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ENGL273

Indian Writing in Diaspora
ENGL273 SP

Crosslistings: WMST289

Next Offered in 9798 SP

The Indian diaspora spans the world; there are Indian communities in Africa, the Middle East, England, North and South America, the Caribbean, as well as southeast Asia. Using novels and short stories, this course will focus upon the question of identity. Can such a widespread population, diverse in class, cultural practices, and local histories, claim a singular identity? What does it mean to be "Indian" in these conditions? When is Indian identity claimed and for what purposes? How is such an identity constructed and what role does race, ethnicity, culture, or nationality play in it? The literary readings will be supplemented with historical and sociological materials.

MAJOR READINGS

Hanif Kureishi: WITH YOUR TONGUE DOWN MY
THROAT, THE RAINBOW SIGN, THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA, MY
BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE
Salman Rushdie: "In the Belly of the Whale," "Imaginary
Homelands," "In the Heart of the Race," "East Indians in
Trinidad," "Reworlding," "Gilroy?"
THE SATANIC VERSES
V.S. Naipaul: IN A FREE STATE, A BEND IN THE RIVER, MIGUEL
STREET
Neil Bissoondath: A CASUAL BRUTALITY
Indira Ganesan: THE JOURNEY
Bharati Mukherjee: MIDDLEMAN AND OTHER STORIES, JASMINE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A reading journal, midterm, final, research paper

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course counts toward the Department's Historicity requirement. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA ENGL

Prerequisites: ENGL201

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997




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