highlight (final exams) Highlighter: Danielle Lynch
Thursday, 17 April: Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy (1-83; up to chapter titled "Cold Hearts") · Dialogue between Robinson Crusoe & Lucy: leader: Jim Steinhilber · Poetry reading from Walcott: “The Gulf” (104-108) reader: Tanya Stanley
Thursday, 24 April: Lucy (through 164; complete) · Dialogue between Robinson Crusoe & Lucy: leader: Karen Daniel · Web highlight (final exams) Highlighter: Corrie Manigold
Thursday, 1 May: final exam (timing depends on whether you take it in-class or by email; see above)
|