INS 1001: INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE LITERATURE AND CULTURE

Professor Binita Mehta

Office: Founders G-26B

Phone: (914) 323-5407 (on campus x5407)

“BREAKING BARRIERS: PERSPECTIVES FROM CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE AND FILM”

Course Goals

We will read contemporary works of fiction and nonfiction by writers from the Africa, England/Bangladesh, India, and Iran. The protagonists of these works break through sexual, religious, caste and other barriers in order to assert themselves within the cultural and political context of their specific societies. Topics to be discussed will include issues related to colonialism and post-colonialism, religion, immigration, the role of women, and the relationship between literature and society. We will also watch three films that deal with some of the cross-cultural issues that appear in these texts.

Required Texts in the order they are assigned:

Dangarembga, Tsitsi. Nervous Conditions. Seal Press, 2002

Ali, Monica. Brick Lane. Scribner, 2004

Roy, Arundhati, The God of Small Things. Perennial, 1998

Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003

Rushdie, Salman, Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002. Random House, 2002 (handouts)

Film Selection: Bhaji on the Beach (1993), Chaos (2001), Mississippi Masala (1991)

Course Requirements

Attendance and Class Participation

Regular attendance and participation in discussion is an important part of the course. It is assumed that the students will be prepared for each class by completing required readings and assigned writings. A short reaction paper of 1-3 typewritten and double-spaced pages is required for any one assigned segment of the assigned text. You will also write a short report of one of the three films we will watch during the semester.

Oral Presentations

You will lead a 10-minute discussion in class about one of the assigned readings over the course of the semester.

Midterm Exam

The midterm exam will consist of answering two or three essay questions that will test your knowledge of the works discussed in class.

Final Paper

The final paper of 7-10 typewritten and double-spaced pages is due by the last class. A short outline of the paper is due three weeks before the end of the semester. Choose one of the authors from the reading list and read another one of his or her works. Alternatively, you can choose another author from one of the geographical areas covered by the works on the reading list. The paper should have a thesis statement, with clear organization and analysis. It should show awareness of literary as well as socio-political issues.

Grades

40% Attendance, Class Participation & Reaction papers

10% Oral Presentation

25% Midterm Exam

25% Final Paper

Useful websites

http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/bahri

Schedule of Assignments

(This schedule is subject to change)

Date Assignments

Class1 Introduction to the course

Class 2 Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions

Class 3 Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions

Class 4 Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions

Class 5 Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions

Class 6 Film

Class 7 Film

Class 8 Monica Ali, Brick Lane

Class 9 Ali, Brick Lane

Class 10 Ali, Brick Lane

Class 11 Ali, Brick Lane

Class 12 Film

Class 13 Film

Class 14 Midterm

Class 15 Arundhati Roy, God of Small Things (chap. 1-5)

Class 16 Roy, God…(chap. 6-10)

Class 17 Roy, God…(chap. 11-15)

Class 18 Roy, God…(chap. 16-21)

Class 19 Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran (Part I)

Class 20 Nafisi, Reading Lolita…(Part II)

Class 21 Nafisi, Reading Lolita…(Part III)

Class 22 Nafisi, Reading Lolita…(Part IV)

Class 23 Nafisi, Reading Lolita…(Epilogue)

Film

Class 24 Film

Class 25 Thanksgiving Break –No Class

Class 26 Rushdie, Step Across This Line (selected essays) (handouts)

Class 27 Rushdie, Step…

Class 28 Rushdie, Step…

Class 29 Last day of class; Final Paper due