This course examines postcolonial societies and particularly the figure of the postcolonial “other.” Primarily through comparative literature, we will explore cultural, political and philosophical questions in postcolonial studies. Supplementary theoretical works and class discussions will help us further our understanding of the ongoing legacy of colonialism and the experience of being an “other” as an aspect of the human condition. The course will also consider the relationship between colonialism and modernity, as well as the prospects for postcolonial nations and diasporas in the 21st century. Students will have the opportunity to read works from diverse backgrounds and cultural contexts, including several by non-European authors.
