POSTCOLONIAL SOCIETY AND CULTURES

The course, one of the core educational activities of the Laurea in Lingue, Civiltà e Scienze del linguaggio, may be of of interest to students of English language and literatures, of anglophone cultures, of cultural dynamics of globalization, migration, and cultural pluralism. It explores concepts and debate that may appeal to students exploring other postcolonial contexts such as that of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Students will be provided with a general overview of the main concepts, schools, and debates in contemporary postcolonial studies, with specific reference to the issue of migration. They will acquire a basic knowledge and understanding of postcolonial theory and its specialized language. They will be able to apply selected concepts, terms, and perspectives to literary (as well as some non literary) texts. They will be invited to develop independent thinking and judgment and will be encouraged to improve their communication skills in relation to the issues at stake. The final goal will be to enable students to address migration (and more generally postcolonial) literary texts from a theoretical perspective in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner, and to have a better understanding of the importance of migration in today's world.

Advanced reading, speaking and writing knowledge of English

FICTIONS OF MIGRATIONS. Postcolonial studies, which examine the enduring influence of colonialism on today’s world, provide a key perspective on the English speaking world, and more generally on all societies (including Italy) with a colonial history. If English is one of the most widespread languages globally and a lingua franca of international exchange, it is mostly because of the unparalleled reach of British imperialism. Postcolonial studies help students to understand the global scope of English language and culture and to have a critical understanding of cultural difference and cross-cultural exchange in our increasingly diverse society. This course specifically explores literary accounts of migration written in English over the last decades. We live in an age defined by migration, where people leave their native lands behind voluntarily or are forced out of them because of war, climate change, political unrest, economic reasons. Displacement, trauma, death, alienation are unavoidable components of these passages, which also create new identities, opportunities, challenges. The texts we are going to examine are an excellent compass to make sense of the many facets of migration but also to understand the plural, democratic societies we are striving to build and the constitutional values that are facing unprecedented challenges at this political time.

Jacqueline Bhabha, CAN WE SOLVE THE MIGRATION CRISIS? (2017)
Tash Aw, THE FACE: STRANGERS ON A PIER (2016)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, AMERICANAH (2013)
Mohsin Hamid, EXIT WEST (2015)
Deepak Unnikrishnan, TEMPORARY PEOPLE (2017)
Other selected texts may be made available on the course moodle page.

Written test with open questions on all assigned readings and class discussion. Students unable to attend classes (“non frequentanti”) are advised to see the instructor during his office hours or by appointment (not via email) for additional bibliography.

Lectures and class discussion. Students are expected to attend regularly and to complete assigned readings before each class.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development