Intercultural Literature Studies: Literature and Politics in Contemporary Africa

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• explain and critically reflect on political, cultural and ethical issues significant to contemporary African societies as reflected through literature from parts of Africa where European languages or Arabic is spoken
• problematise conceptions of Africa and African-ness
• discuss, from a theoretical and critically based perspective, the complexity in the formation and development of national and cultural identities in African societies
• argue clearly and convincingly for their own analyses of literary depictions of African societies, and present and evaluate the analyses of others that are similar
• communicate key questions pertaining to African societies and literature in both oral and written work.

The course examines key issues regarding politics in contemporary Africa, where politics is understood to be the assumptions and principles concerning power and status within a society. These key issues are studied through the reading and study of a selection of fictional works written in English or translated into English from other European languages or Arabic.Froming the basis of the study of the fiction are ethical, cultural and political questions that have motivated African writers. The course gives students tools for the analysis of the ideological construction of these texts and evaluates their relevance for an understanding of modern African societies. Themes explored include the formation of national, cultural and gender-based identities, the perception of Africa in the West and of the West in Africa, the implications of not writing in a native African language, and the global literary market and the conditions affecting production and consumption of African literature.

Students are examined by way of assessment of their active participation in seminars and written assignments.

The course consists of lectures and obligatory seminars. The language of instruction is English.

The Swedish grades A–F.