This course will examine contemporary literary works, (novels, stories, poetry, films), in the context of the phenomenon of globalization. Students will look at literary works from a wide range of countries, all taken from recent decades, and look for the elements of a common historical experience. It will focus mainly on works that address or represent characteristic dimensions of recent global history and supplement this study with relevant critical readings on topics such as the erosion of national identities, the experience of migration, the rise of global capitalism, ecological exhaustion, and the transformation of social life due to new technologies. Special attention will be given to contemporary literature from the Pacific region exploring the impact of globalization in Pacific culture and society.
The course will include readings on the question of how globalization should transform the task of studying and teaching literature. It will look at some of the terms and concepts which have been used in recent years to formulate this challenge – from the idea of post-colonialism as a challenge the traditional model of the national literature to more recent notions such as diaspora literature, cosmopolitanism, and transcultural studies. In particular, we will look at some texts on the idea of “World Literature”, which has been a central topic of conferences and seminars over the last ten years, By working through these readings, students will be able to reflect on the impact of globalization and digitalization, and to consider how literary studies should respond to a situation where literature and culture no longer produced and consumed within a national culture, but against the background of social changes due to globalization and global media culture.
The course will include readings on the question of how globalization should transform the task of studying and teaching literature. It will look at some of the terms and concepts which have been used in recent years to formulate this challenge – from the idea of post-colonialism as a challenge the traditional model of the national literature to more recent notions such as diaspora literature, cosmopolitanism, and transcultural studies. In particular, we will look at some texts on the idea of “World Literature”, which has been a central topic of conferences and seminars over the last ten years, By working through these readings, students will be able to reflect on the impact of globalization and digitalization, and to consider how literary studies should respond to a situation where literature and culture no longer produced and consumed within a national culture, but against the background of social changes due to globalization and global media culture.
- Teacher: Nushrat Azam
- Teacher: Mark Hewson