Course syllabus autumn 2010
Course syllabus autumn 2010
Title
Migration and Postcolonial Theory
Swedish title
Migration and Postcolonial Theory
Course code
IM632E
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UV / Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2010-02-18
Syllabus valid from
2010-09-01
Entry requirements
Bachelor degree in social sciences or humanities + the equivalent of English course B.
Level
Advanced level
No main field.
Progression level
A1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course can normally be included in a general degree at advanced level.
Course contents
The course will present and problematize the work of classical theorists in the field of postcolonial theory and discuss their impact on various disciplines in the social sciences and the humanities. The aim is to increase students’ awareness of the theoretical and empirical impact of postcolonial theory in race/ethnicity and gender studies. The course will address theoretical approaches of anti-colonialism and explicate key concepts central to the field. The course is divided into four parts: the first part entails close reading of key theoretical texts, the second and third part deals with the ways that postcolonial thinking has been absorbed in various disciplines and the last and fourth part will concentrate on the students’ own production of individual papers through group discussions, presentations and seminars.
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course, the student:
- be well-oriented in the theoretical development of postcolonial theory
- understand the importance and analytical impact of postcolonial perspectives in race/ethnicity and gender studies
- demonstrate knowledge of theoretical concepts and of analytical approaches dealt with in the course
- demonstrate capability to use theoretical concepts and analytical approaches dealt with in the course in autonomous analyses of empirical material
- demonstrate an ability to communicate and develop his/her knowledge and skills in the field of study through writing a paper and giving a presentation.
Learning activities
The course is based on active participation of the students. A variety of methods, including interactive lectures/discussions, assigned readings, and group projects will be utilized for the purpose of achieving the course objectives.
Assessment
This course is graded through three different types of exercises: 1) a student presentation, 2) a short individual paper, and 3) Seminar activity. Group presentation involves presenting an analysis of a selected aspect of postcolonial theory introduced on the course. The paper involves either an individual analysis of an aspect of a case, or a theoretical exploration of a topic in postcolonial theory. The seminar activity involves presentation and discussion of selected course literature.
Course literature and other study material
Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism Monthly Review Press; New Ed edition 2000
Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. New York: Routledge, 1994.
Chakrabarty, Dipesh. Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference Princeton University Press 2007
Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. Grove Press, 2008.
Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. New York: Routledge, 2005.
Mankekar, Purnima. Screening Culture, Viewing Politics: An Ethnography of Television, Womanhood, and Nation in Postcolonial India. Durham: Duke, 1999.
McClintock, Anne. Imperial Leather: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Colonial Contest. New York: Routledge, 1995.
Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity. Duke UP, 2003.
Said, Edward. Orientalism Penguin 2003
Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. A Critique of Postcolonial Reason: Toward a History of the Vanishing Present Harvard University Press, 1999
Young, Robert J. C. White Mythologies: Writing History and the West Routledge,2004
Course evaluation
All students are offered an opportunity to give oral or written feedback at the end of the course.