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| Semester | spring semester 2023 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Silke Stroh (silke.stroh@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | In recent decades, the contributions of Black and Asian diasporas to the British cultural scene have gained increasing recognition. Initially often viewed as a marginal or sub-cultural presence, they have experienced considerable mainstreaming. This survey course studies a range of Black and Asian artists and creative works – literary, filmic and otherwise. We will also discuss the controversial question of whether it actually makes sense to distinguish those artists and works as a distinct sub-field, set apart from their white British counterparts. What are the implications of this distinction? How have arguments and terminologies changed over the years? How do these works and their reception reflect the dynamics of colonial and immigration history? How do processes of cultural canon formation (or re-formation) relate to collective identity? How can theories of (post)colonialism, racism, diaspora, multi- and transculturalism, (trans)nationalism, cosmopolitanism, space/place and memory studies help us to make sense of these texts and debates? How do creative productions, in turn, shed light on those theoretical questions? And which aesthetic strategies do they use? We will thus combine wider socio-political and conceptual questions with elements of cultural history and more detailed explorations of individual sample texts. |
| Learning objectives | Students will become acquainted with key features in Black and Asian British social and cultural history, and with a range of individual artists and works – literary, filmic, and otherwise. They will also improve their understanding of relevant concepts and controversies from literary and cultural theory. This will provide them with a general framework which can serve as a basis for their further, more specialised studies in this subject area. |
| Bibliography | The lecture slides, short post-lecture handouts, and some suggestions for optional extra reading (primary and secondary texts) will be made available on ADAM. Those who wish to do some voluntary extra reading in advance may find useful starting points in: - Nasta, Susheila; & Mark U Stein (ed.) (2020). "The Cambridge History of Black and Asian British Writing". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - Chambers, Colin (2011). "Black and Asian Theatre in Britain: A History". London & New York: Routledge. - Ley, Graham; & Sarah Dadswell (ed.) (2011). "British South Asian Theatres: A Documented History" (book with DVD). Exeter Performance Studies. Exeter: University of Exeter Press. - Mercer, Kobena (et al.) (1988). "Black Film, British Cinema". London: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). - Nwonka, Clive; & Anamik Saha (ed.) (2021). "Black Film British Cinema II". London: Goldsmiths Press. … or in these anthologies: - Dawes, Kwame (ed.) (2010). "Red: An Anthology of Contemporary Black British Poetry". Leeds: Inscribe. - Goddard, Lynette (ed) (2011). "The Methuen Drama Book of Plays by Black British Writers". London: Methuen Drama. - Kay, Jackie; James Procter; & Gemma Robinson (ed.) (2012). "Out of Bounds: British Black & Asian Poets". Newcastle / Bloodaxe Poetry Series, vol. 11. Newcastle: Dept. of English Literary & Linguistic Studies, Newcastle University; & Tarset: Bloodaxe. - Parkes, Nii Ayikwei (ed.) (2018). "Filigree: Contemporary Black British Poetry". Leeds: Inscribe. - Robson, Cheryl; Amanda Rodgers; & Ashley Thorpe (ed.) (2018). "British East Asian Plays". Twickenham: Aurora Metro. - Ross, Jacob (ed.) (2015). "Closure: Contemporary Black British Short Stories". Leeds: Inscribe. |
| Weblink | ADAM |
| Admission requirements | None |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 20.02.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 27.02.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Fasnachstferien |
| Monday 06.03.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 13.03.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 20.03.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 27.03.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 03.04.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 10.04.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Ostern |
| Monday 17.04.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 24.04.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 01.05.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Tag der Arbeit |
| Monday 08.05.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 15.05.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Monday 22.05.2023 | 16.15-18.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 115 |
| Modules |
Modul: Advanced Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Fields: Media and Imagination (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Literaturgeschichte (Master's degree program: Literary Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Open book exam (120 min.) at the end of 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 |