ENGLISH 167a
Decolonizing Fictions
Spring 2014
Tuesdays/Fridays 11am-12:20pm
Professor Ulka Anjaria
Phone: (781) 736-2162
Email:
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1-3pm and by appointment, Rabb 239
This course will introduce students to the various fictions of decolonization as a means of investigating literary representations of the complex relationship between colonialism and nationalism. Through reading fictional works from Africa and South Asia and, in one case, Ireland, written about or around the moment of decolonization, we will consider the end of colonialism for the excitement it generated, the new possibilities for independence and self-reliance it promised, as well as for the disillusionment it spawned, as it was discovered how closely indebted the nation-state was to the colonial structures that preceded it. This ironic reality meant that while the years leading up to Independence were celebrated with a sense of possibility, the decades following Independence were experienced with a deep and ever-increasing sense of dismay. The very idea that decolonization would dramatically change people’s lives turned out to be a fiction (the second meaning of the course title). We will see how this sense of dismay and disillusionment were expressed not only in the themes postcolonial writers chose to write about, but also in the very form of their fiction.
By the end of the course, students should:
be familiar with important authors and a range of postcolonial fiction from around South Asia and Africa;
be introduced to a number of important theoretical concepts in postcolonial studies;
have skills in writing about literature, with particular attention to literary form;
begin to recognize the value of fictional representations (literature and film) in understanding politics, history and culture; and
come away with an increased understanding of and respect for cultural traditions other than their own.
Required Texts (available at Brandeis bookstore; no e-books please):
Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Norton Critical Edition, 2005)
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Random House)
Mulk Raj Anand, Untouchable
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Grain of Wheat
Kamila Shamsie, Kartography
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions
Tsitsi Dangarembga, The Book of Not
Tahmima Anam, A Golden Age
Tahmima Anam, The Good Muslim
Course reader (available in Rabb 144 the first week of classes)
Course Requirements:
1) Attendance at all course sessions. As in any English seminar, class discussion is the primary means of developing our ideas. For this reason, attendance in class is mandatory. Please complete the required readings before the date listed on the syllabus. A perfect attendance grade means not only showing up, but bringing with you all the required reading in print form (this means bringing your copy of the novel and/or the course reader with you every day) and engaging with the material during class.
In order to retain the intimacy of the classroom setting, laptop computers will not be allowed unless a special exemption is granted. Misuse of this exemptionwill result in its revocation. Use of cell phones in class for talking, texting or reading/writing email is also prohibited. If you wish to leave your cell phone on in “Silent” mode because ofan ongoing emergency situation that you may need to respond to, please speak tome at the start of class to let me know. If I see you texting during class, it will be counted against your attendance grade for that day.
You are responsible for all the material covered in missed classes. Three unexcused absences will be taken as grounds for failing the course. If you miss more than 2 classes you must meet with the instructor and find a way to prove your continued engagement with the class (i.e. response papers on missed classes, etc.).
Religious Exemptions: Please inform the instructor as early as possible about any anticipated absences due to religious holidays, and be prepared to make up the work missed on those days. For a full description of Brandeis’s regulations governing coursework and religious observance, please see
Athletic Exemptions: Participation in an intercollegiate sport must be documented in a letter from the Athletic Director and presented to the instructor at the beginning of the semester, accompanied by a schedule for the season. Class sessions missed due to travel for athletic events should be made up in consultation with the instructor. For the full guidelines on conflicts between coursework and intercollegiate athletic competition, please see
2) Participation in class discussion is expected and will comprise a significant percentage of your final grade. The course size and seminar setting are ideal environments for us to learn from each other. Your participation grade will depend on the consistency of your participation and on the quality and insight of your comments. If you are shy or not comfortable talking in class, please come see me individually to discuss the course material, in order to ensure a strong participation grade. It is essential that all students come to class and be engaged with the material at all times.
3) LATTE postings. There are 4 required LATTE posts over the course of the semester. Three of them are on specific readings, but the fourth allows you an option between two talks outside the classroom but relevant to our discussions: you can attend and write about either a talk on March 7-8 or one on April 9 (you get extra credit if you do both!). For all LATTE posts, please write one paragraph offering your thoughts and reflections on the reading or event. You are encouraged to craft your post in response to another student’s post. At times, the LATTE posts will serve as the basis for our class discussion. Due dates and times for LATTE posts are indicated on the syllabus. Late posts will only receive 50% of the grade.
4) Papers. There are five short papers for this course. Each paper will be 4-5 pages and should have a thesis statement and a fully developed argument. I will hand out a list of prompts but you are also free to choose your own topic. All papers should be uploaded to LATTE by the date and time listed on the syllabus. Late papers will be graded down 2 points per day late.
Plagiarism will be treated as a serious offense and will be penalized. All references must be fully cited. If you are unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, or unsure of how to cite your sources appropriately, please consult with me, or with the “Student Resources” information on the following Brandeis webpage:
NOTE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS:
The attendance, participation, and LATTE requirements are the same. Graduate students have to write 2 of the 5 papers. In addition they should write a final seminar paper. The seminar paper should be 15-20 pages and should demonstrate scholarly engagement with the course texts at a level commensurate with the degree sought (MA or PhD). Graduate students should meet with me individually at the beginning of the semester to discuss their individual goals for the course.
Grading:
Attendance:10%
Participation:10%
LATTE postings:10%
5 papers:70%
If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability you should contact me, and present your letter of accommodation, as soon as possible. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting academic accommodations you should contact Beth Rodgers-Kay in Academic Services at 6-3470. Letters of accommodations should be presented at the start of the semester to ensure provision of accommodations. Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively.
Course schedule:
*Note: This schedule is subject to change during the course of the semester, so please bring your copy of the syllabus to class every day.
Prologue: What is Colonialism?
January 14- In class: Gandhi (dir., Richard Attenborough, 1982)
January 17-In class: Gandhi; Gandhi LATTE post due by 5pm, January 20
January 21- finish Gandhiat home;James Mill, from “Literature of the Hindus” (pp. 190-200, 208-211, 213-224); Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Minute on Indian Education”; G.W.F. Hegel, from The Philosophy of History (pp. 141-143, 160-165); Rudyard Kipling, “The White Man’s Burden” (all readings in Course Reader)
January 24- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (pp. 1-54)
January 28- finish Heart of Darkness; Chinua Achebe, “An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” (in Norton, HoD, pp. 336-49); Gerald Graff, “Teaching the Politics of Heart of Darkness” (in Course Reader); Hunt Hawkins, “Heart of Darkness and Racism” (in Norton, HoD, pp. 365-375)
I. Nationalist Responses
January 31- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Part I (pp. 1-125)
February 4- finish Things Fall Apart
February 7- No class today (I will be away at a conference); read Achebe, “The African Writer and the English Language”; Simon Gikandi, “Chinua Achebe and the Invention of African Literature”; LATTE post on Achebe and Gikandi due by 5pm, February 7 (all readings in Course Reader)
PAPER 1 ON WHAT IS COLONIALISM? DUE BY 5PM, FEBRUARY 8
February 11- Mulk Raj Anand, Untouchable (pp. 1-77)
February 14- Untouchable(pp. 77-148)
February 18- NO CLASS
February 21- NO CLASS
II. Postcolonial Disillusion
February 25- Ngugi wa Thiong’o, A Grain of Wheat (pp. 1-157)
PAPER 2 ON NATIONALIST RESPONSES DUE BY 5PM, FEBRUARY 26
February 28-A Grain of Wheat (pp. 158-243)
March 4- Kamila Shamsie, Kartography(pp. 1-103)
March 7-Kartography (pp. 104-197)
March 7-8 - Postcolonial conference – LATTE post option 1
March 11-Kartography(pp. 198-305)
III. Decolonization and Form
March 14- Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions (pp. 1-104)
March 18- finish Nervous Conditions(pp. 105-208)
PAPER 3 ON POSTCOLONIAL DISILLUSIONMENT DUE BY 9PM, MARCH 20.
March 21- In class: The Wind That Shakes the Barley (first 80 minutes in class) (dir., Ken Loach, 2006)
March 25- The Wind That Shakes the Barley (finish the last 50 minutes at home). LATTE post on film due March 24, by midnight.
March 28-Tsitsi Dangarembga, The Book of Not (pp. 1-115)
April 1- The Book of Not (pp. 116-246)
April 4- Tahmima Anam,A Golden Age (pp. 1-93)
April 8- A Golden Age (pp. 95-154)
April 9- 4pm: talk by Professor Ali Nobil Ahmad – LATTE post option 2
PAPER 4 ON DANGAREMBGA DUE BY 3PM, APRIL 9
April 11- A Golden Age (pp. 155-274)
April 15- NO CLASS
April 18- NO CLASS
April 22- NO CLASS
April 25- Tahmima Anam, The Good Muslim(pp. 1-196)
April 29- The Good Muslim(pp. 197-293)
PAPER 5 ON ANAM DUE BY 5PM, MAY 4
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