ENGL 5680 – 001   Studies in Global Literature and Culture

Nationalism, Globalization, and the Postcolonial Novel

Monday: 6:00 pm-8:50 pm.

AUD 301

Office Hours: Monday 3:00-6:00 and by appointment

Office 106, AUD

Introduction

Considered the most expansive of literary forms, the novel is also inextricably linked with the questions of national identity and, now, issues of globalization and cosmopolitanism. This course aims to introduce you to some major postcolonial novels within the larger debates of the nation, nationalism, postcolonialism and globalization.

 

Required Texts:

Huthinson and Smith. Nationalism. Oxford UP, 1994. [NAT]

Zygmunt Bauman. Globalization. Columbia UP, 1998. [GLO]

Robbins and Chaeah. Cosmopolitcs. Minnesota, 1998. [COS]

Ngugi Theong ‘O. Devil on the Corss. Heinemann, 1982. [DOC]

Buchi Emecheta. Joys of Motherhood. Groege Braziller, 1979.

Earl Lovelace. The Dragon Can’t Dance. Longman, 1979.

Kiran Desai. The Inheritance of Loss. Grove, 2006.

Robin Goodman. Feminist Theory in Pursuit of the Public. Palgrave, 2010.

Handouts

  1. Fanon. “On National Culture.”
  2. Ngugi. “Standing our Ground.”
  3. Jameson. “Third-World Literature in the Era of Multinational Capitalism.”
  4. Aijaz Ahmad. “Jameson’s Rhetoric of Otherness and the “National Allegory.”
  5. Puri. “Beyond Resistance: Notes Toward a New Caribbean Cultural studies.”
  6. Raja. “We is All People: The Marginalized East-Indian and the Economy of Difference in Lovelace’s The Dragon Can’t Dance.”

Recommended Texts

Course Policies and Requirements: 

You are expected to come prepared for class: This involves reading the assigned texts, listening carefully to your peers, and contributing your views in a collegiate and stimulating way. Attendance is mandatory. 

Distribution of Points: 

Discussion Leader   200 Points 

Respondent            200 Points

Class Participation   100 Points

Mid Term exam       200 Points

Term Paper             300 Points 

Total 1000 Points 

YOU MUST FINISH ALL MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS TO PASS THE COURSE 

Discussion Leader: (200 Points)
 Each one of you will be asked to lead discussions on assigned readings on rotation basis. The rotation will be decided in an alphabetic order.Your role as discussion leader will involve the following:
  • An oral presentation covering the assigned text in detail. (100 Points).
  • A written response (minimum two double-spaced pages) submitted on the same day. (100 Points).
I will calculate your final grade in this assignment by taking the average score on your performance throughout the course.
Discussion Respondent: (200 Points)
For all discussion leadership assgnments, I will also assign one of you (in reverse alphabetical order) the role of responding to the discussion leader. It will be up to you to contact your corresponding discussion leader, get a copy of their plan/notes and then develop a response to that for presentation during class. The respondent role will be graded in a fashion similar to that of the discussion leader role.
Mid-Term Exam:
The Mid-term will be an in-class essay exam administered in the FOURTH week.
Class Participation:
As this is a seminar based on a discussion format, your thoughtful participation is essential to the success of the class. I encourage collegiate, open, and thought-provoking class discussions. Remember, we are all here to learn, so let us share our ideas and knowledge to make this class into a dynamic learning experience. 

Term Paper:   (Guide)
The final term paper will be due on the last day of class. The paper should be 15-20 pages, with a clearly defined thesis and a coherent argument using one or two of the theoretical apporaches discussed in class. I would encourage you to choose your topic early and do extensive research. I will be available to assist during all stages of your research and composition process.     

 
Cheating and Plagiarism:  (UNT Policy on Plagiarism)
Avoid at all costs!!!
 
Attendance: 
You are expected to attend the class regularly. You will be in the danger of failing the course if you miss more than TWO class sessions. 
ADA 
Please contact me and bring me the necessary documentation if you would like me to make extra arrangements of for any disabilities.

Grading Scale: 

A 900-1000 
B 830-899 
C 739-829
D 600-738 
F Less than 600 Points

 

Weekly Schedule:
(Note: This is a tentative schedule and the istructor retains the right to change it as and when necessary)
Week 1
Introdcution to the Course
Discussion:
NAT: Introduction 3-13; The Question of . . . 15-16; Renan (17), Stalin (18), Weber (21), Deutsch (26), Geertz (29), Kedouri (49), Gellner (55, 63), Hobsbawm (76), Brass (83), Anderson (89).
Reading:
NAT: Breuilly (103), Smith (113) , Huthinson (122), Robinson (214),  Bhabha (306).
Devil on the Cross.
Discussion Leader: 
Respondent: 
Week 2
Discussion: 
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
NAT: Breuilly (103), Smith (113) , Huthinson (122), Robinson (214),  Bhabha (306).
Devil on the Cross.
Reading:
Bauman
Emecheta, Joys of Motherhood
Discussion Leader: 
Respondent: 
Week 3
Discussion: 
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
Bauman
Emecheta, Joys of Motherhood
Reading:
COS: Intro Part 1& 2; Rorty (45); Appiah (91); Anderson (117); Robbins (246); Cheah (290); Spivak (329)
Discussion Leader: 
Respondent: 
Week 4& 5
Discussion:
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
COS: Intro Part 1& 2; Rorty (45); Appiah (91); Anderson (117); Robbins (246); Cheah (290); Spivak (329)
Reading:
Lovelace
Discussion Leader: 
Respondent:
Week 6 
Discussion:
Lovelace
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
Review
Reading
First FOUR handouts
Prepare for Mid term
Discussion Leader: 
Respondent:
Week 7
Discussion:
First FOUR handouts
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
MID TERM
Discussion leader: 
Respondent: 
Reading:
The Dragon Can’t Dance
Handout 5 and 6
Week 8 and 9
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
The Dragon Can’t dance; Handouts 5 and 6
Reading:
Robin Goodman
Discussion leader: 
Respondent: 
Week 10 and 11
Discussion Leader and Respondents on Assigned Readings.
Robin Goodman
Reading:
The Inheritence of Loss
Week 12
The Inheritence of Loss
Week 13, 14, and 15
Final Paper Workshops