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

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.