CONTEMPORARY POSTCOLONIAL FICTIONS AND CULTURES

Description

By focusing on a wide range of postcolonial fictions, this module explores what it means to write in a postcolonial context and allows students to reflect on the legacies of colonialism today. Student will discuss how colonialism and postcoloniality affect both content and fictional form, and will be encouraged to use the solid theoretical foundations built during the first year in the programme to critically analyse postcolonial fictions and cultures. The skills in interpretive analysis and research they will acquire in this module will be fundamental in preparing them for the dissertation project at the conclusion of their learning journey. Students will be able to explore a wide range of artistic forms¿prose, poetry, drama, and film and will develop crucial skills in critical analysis, connective thinking, and digital competency during our seminar discussions and in online activities. This module is part of a global strand embedded in our programme. In addressing prominent global issues such as colonialism, migration, diaspora, racial, gender, and class inequalities this module offers students tools to understand how and why literature can be a powerful instrument of critique and analysis of a persistently unequal world. The module further provides a theoretical underpinning that will enable students to draw connections between contemporary fictions and postcolonial and decolonial theories. The module will ask students to read and watch fictions¿prose, poetry, theatre, and film¿and to critically analyse the works of authors engaging with issues of postcolonial history, culture, experience, and critical thought. This is an indicative list of authors and topics that might be discussed: intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, and class; modernity/coloniality; migration and diaspora; transnationalism; world literature; Afrofuturism; indigenous poetry; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Jhumpa Lahiri; Hanif Kureshi; Jamaica Kincaid; Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon; Tsitsi Dangarembga The module aims to: deepen and widen students' knowledge of global and postcolonial fictions and cultures increase knowledge and awareness of how fictional works engage with social and cultural issues develop an understanding of contemporary literature, film, and theatre in a postcolonial context further students' skills in terms of IT competency, written communication and oral presentations introduce students to self-reflexive learning and evidence-based research and writing strengthen students' ability to undertake analysis and critical thinking develop further skills in independent study and group work and the ability to work to deadlines Attributes Developed 001 By the end of the module students will: have a wide and relatively sophisticated understanding of postcolonial K fictions and cultures K 002 Have knowledge of and ability to analyse how different forms of fiction engage with social and cultural issues CK 003 Develop an understanding of how contemporary postcolonial fictions and cultures are contextualised in a global framework C 004 Attain a good level of skill in analysis and critical enquiry, as well as in independent study PT 005 Develop good time management skills and the ability to organise the research and writing of the final essay PT 006 Work collaboratively with peers using online resources and learning methodologies PT