Nationalism, Race, and Empire

Catalog description

British imperialism permeated the British literary tradition much as it did the globe. Using the lens of postcolonial theory we will examine the fictions and critiques of empire constructed in and through selected texts from the eighteenth century through the present in an attempt to unravel the cultural function of these powerful fictions. Our investigations will be informed by contemporary public discourse about slavery, imperialism, and nationalism, so that we can better grasp the literary and socio-political context of British colonialism and its after-effects. Satisfies a requirement in the Africana Studies major (Cultural Production and Expressions category). Satisfies a requirement in the Global Literary Theory interdisciplinary minor. Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement. Satisfies the LTRQ Ways of Knowing requirement. Satisfies the Diversity requirement of the English major. Prerequisites & Notes First-year students require permission of the instructor.