Universität Wien

143264 VO 21st Century African Women’s Writing and Feminism (2023S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Moodle

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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 06.03. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 20.03. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 27.03. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 17.04. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 24.04. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 08.05. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 15.05. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 22.05. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 05.06. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 12.06. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03
  • Monday 19.06. 13:00 - 14:30 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-03

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Content: This lecture course follows upon 143121 VO 20th-century African Women’s Writing and Feminism with a focus on 21st century literature by Anglophone African women after 2000. This is a rich and dynamic body of writing that includes not only typically female genres such as the Bildungsroman, romance, tragedy and domestic drama, as seen in the previous century, but also traditionally male genres, such as the historical novel, science-fiction, crime thriller, memoir and magical realism, as well as completely new genres, such as chick-lit, lesbian and transgender writing, and the Afropolitan novel. As we will analyze, the new literary genres have been accompanied by a new feminist imagination and an epistemic and discursive shift in African feminism that makes it possible to see this writing as a second-wave in African feminism. Its transnational and trans-historical feminist perspective presents an opportunity to situate African women’s literature as an integral part of women’s literary history, and African feminism as part of global feminism. By turning their attention to the female body as the prime site of women’s victimization and freedom, contemporary Anglophone African women writers reframe feminism as a demand for universal human rights while creating some of the most radical feminist texts of the present time.

Aims:
On completion of this course the student will have developed the ability to:
• identify, analyse and understand key political, philosophical and aesthetic issues in contemporary African feminist writing and its development from the 20th century
• understand the development of the discussions on African feminism, African women’s rights and African modernity in a comparative context
• apply close reading skills to a variety of literary texts and be able to analyze them from a literary-critical perspective
• reflect critically on the relations between primary texts and relevant secondary texts

Method: Lecture and dicussion

Assessment and permitted materials

Option 1: written exam (in class)
Option 2: final paper (3500 words).

The exam will consist of mini-essay essay questions. Minimum requirement 3 mini-essays 250 words each. Topics will be given to choose from.

The final paper should analyze at least one work (novel, play, or at least 3 short stories). You will be given a list of app. 20 topics to choose from. The final paper is not just a summary of what was said in the lecture. It should show your own approach to a primary work and bring original observations and/or opinions.

More information about the class exam and the final essay will be given in class.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria for the exam:

3 mini-essays, 250 words each

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria for the final paper:

1) Contents (in particular detection of the central points; clear formulation, structure and organization of the argument, supported with evidence from primary and secondary sources; the ability to read text closely and interpret both form, content and context; the ability to reflect critically on the relations between primary and relevant secondary texts, instead of just citing secondary texts as a source of authority and interpretation; correctness of methodology; originality; creativity 60%

2) Format (esp. layout, formatting, and citation practice): 20%

3) Language (particularly scholarly terminology and correct use of technical terms; clear and understandable language; correct spelling, grammar, and sentence composition; style): 20%

In all three areas at least 50% of the points must be achieved in order to obtain credit. The mark breakdown is as follows:

(1) 90-100 %
(2) 80-89 %
(3) 65-79 %
(4) 50-64 %
(5) 49 -0 %

Examination topics

-Anglophone African women's writing in the context of Anglophone women's literary tradition
-21st-century African feminist writing in English
-21st-century African women's writing in the context of transnational feminism
-African women's human rights, sexuality and feminism in 21st-century African women's writing
-human rights, decolonization and modernity in 21st-century African women's writing
-the politics of representation in 21st-century African women's writing
-21st-century African women's writing and the material culture of publishing

Reading list

This is not the reading list, only the list of texts that will be covered in the lectures. Most of the texts will be provided on Moodle.

NOVELS:
Chika Unigwe, On Black Sisters’ Street (2009)
Chinelo Okparanta, Under the Udala Trees (2015)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus (2003), Americanah (2013)
Sefi Atta, Everything Good Will Come (2005), Swallow (2010), A Bit of Difference (2013)
Lola Shoneyin, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives (2010)
Panashe Chigumadzi, Sweet Medicine (2015)
Angela Makholwa, Red Ink (2007), Black Widow Society (2013)
Kopano Matlwa, Coconut (2007), Period Pain (2016)
Kagiso Lesego Molope, This Book Betrays My Brother (2018)
Zukiswa Wanner, Maid in SA: Thirty Ways to Leave Your Madam (2010)
Akwaeke Emezi, Freshwater (2018)
Mary Karooro Okurut, The Official Wife (2003), The Switch (2016)
Goretti Kyomuhendo, Whispers from Vera (2002)
NoViolet Bulawayo, We Need New Names (2013)
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, The First Woman (2020)

DRAMA: Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, Waafrika 123 (2016)

SHORT STORIES:
Chinelo Okparanta, Happiness, Like Water (2013)
Monica Arac de Nyeko, ‘Jambula Tree’ (2007)
Wame Molefhe, Go Tell the Sun (2011)
Doreen Baingana, Tropical Fish: Stories out of Entebbe (2005)
Sefi Atta, News from Home (2009)

POETRY
Koleka Putuma, Collective Amnesia (2017)

MEMOIR:
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Infidel (2007)
Soraya Miré, The Girl with Three Legs (2011)
Unoma Azuah, Embracing My Shadow (2020)
Nkunzi Nkabinde, Black Bull, Ancestors and Me: My Life as a Lesbian Sangoma (2008)

ESSAYS:
Adichie, Chimamanda. We Should All Be Feminists (2014), Dear Ijeawele (2017)
Adichie, Chimamanda. “Chimamanda Adichie on Black Hair and the Narrow Definition of Beauty.” The Cut Magazine 2016
Ahikire, Josephine. 2014. “African feminism in context: Reflections on the legitimation battles, victories and reversals.” Feminist Africa 19: 7-23.
Chigumadzi, Panashe. 2019 “Why I’m No Longer Talking to Nigerians About Race”
Dabiri, Emma. 2014. “Why I am not an Afropolitan.” Africa is a Country website.
Eric-Udorie, June, ed. Can We All Be Feminists? London: Virago, 2018.
Eze, Chielozona. “We, Afropolitans.” Journal of African Cultural Studies, 28(1) (2015).
Gqola, Pumla Dineo. Reflecting Rogue: Inside the Mind of a Feminist (2017)
---. Rape: A South African Nightmare (2015)
---. “Ufanele uqavile: Blackwomen, feminisms and postcoloniality in Africa.” Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity 16.50 (2001): 11–22.
Kyomuhendo, Goretti. 2005. “To Be an African Woman Writer: The Joys and Challenges.” In Words and Worlds: African Writing, Literature and Society, ed. by Susan Arndt – Katrin Berndt, 185 – 192. Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press.
Lewis, Desiree. 2001. “Introduction: African Feminisms.” Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity 16. 50: 4–10.
--- et al. Surfacing: On Being Black and Feminist in South Africa (2021).
Matembe, Miria. “I Must Call Myself a Feminist.” Women Writing Africa: The Eastern Region, ed. Amandina Lihamba et al., 437. New York: Feminist Press, 2007.
Nkealah, Naomi. 2016. “(West) African Feminisms and Their Challenges.” Journal of Literary Studies, 32:2, 61-74.
Ogundipe-Leslie, Molara. Re-Creating Ourselves: African Women and Critical Transformations (1994)
Salami, Minna. Ms Afropolitan (blog) https://www.msafropolitan.com
Selasi, Taiye. (2005). “Bye Bye Babar.” The LIP Magazine.
Sephodi, Malebo. 2017. Miss Behave. Auckland Park: Blackbird Books.
Tamale, Sylvia. “African Feminism: How Should We Change?” Development 49.1 (2006)

Association in the course directory

ÜAL 1, ÜAL 2, SAL A, SAL B,
MA: SAL.VO.1, SAL.VO.2,
EC-148, EC-647

Last modified: Mo 31.07.2023 10:47