Caribbean Literature Winter 2011

Transcription

1 Caribbean Literature Winter 2011 BST-420/ (CRN #45884 / #45885) Partially Online -- One weekly class meeting: W 2:00-4:00 p.m. LOCATION: Cramer Hall / Rm: 53 Syllabus Instructor: C.J. Washington Contact: Through Black Board or my regular address: [email protected] Office Location/Number: XSB, Room 250 Office Number: (503) Course Description: This course places contemporary Caribbean writing in context by reading slave narratives, novels, poems, and essays from the period of European colonialism to the present; and reading and analysis of works of fiction, poetry and drama representing the most important trends in Caribbean literatures. We focus on the specific historical moments of colonialism, emancipation, decolonization, and globalization in French- and English-language writing. It will introduce you to some of the major writers and theories of Caribbean literature today by focusing on the representation of Caribbean places and peoples. You will learn how writers are rethinking the history of islands and archipelagoes, their relatedness to one another, and their centrality to modern world history. Using literary works as a "voyage out" to questions of race, gender, nationality, and political history, we will focus on their political stakes as well as their formal achievements. Authors include Christina Garcia, George Lamming, Earl Lovelace, Jamaica Kincaid, Patrick Chamoiseau, Mary Prince, and Derek Walcott. Texts of the following authors may also be considered: Michael Anthony, Erna Brodber, Wilson Harris, Hubert Harrison, C. L. R. James, Shani Mootoo, V. S. Naipaul, Jean Rhys, Leone Ross, Samuel Selvon, and Edwidge Danticat Required Texts: 1. Garcia, Cristina, Monkey Hunting 2. Prince, Mary, The History of Mary Prince (Online Version) 3. Chamoiseau, Patrick, Texaco 4. Lovelace, Earl, The Dragon Can t Dance 5. Lamming, George, In the Castle of My Skin 6. Kincaid, Jamaica, A Small Place 7. Chauvet, Marie, Love, Anger, Madness 8. Cezair-Thompson, Margaret, The True History of Paradise

2 2 This course will be conducted PARTIALLY on-line, via Blackboard, so ready access to the Internet is required. This online course runs ten (10) weeks, from Monday, January 3rd through Sunday, March 13th, Any work/assignments received after midnight on Friday, March 18th, 2011 will be considered late, and will result in a reduced grade (3% each day that the assignment is late). You are free to work ahead as much as you like. Course Objectives: 1. To expand your knowledge of Caribbean literary traditions and the cultures that inform them; 2. To acquaint you with oral and hybrid forms emerging from the region s diverse diasporas; 3. To hone your research skills; 4. To evaluate the critical reception of the literary texts we read; and 5. To introduce you to some amazing books! HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE: *Participate in ALL online class discussions. *Keep up with the readings. *If something is not clear, ask a question. *Clarify expectations with the Instructor. IMPORTANT NOTES: a). Schedule of Lecture and class meetings -- Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. b). In order to be prepared for the class, students should complete the assigned reading before the class noted. c). You may also wish to search websites for relevant readings. Your website research should include only articles from scholarly journals, chapters from books, etc. d). The Instructor reserves the right to add or subtract readings and assignments from the syllabus. e). CELL PHONES AND PAGERS MUST BE TURNED OFF! Course Requirements Student Responsibilities: 1). Attendance / Class Participation -- 40% 2). Written Response/Reflection Papers - 10% (10 of them) --Length: One page, typewritten, double-spaced (DO NOT SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE PAGE). Each student is required to submit a one page reading response paper for each week. These papers reflect your engagement with the assigned readings. Although these papers will not be letter-graded, they will be read, recorded, and will figure largely in your final grade. NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED! 3). Threaded Conversations/Discussions (Online) - Participation in online discussions is mandatory. 20% 4). MIDTERM -- 10% 5). Final Exam: - 20% This will be a research paper, from 5-8 pages (UNDERGRADUATES); 8-10 pages (GRADUATES). Due: To be submitted online to instructor -- Thursday, March 17th; 11:59 p.m..

3 3 Grade Distribution: Type of Task Percentage of Grade Class attendance and participation 40% (or 40 points) Response/Reflection Papers 10% 1% each 1 point each / 10 points) Online Discussions/Postings 20% (or 20 points) 30 postings / 10 weeks Midterm 10% (or 10 points) Final exam: 20% (or 20 points) (Total 100 points ) 100% Grade/Point Scale A = points A- = points B+ = points B = points B- = points C+ = 79-77points C = points C- = points D+ = points D = points D- = points F = 59 points (or below) = ==================================== Tentaive Reading Schedule Week One (Jan. 3-9) Wednesday, January 5 -- Introduction to the Caribbean and the course Theme(s) I: Man-Woman Relationships Reading(s): 1). The Real Caribbean: Paradise Stops At the Beach's Edge by Larry Rohter (3 pages) 2). SHORT STORY: Red Dirt Don t Wash by Roger Mais (16 pages) ( Reading for First Response/Reflection Paper) DUE: In Class on Wednesday, January 5th 3). POEM: A Far Cry From Africa by Derek Walcott 4). The Rage of Derek Walcott: Introduction (1 page) 5). Conflicting Loyalties in "A Far Cry from Africa" (1 page) 6). In the Spirit of Homer: Constructing National Identity by Reconstructing Individual Histories (2 pages) BEGIN reading Garcia, Monkey Hunting (pps ) Week Two (Jan ) Theme(s) I: Man-Woman Relationships Cont d. Reading(s): 1). SHORT STORY: Remote Control by Roger Mais (8 pages) ( Reading for Response/Reflection Paper) FINISH Garcia, Monkey Hunting (pps ) BEGIN reading Chamoiseau, Texaco (pps ) Film: Mas Fever

4 4 Tentative Reading Schedule Cont d. Week Three (Jan ) Theme(s) - I: The Caribbean through the Eyes of Earl Lovelace; Alternative Sexualities Reading(s): FINISH Chamoiseau, Texaco (pps End) BEGIN reading Lovelace, The Dragon Can t Dance (pps ) Video: Parade of the Bands 2008 Week Four (Jan ) Theme(s) - I: Reading(s): 1). FINISH Lovelace, The Dragon Can t Dance (pps End) 2). BEGIN reading Chauvet, Love, Anger, Madness (to page 208) Documentary Film: Week Five (Jan. 31- Feb. 6) Theme(s) - I: Reading(s): 1). FINISH Chauvet, Love, Anger, Madness (pps END) MIDTERM EXAM -- In Class Wednesday, Feb. 3, In-Class PowerPoint Presentations Week Six (Feb. 7-13) Theme(s) : Remembering the Past Reading(s): 1). The History of Mary Prince (ONLINE) 2). BEGIN/FINISH reading Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place (96 pages) Week Seven (Feb ) Theme(s): Reading(s): 1). BEGIN reading Lamming, In the Castle of My Skin (pps. Intro-151)

5 5 Tentative Reading Schedule Cont d. Week Eight (Feb ) Theme(s): Readings : 1). FINISH Lamming, In the Castle of My Skin (pps End) 2). BEGIN reading Cezair-Thompson, The True History of Paradise (pps ) Week Nine (Feb Mar. 6) Theme(s) I: Reading(s): 1). FINISH Cezair-Thompson, The True History of Paradise (pps End) Week Ten (Mar. 7-13) Theme(s) I: Reading(s): 1). 2). Documentary Film: Final Exams Week -- March Final Exam Due: March 17th at 11:59 p.m. To be submitted online to instructor -- Thursday, March 17th; 11:59 p.m. Academic Honesty By turning in a test or an assignment, you (the student) certify that you produced the work without plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty. You should carefully review the Portland State University Bulletin section on academic honesty, ignorance of these rules is not an acceptable excuse for misconduct in this course. Violations of academic honesty standards can reult in a non-passing grade. On plagiarism: Students are expected to express themselves and to sustain an argument in their own prose. They should not submit written work that does not properly acknowledge transcription or that includes excessive quotation of the works of others. If you want to quote from a published work, you must put the passage in quotation marks and cite the references.

6 6 Tentative Reading Schedule Week One (Jan. 3-9) Introduction Clickable Caribbean Map. Alternate source:caribbean Map. (online) Week Two (Jan ) Olaudah Equiano (Nigeria), The Life of Olaudah Equiano...: Chapt. II (23-36); Chapt. IV, Section IX (63-65); Chapt. V (66-81). Background: Introduction to Post-Colonial Studies (online) Week Three (Jan ) Olaudah Equiano (Nigeria), The Life of Olaudah Equiano...: Chapt. VI (82-96); Chapt. VII (97-107). Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), A Far Cry from Africa (online) Week Four (Jan ) Week Five (Jan. 31- Feb. 6) Movie: Article: Week Six (Feb. 7-13) Movie: "The Island. Before Prospero's Cell" (online)--copy and bring to class.

7 7 Tentaive Reading Schedule Week One (Jan. 3-9) Introduction Clickable Caribbean Map. Alternate source:caribbean Map. (online) Week Two (Jan ) Olaudah Equiano (Nigeria), The Life of Olaudah Equiano...: Chapt. II (23-36); Chapt. IV, Section IX (63-65); Chapt. V (66-81). Background: Introduction to Post-Colonial Studies (online) Week Three (Jan ) Olaudah Equiano (Nigeria), The Life of Olaudah Equiano...: Chapt. VI (82-96); Chapt. VII (97-107). Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), A Far Cry from Africa (online) Week Four (Jan ) Week Five (Jan. 31- Feb. 6) Movie: Article: Week Six (Feb. 7-13) Movie: "The Island. Before Prospero's Cell" (online)--copy and bring to class. Week Seven (Feb ) - Theme(s): Music in the Caribbean Aimé Césaire (Martinique), A Tempest, Act III (37-66). Week Eight (Feb ) Movie: Daniel Defoe (British), Robinson Crusoe (90 min.) Plot Summary: Robinson Crusoe: Overview and Commentary (online) 2-14 Movie: Daniel Defoe (British), Robinson Crusoe Article: Mimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity (online) 2-16 Discussion of movie. Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), Derek Walcott Selections (online)-- Article: The Real Caribbean: Paradise Stops At the Beach's Edge (online) Olive Senior (Jamaica), "Meditation on Yellow" (online) and The Secret of Crusoe's Parrot (online)

8 8 Tentative Reading Schedule Cont d. Week Nine - Theme(s): Caribbean Women Writers (Feb Mar. 6) Movie: Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), Pantomime, Act I (26 min.). Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), Pantomime, Act I (90-129) (hand-out) 2-21 Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), Pantomime, Act II ( ) (handout). Week Ten (Mar. 7-13) Discussion of movie. REPORT 3: Afro-Caribbean and African Religions. Begin reading Jean Rhys (Dominica), Wide Sargasso Sea Week Eight 3-05 Jean Rhys (Dominica), Wide Sargasso Sea--read over 1/3. Reading Group Guide: Study Questions copy discussion questions and bring to class Jean Rhys (Dominica), Wide Sargasso Sea--read over 2/3. The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave Narrative by Mary Prince Dover Publications Response Papers Students will be required to write a 1-page paper on each of the texts covered in the course. Papers can take the form of analyses of specific passages or they may continue discussions begun in class. Feel free to experiment with the techniques used in the texts we read. Occasionally, I may ask you to write on specific topics, but in general these papers are yours to devise as you will. They are meant to encourage you to explore and refine the writing strategies that work best for you. Although I will not assign your response papers grades, I will take into account how you used these assignments in establishing your grade at the end of the semester. If your paper does not meet a minimum standard of proficiency I may ask you to rewrite it.