Universität Wien

240503 SE MM1 Postcolonial Studies in the Indian Context: Theories and Debates (2024W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!

The lecturer can invite students to a grade-relevant discussion about partial achievements. Partial achievements that are obtained by fraud or plagiarized result in the non-evaluation of the course (entry 'X' in certificate). The plagiarism software 'Turnitin' will be used.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.
Moodle
Tu 22.10. 13:15-14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock

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. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 01.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 08.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 15.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 29.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 05.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 12.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 19.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 26.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 03.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 10.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 17.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 07.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 14.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 21.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 28.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Postcolonial literature has renewed the way the colonial past and post-colonial present are approached, analysing the political, economic, historical, cultural and social impact of European colonial rule around the world. It has enabled the decoding of current societies, shedding light on the ideological, social and cultural aftermath of colonisation.
This course aims to introduce students to the history and theory of postcolonial studies by focusing on key debates and concepts theorised by postcolonial thinkers, and they application in anthropology. We will read post-colonial literature, examining how the colonial past and colonial assumptions impact present day’s South Asian, in particular Indian society.

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: 30%
2) Participation to the discussions during the courses: 10%
3) 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 arguments, and debate discussed in the text[s]); this presentation can also be a preliminary version of the seminar paper: 20%
4) Seminar 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

The course will provide an understanding of postcolonial theory and the specific contribution of Subaltern Studies to this theory; Provide an understanding of the application and use of postcolonial theory in anthropology in/on South Asia and India. The course will also provide the students with the possibility to improve their experience in academic writing.

Reading list

Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G. and Tiffin, H. [1995] 2003. The Post-Colonial Studies Reader. London & New York : Routledge
Chakrabarty, Dipesh. 2005. "A Small History of Subaltern Studies", in: Schwarz, H. and Ray, S. (eds), A Companion to Postcolonial Studies. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 467-485.
Cohn, Bernard S., 1987. An Anthropologist among the Historians and Other Essays. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Guha, Ranajit; James Scott (intro). 1999. Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India. Duke University Press.
Gupta, Akhil. 1995. "Blurred Boundaries: The Discourse of Corruption, the Culture of Politics, and the Imagined State", American Ethnologist, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 375-402
Said, Edward. 1978. Orientalism. New York: Pantheon.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 01.10.2024 11:46