Universität Wien

123046 PS Proseminar Literature / Literary Studies (2015S)

New African Writing in the United States

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

1st session: March 17
Compulsory excursion to participate in the conference "A Mobile World Literature" (University of Eichstätt, near Ingolstadt, Bavaria), 26-28 June, 2015; fewer regular sessions

  • Tuesday 17.03. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 24.03. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 14.04. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 21.04. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 28.04. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 05.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 12.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 19.05. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 02.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 09.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 16.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Tuesday 23.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Saturday 27.06. 10:00 - 18:00 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 30.06. 16:00 - 18:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

African immigrant writers in the United States. We will examine prose fiction (novels and short stories), drama, and poetry by writers such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chris Abani, Teju Cole, and others. The course will tackle questions such as how these writings challenge and change the "black American Narrative" (Ch. Johnson), why they have been on such an upsurge in the Anglophone literary market, and how they might classify as a new kind of "World Literature" due to the complex transatlantic re-locations of these texts.

Assessment and permitted materials

50% Proseminar Paper
25% class participation (including written work such as response papers, questions etc.)
25% oral presentation

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- providing you with tools for analyzing different genres (poetry, drama, prose) in their specific contexts
- making you fit to give an oral presentation on a literary text, including the use of a presentation software
- making you fit for researching, developing, and writing your proseminar paper, including a research bibliography
- being able to analyze the function and "cultural work" these texts perform in contemporary U.S. American society and beyond
- introducing you to theoretical concepts from postcolonial studies (e.g. World Literature, postcolonial identity formation), African American Studies (e.g. the Black Atlantic, post-blackness), and American Studies (e.g. American Dream)

Examination topics

pair work, group work, class discussions, presentations; excursion / conference participation

Reading list

Novels:
Teju Cole, Open City (available at facultas)
Taiye Selasi, Ghana Must Go (will be available at facultas)

drama:
Osonye Tess Onwueme, What Mama Said (Wayne State UP, will be available at facultas soon)

Short stories and poems will be provided as a .pdf on Moodle

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612; BEd 046
Code/Modul: UF 3.3.3-304, BA10.1; BEd 08a.1, BEd 08b.2
Lehrinhalt: 12-3041

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33