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140133 VO Magic Realism and the African Novel in English (2012W)
Labels
Details
Language: English
Examination dates
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Friday 12.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 19.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 09.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 16.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 23.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 30.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 07.12. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 14.12. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 11.01. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 18.01. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
- Friday 25.01. 15:00 - 17:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
The proposed course will trace the genealogy of the category 'magic realism', its application in other geographical contexts, and an examination of the application of this concept to West African, East African and Southern African texts. A broad overview of contemporary texts will be discussed, and three novelists will be discussed in greater detail, namely Ben Okri (Nigeria), Ngugi wa Thiong'o (Kenya) and Zakes Mda (South Africa). Among others, the following questions that will be addressed in the course: does the category have any explanatory value in relation to African novels? If the term can be used to describe some of his texts (as it appears it can), why is it employed in the narrative mode? Even if its application is (at times) cogent, is it sufficient? What is the relation between magic realism and orature? When, in the African context, is the employment of this narrative strategy most powerful? Et cetera.
Assessment and permitted materials
Written exam during the final lecture date.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
- To gain insight into the broad spectrum of applications of the term 'Magic Realism' in differing historical and geographical contexts
- To understand the possible range of applications of this narrative mode, its links to orature and its political implications
- To obtain an in-depth understanding of the narrative mode of Magic Realism in the African novel in English through close study of specific examples.
- To understand the possible range of applications of this narrative mode, its links to orature and its political implications
- To obtain an in-depth understanding of the narrative mode of Magic Realism in the African novel in English through close study of specific examples.
Examination topics
Primarily lectures with tutorial format for short discussions.
Reading list
Mandatory reading (novels):
Okri, Ben, The Famished Road , 1991, Cape.
wa Thiong'o Ngugi . Wizard of the Crow, 2006, Secker.
Mda, Zakes. Heart of Redness, 2000, Oxford UP.Academic texts that will be consulted (extracts):
Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Vintage, 1994.
Reeds, Kenneth. Magical Realism: A Problem of Definition. Neophilologus 90 (2006): 175-96.
Rushdie, Salman. Imaginary Homelands: Essays and Criticism 1981-1991. New York: Penguin, 1992.
Ogundele, Wole. Devices of Evasion: The Mythic versus the Historical Imagination in the Postcolonial African Novel. Research in African Literatures 33.3 (2002): 129-39.
Cooper, Brenda. Magical Realism in West African Fiction: Seeing with a Third Eye. New York: Routledge, 1998.
Sewlall, Harry. Deconstructing Empire in Joseph Conrad and Zakes Mda. Journal of Literary Studies 19.3-4 (2003): 331-44.
Attwell, David. The Experimental Turn: Experimentalism in Contemporary Fiction.Rewriting Modernity: Studies in Black South African Literary History. Ed. David Attwell. Scottsville: U of KwaZulu-Natal P, 2005. 169-204.
Okri, Ben, The Famished Road , 1991, Cape.
wa Thiong'o Ngugi . Wizard of the Crow, 2006, Secker.
Mda, Zakes. Heart of Redness, 2000, Oxford UP.Academic texts that will be consulted (extracts):
Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Vintage, 1994.
Reeds, Kenneth. Magical Realism: A Problem of Definition. Neophilologus 90 (2006): 175-96.
Rushdie, Salman. Imaginary Homelands: Essays and Criticism 1981-1991. New York: Penguin, 1992.
Ogundele, Wole. Devices of Evasion: The Mythic versus the Historical Imagination in the Postcolonial African Novel. Research in African Literatures 33.3 (2002): 129-39.
Cooper, Brenda. Magical Realism in West African Fiction: Seeing with a Third Eye. New York: Routledge, 1998.
Sewlall, Harry. Deconstructing Empire in Joseph Conrad and Zakes Mda. Journal of Literary Studies 19.3-4 (2003): 331-44.
Attwell, David. The Experimental Turn: Experimentalism in Contemporary Fiction.Rewriting Modernity: Studies in Black South African Literary History. Ed. David Attwell. Scottsville: U of KwaZulu-Natal P, 2005. 169-204.
Association in the course directory
ÜAL 1/2, (AL.1.), EC-1
Last modified: Th 09.01.2025 00:16