World Literatures 205 - Contemporary African Literature and Film

Contemp African Lit & Film

Fall
2024
01
4.00
Katwiwa Mule

M W 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM

Smith College
WLT-205-01-202501
Seelye 304
kmule@smith.edu
A study of the major writers and diverse literary traditions of Africa, with emphasis on the historical, political, social and cultural contexts of the emergence of writing, reception and consumption. The course pays particular attention to several questions: in what contexts did modern African literature emerge? Is the term "African literature" a useful category? How do African writers challenge Western representations of Africa? How do they articulate the crisis of postcoloniality? How do women writers reshape our understanding of gender and the politics of resistance? Writers include Achebe, Ngugi, Dangarembga, Bâ, Ndebele and Aidoo. Films: Tsotsi , Softie and Blood Diamond.
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.