Course syllabus
Welcome to EN2104: Southern African Literature, 7.5 credits
Please find the Lesson Plan under Files!
This course offers an introduction to the literature of Southern Africa with a special emphasis on environmental representations. Shaped by a rich and complex history which often revolves around competing and conflicting claims to land and natural resources, these texts address the intersections of environmental concerns, sustainability and human rights. The large scale land appropriation and violent relocation of the majority of the population was modelled on Eurocentric ideas concerning the relation between humanity and the natural environment where indigenous populations were often seen as part of nature. The course will introduce students to a range of literary and theoretical texts which focus on the present day legacy of this history and its consequences for environmental concerns. We explore some of the historical, formal, political and ethical aspects of Southern African literature and discuss it within the framework of theories within Environmental Humanities.
Assessment: Students are expected to come prepared to discuss the assigned material in class. Please identify one important issue or topic for each class that you want to focus on in the class discussion!
Written assignments: Choose one or several of these issues and topics and develop these into your final paper (about 3000 words). For this paper you need to include references to additional material in the form of academic articles in journals or books. Missed classes: Please make sure that you include material assigned for these seminars in your final paper!
Deadline: 6 January, 2020. Submit per email to maria.olaussen@sprak.gu.se
Course summary:
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