Module description
This module offers a series of readings of texts, from around the globe and from different historical periods, which are all marked – albeit in different ways – by the experience of imperialism and colonialism. Focusing on imperialism both within and beyond Europe, the module purposefully juxtaposes texts from different geographical, cultural, and chronological positions, thereby providing students with the opportunity to compare different expressions of, and perspectives on, nineteenth- and twentieth-century imperialism, as well as to consider continuities and differences between modern and pre-modern empires. The texts studied represent a wide range of different genres and are written by a diverse set of writers, enabling students to explore the impact and potential of different literary forms as vehicles to articulate, explore, and probe different perspectives.
Assessment is by one 3,000-word essay, in which students are asked to relate individual texts to wider themes, which may include (post-)colonial identity, race and ethnography, gender, representations of landscape and geographical imaginaries, culture and imperialism, and imperial and colonial ideologies.
Assessment details
1 x 3,000 word essay
Teaching pattern
One hour lecture and one hour seminar, weekly