Professor Barron - Literature

Postcolonial Literary Project

Each group will be assigned a topic and present their findings to the class as a PowerPoint Presentation covering the areas described below.  (If you would like to propose another presentation format, see me).

I. Historical Framework (60 pts):

(A) Your group will research and put together a body of information tracing the actions of the European Colonial Powers beginning from the 15^th Century to the present. This will include identifying where these powers went and which territories they seized/occupied.

(B) You will show the progressive evolution of the occupation by the colonial power(s) up to the present.  When did the occupation/presence end? Did the colonizers peacefully relinquish their hold on (or rights to) these territories?  Did the colonized revolt?

For this part, consider constructing timelines, using maps, etc., to consolidate material.

II. The effects or aftermath of colonization on colonized territories (40 pts.):

(A) Social

(B) Political

(C) Economic

(D) Other

For this part, you may want to identify particular areas of interest or concern, rather than trying to account for all of the effects in your region.

III. Post Colonial Echoes in Literature and the Arts (80 pts.)

1. Here your focus is to locate Literature, Music, and Art produced from the standpoint the colonized.  These items should NOT include works we have already studied together in class (works that have been mentioned briefly are fine!)

• At least 2 works of Fiction or Drama (novel, short story, or play)
• At least 2 Poems
• At least 2 work of Visual Art or Music
• At least 2 Films

2. Comment on each piece of Literature/Art/Music, highlighting post colonial issues/perspectives

IV. Conclusion (20 pts.):  Do a general summation of your findings, your thoughts on the impact of European Colonialism on native peoples, their cultures, etc.   What new insights did you gain on YOUR WORLD from this exercise? 

These are the areas for research (there are different opinions about how countries and regions should be categorized):

1.Africa

2.South Asia (Primarily India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, but consider (possibly) Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and/or Afghanistan.

3.East and Southeast Asia 

4.South and Central America

5.The Middle East (Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan)

6.The Caribbean

How to proceed: 

• Begin with Part I and delegate responsibilities to each individual in your group. 
• Again, as you begin Part II, delegate responsibilities to specific individuals.
• You may want to divide your geographical area of interest into sections for different group members.  Do not feel obligated to cover the entire geographical area.  Choose countries or areas that were particularly affected by colonialism, or in which you are particularly interested.
•  Share and discuss your work—don’t work in isolation!  Try to finish Part I & II before embarking on Part III.