English: Lit. of New African Diaspora

Advanced study in nineteenth-century literature. Representative topics: The Beat Generation; Literature and Society in Modern Ireland; Dostoevsky's Influence on Twentieth-century American Literature. May be repeated for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Credit not awarded for both ENGL 3400 and ENGL 5300. Prerequisites: ENGL 1500, ENGL 2000; English major, Secondary Education major with a concentration in English, or English minor; minimum Junior standing.

Prereqs enforced by the system: ENGL 1500 and ENGL 2000; ENGL majors, minors & SEE majors with concentration in ENGL only minimum Junior standing. PACE students by permission and override

ENGL 3400 A: Literature of the New African Diaspora This Course examines the works of some of the most prominent African immigrant writers located in the US and Europe. The following texts refracting African immigrants’ lifeworlds and lived experiences as they move in and out of different African and diasporic locations will be examined in detail: Chimamanda Adichie’s, Americanah, Chris Abani’s The Virgin of Flames, Teju Cole’s Open City, Leila Aboulela’s The Translator, Taiye Selasi‘s Ghana Must Go, Fatou Diome’s The Belly of the Atlantic, and Alain Mabanckou’s Blue White Red. These writers’ handling of issues like history, tradition, race, gender, class, sexuality, disability, and identity will feature prominently in class discussions.

My teaching style favors a combination of discussion, Socratic-style debate, and very careful analysis of assigned texts (which means that you must ALWAYS have the required reading material with you in class). I ask that you come to class with your mouth, ears, heart, and mind open; that you listen to and respect each other; and that you challenge yourself, your classmates, and me to do our very best.

Grading is based on class attendance and participation; formal essays; group presentation.