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76492-01 - Lecture: Introduction to Postcolonial Studies (2 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Ana Sobral (ana.sobral@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Reflecting on ‘Afropean’ identity – a mixture of European and African origins – the author Johny Pitts explained in an interview about his highly successful book "Afropean: Travels in Black Europe" (2020): "We are here because you were there." In effect, Western Europe’s colonial expansion, which lasted more than 400 years and transformed the entire planet, has left a deep imprint on worldwide societies, cultures, literatures and mentalities which lasts well into our days. In this lecture, we will look at the main themes and approaches of Postcolonial Studies, a transdisciplinary approach that focuses on the many consequences of colonialism and imperialism on representation, language and cultural creativity. A key aspect that will inform all our discussion is the issue of continuities, showing how exploitative and expropriating actions of Western European colonial powers centuries ago still have consequences on today’s main events, experiences and debates. Our exploration will include literary texts, paintings, music videos, films, series and major activist movements such as Black Lives Matter. |
| Learning objectives | Students will be introduced to key theories, concepts and arguments from postcolonial studies, as well as key literary texts and relevant cultural performances in this field. |
| Bibliography | Theoretical and additional primary texts will be made available on ADAM. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | None |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 18.09.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 102 |
| Thursday 25.09.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 102 |
| Thursday 02.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 102 |
| Thursday 09.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Biozentrum, Hörsaal U1.131 |
| Thursday 16.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 23.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 30.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 06.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 13.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 20.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 27.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 04.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 001 |
| Thursday 11.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Biozentrum, Hörsaal U1.101 |
| Thursday 18.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Biozentrum, Maurice E. Müller Saal U1.111 |
| Modules |
Modul: Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Literaturgeschichte (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) Module: Advanced Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Module: Fields: Knowledge Production and Transfer (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Fields: Media and Imagination (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: English) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Module: Interphilology: Literary and Cultural Studies MA (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) Module: Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Written exam (90 min) in the last session of the term |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | one repetition, repetition counts |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |