Universität Wien

142231 PS Post-colonial and Subaltern Studies: from South Asian to Global Concepts (2024S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
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. 22 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 06.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 13.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 20.03. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 10.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 17.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 24.04. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 08.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 15.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 22.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 29.05. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 05.06. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 12.06. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 19.06. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 26.06. 10:30 - 12:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Postcolonial literature has renewed the way colonial history is written, analysing the political, economic, historical, cultural and social impact of European colonial rule around the world. Additionally, it has enabled the decoding of current societies, shedding light on the ideological, social and cultural aftermath of colonisation.
This pro-seminar aims to introduce students to the history and theory of postcolonial studies by focusing on key debates and concepts theorised by postcolonial thinkers. We will read post-colonial literature, examining the effects of colonisation in South Asia and India, with a particular emphasis on the writings of the Subaltern Studies collective. We will also explore postcolonial theories related to other part of the world, focusing at the legacies of colonialism, in particular how the colonial past and colonial assumptions impact present day’s discussions.
By the end of the seminar, students will be familiar with the various meaning of ‘post-colonial’, and will have acquired knowledge of key theoretical, methodological, historical and ideological issues addressed in postcolonial writings. This course offers a means for students to understand and participate in larger debates of decolonising knowledge, as well as to critically analyse the ‘everyday’ structures of colonial power and resistance.

Assessment and permitted materials

1) Participation in text interpretation: before each class, each student will write a short text summarising and reflecting upon one of the texts assigned for that week. This exercise will start from the third week of the seminar: 40%
2) Each student will make one detailed presentation of one text or topic of her/his choice during the semester (presentation of the author[s], topic of the text, step-by-step presentation of the author[s]’ arguments; presentation of the debate this/these text[s] engage[s] with]); this presentation can also be a preliminary version of the final proseminar paper: 20%
3) Proseminar Paper: 40%

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Each week, students are required to read, reflect upon, and write about academic texts. The assessment is based on the effort made to read and comprehend the assigned literature, which includes searching for background information to deepen understanding. Evaluation criteria also include the clarity of presentations and written assignments. Attendance in class is mandatory.

Examination topics

Reading list

Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G. and Tiffin, H. [1995] 2003. The Post-Colonial Studies Reader. London & New York : Routledge
Guha, R. (ed). 1982. Subaltern Studies I. Writings on South Asian History and Society. Delhi: Oxford University Press
Said, Edward. 1978. Orientalism. New York: Pantheon.
Spivak, G. C. 1988. “Can the Subaltern Speak?” in Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture, eds. Cary Nelson and Lawrence Grossberg. Basingstoke: Macmillan. 271–313.

(A complete literature list will be given in the first class)

Association in the course directory

BA5

Last modified: Tu 05.03.2024 11:26