Topic: Literature and Culture of Contemporary India

Catalog description

Students in this course will explore the culture of India, a nation playing a central role in globalization. While focus of the course will be literature, students will begin by learning about formative events in modern Indian history and go on to explore Indian film culture (Hooray for Bollywood!), religions of India (including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and others), the development and role of Indian diasporic culture, and current social practices and issues regarding gender and class. The debate on IWE (Indian Writing in English) - e.g., what makes a work "Indian" -- will be central to discussions in the course. Texts will include writing in English (Midnights Children, Malgudi Days, The God of Small Things, etc.), translations from India's many languages, films, and essays. This class will be of special interest to students curious about post-colonial literature, concerned with social issues and globalization.