LIT 285 - Contemporary Literature from India, Africa, and Australia (4 Cr.)

Race, Power, and Perspective Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course offers an introduction to the study of contemporary international literature written in English (postcolonial literature). We study literature from India, several African countries, and Australia. We consider both the colonial histories that make thematic issues of these literatures similar and the contemporary historical, cultural, and social specifics that make them distinct. RPP courses require that “Students will identify the factors that contribute to various types of differences, inequalities and power structures, whether they be historical, social, or political factors.” LIT 285 engages with these issues at every step, from text selection, to literary analysis, to in-class consideration of historical and political contexts, to essay topics and even to considerations on the final exam. Prerequisite: Prerequisite: WRT 181 or instructor’s permission.