WGS 376/LIT 316
Global Women Writers

Fall 2008


Introduction

Assessment


Calendar of Readings and Assignments


I. Postcolonial and Feminist Theory

Thursday, August 28            

Introductions, freewriting

Tuesday, September 2

Reading on SOCS: Lugones, "Playfulness, World-Traveling, and Loving Perception"; Rich, "Notes Toward a Politics of Location"; Trinh T. Minh-Ha, "Not You Like You "

Portfolio: Write a paragraph about each of the three readings, noting main ideas and important terms. Use the links below to look up important terms. What questions would you like us to discuss in class?

Key terms and definitions in feminist theory

Key terms and definitions in postcolonial theory

Thursday, September 4

Reading on SOCS: Rajan and Park, "Postcolonialism and Feminism"; Ania Loomba, "Feminism, Nationalism, and Postcolonialism" from Colonialism/Postcolonialism (Routledge, 1998).

Portfolio: Write a paragraph about each of these readings, noting main ideas and important terms. Use the online dictionaries linked above to look up important terms. What questions would you like us to discuss in class?

Monday, September 8

Readings on SOCS: Hall, "Feminist Analysis" (pp. 199-210) and "Race, Ethnicity, and Postcolonial Analysis" (pp. 265-274).

Portfolio: Write a paragraph addressing each of the following questions:

1. Hall's chapters list key principles in each of these different approaches to literary analysis. Describe how you might combine one or more of the principles from each list for a feminist postcolonial analysis of a literary text.

2. What can you add to these principles by drawing on one or more of our previous readings in postcolonial feminism?

II. Between Worlds: Omishto and the Panther

Thursday, September 11

Reading: Hogan, Power, chapters 1-3

Monday, September 15

Reading: Hogan, Power, chapters 4-6

Thursday, September 18

Reading: Hogan, Power, chapters 7-9

Essays on Power due

III. Tales of Before: Girlhood and History

Monday, September 22

Yun, House of the Winds, chapters 1-4

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Melissa N., Nikki

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Rebecca

2 PM: Alex

Thursday, September 25

Yun, House of the Winds, chapters 5-10

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Taye, Ryne

2 PM: Marylyn

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Dan, Matt

2 PM: Emily, Rachel

Monday, September 29

Yun, House of the Winds, chapters 11-15

Facilitation groups:

10 AM: Heidi, Jessica, Bernardo, Nick

2 PM: Terri, Bob, Megan, Brittaney

IV. Village Occupation: Confronting Colony

Thursday, October 2

El Badry, Muntaha, ch. 1

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Amanda, Liz

2 PM: Caroline B., George

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Taye, Arielle

2 PM: Nick, Catherine

Monday, October 6

El Badry, Muntaha, ch. 2

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Katie, Molly

2 PM: Caroline R., Alex

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Nick, Bryan

2 PM: Terri

Thursday, October 9

El Badry, Muntaha, ch. 3

Facilitation group:

10 AM: Matt, Lauren, Melissa, Ryne

2 PM: Angela, Sarah, Katie, Vanessa

V. Passing Through: A Neighborhood Apart

Thursday, October 16

Umrigar, Bombay Time, Chapters 1-3

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Heidi, Heather

2 PM: Nick, Sarah

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Molly, Diana

2 PM: Brittaney, Brian

Monday, October 20

Umrigar, Bombay Time, Chapters 4 & 5

Illustration essays:

10 AM:Jessica, Lauren

2 PM: Sandy, Casey

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Dena, Andrew

2 PM: Kaitlyn, Jen

Thursday, October 23

Umrigar, Bombay Time, Chapters 6 & 7

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Bryan, Kelly

2 PM: Megan, Emily, Dan

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Nikki, Melissa

2 PM: Angela, Vanessa

Monday, October 27

Umrigar, Bombay Time, Chapter 8 to end

Facilitation group:

10 AM: Dan2, Arielle, Liz, Amanda

2 PM: Carrie, Caroline, Katie, Rachel

VI. Stories of Difference: Community on the Margin

Thursday, October 30

Macgoye, The Present Moment, chapters 1-4

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Rebecca, Dena

2 PM: Kevin, Diana

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Katie, Heather

2 PM: Megan, Emily

Monday, November 3

Macgoye, The Present Moment, chapters 5 & 6

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Bernardo, Nick

2 PM: Brittaney, Angela

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Ryne, Jessica

2 PM: Sarah, Bob

Thursday, November 6

Macgoye, The Present Moment, chapters 7-10

Facilitation group:

10 AM: Nikki, Melissa, Bryan, Andrew

2 PM: Daniel, Casey, Brian, Jim

VI. Garden of Destinies: Women's Escape

Monday, November 10

Parsipur, Women Without Men, pp. 1-70

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Arielle

2 PM: Jen, Bob

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Melissa H., Lauren

2 PM: George, Caroline B.

Thursday, November 13

Parsipur, Women Without Men, pp. 71-end

Facilitation group:

10 AM: Diana, Taye, Molly, Kelly

2 PM: Diana, Emily, Kevin, Alex

VII. Sex, Violence, and Big Feet

Monday, November 17

Ying, The Concubine of Shanghai, chapters 1-8

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Dan

2 PM: Brian, Terri

The Soap Opera

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Liz, Amanda

2 PM: Daniel, Casey

Thursday, November 20

Ying, The Concubine of Shanghai, chapters 9-16

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Andrew, Matthew

2 PM: Rachel, Vanessa

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Heidi, Kelly

2 PM: Kevin, Marylyn

Monday, November 24

Ying, The Concubine of Shanghai, chapters 17-25

Illustration essays:

10 AM: Dina, Melissa H.

2 PM: Kaitlyn, Catherine

Theory application essays:

10 AM: Bernardo

2 PM: Caroline R.

Monday, December 1

Ying, The Concubine of Shanghai, chapters 26-postscript

Facilitation group:

10 AM: Becky, Dena, Katie, Heather

2 PM: Sandy, Nick, George, Jen

Thursday, December 4 Wrap-up

Portfolio due; include final entry

Thursday, December 11 FINAL TAKE-HOME ESSAY DUE BY 5:00 PM

Monday, December 15 ALL REWRITES AND EXTRA CREDIT ESSAYS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 5:00 PM