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64258-01 - Practical course: Narrating Zambia’s History – Namwali Serpell’s "The Old Drift" (2 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2022 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Julia Tischler (julia.tischler@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This block course uses Namwali Serpell’s celebrated novel The Old Drift as a way to explore the history and historiography of Zambia in central-southern Africa. Serpell’s narration of several generations of three Zambian families, centrally revolving around maternal figures, offers a wealth of insights into Zambia’s colonial and postcolonial history. At the same time a historical novel and science fiction, the novel engages with key events and themes of Zambia’s past, present, and future, including colonization, matters of race and gender, decolonization, and climate change. Juxtaposing Serpell’s interpretations with historical literature on selected events, we explore the blurred lines between fiction and history. Thus, the course is not only an exercise to study the narratives of an African nation, but also interrogates our notion of history as a scientific discipline itself. A first online session introduces the novel and some of its historical background. We will then assign themes that students are to explore in detail in the course of the semester. There will be at least one consultation (online) towards the middle of the semester to check in on students’ progress with their individual themes. During our block session in June, students will present their research to each other. Dates: Online block on Monday, 14 March, 10:00-13:00 Presentation block (on-site) on Tuesday, 7 June, 9:00-17:00 |
| Bibliography | Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift. New York 2019. J.B. Gewald, M. Hinfelaar, G. Macola (eds.), One Zambia, Many Histories Towards a History of Post-colonial Zambia. Leiden 2009. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor History: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: History) Modul: Areas: Afrika (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Fields: Knowledge Production and Transfer (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Fields: Media and Imagination (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Themenfelder der Geschlechterforschung (Bachelor's degree subject: Gender Studies) Modul: Vertiefung Themenfelder der Geschlechterforschung (Master's degree subject: Gender Studies) Wahlbereich Master Geschichte: Empfehlungen (Master's degree subject: History) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Geschichte |