AFR 140(S) Revolutionary African Literatures (Same as Comparative Literature 218 and English 250)
This course will serve as an introduction to postcolonial African literatures, and it organizes a set of African novels, essays, and poetry around the concept of revolution. In this course, we will attend to fiction that address pre-revolutionary, revolutionary, and post-revolutionary moments in various African societies. In addition to representations of social/political revolutions (decolonization, civil war, feminism, etc.), this course will also consider literary ones (realism, postmodernism, etc.). In doing so, we will consider a variety of questions: What is "revolutionary" literature? To what extent can a literary form be political/revolutionary? What is the relationship between politics and aesthetics? Readings will likely include selections from among Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Njabulo Ndebele, Ama Ata Aidoo, Bessie Head, Nuruddin Farah, Ayi Kwei Armah, Dambudzo Marechera, and Tsitsi Dangarembga.
Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based upon attendance and participation, reading responses, class presentations, one midterm essay, and one final research paper.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 15). Preference given to first- and second-year students.
Hour: ROBOLIN