COMP 347
Imagining Africa: The Politics of Representation
Last Offered Spring 2008
Division II
Writing Skills
Cross-listed
AFR 377 / ENGL 348
This course is not offered in the current catalog
Class Details
This course will examine cultural representations of Africa in an effort to sharpen critical thinking and interpretive skills. Taking “Africa” as our focal point, we will collectively consider key questions about representations: Who has the authority to define an “object” (i.e., Africa or Africans), and how is that authority conferred? What motivates particular images and, more importantly, what are their effects? What role do particular assumptions or constructions of race play in shaping culture? What is the relationship between a “simple” book or image and “the real world”? And what, finally, does it mean to make claims about an entire continent? Our primary source material may include travel narratives, novels, journalism, and films that variously represent Africa. Along with some theoretical essays on representation (including some by Stuart Hall, Roland Barthes, and W.J.T. Mitchell), primary texts may include Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Out of Africa, Guelwaar, Nightline’s report Heart of Darkness, the documentary Amandla!, and photographs of Darfur.
The Class:
Format: seminar; class will consist of lively class discussions and revision workshops
Limit: 16
Expected: 16
Class#: 3024
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Limit: 16
Expected: 16
Class#: 3024
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation:
regular 1-page writing assignments, one final project, and two formal essays
Prerequisites:
none
Enrollment Preferences:
Africana Studies concentrators
Distributions:
Division II
Writing Skills
Notes:
meets Division 2 requirement if registration is under AFR; meets Division 1 requirement if registration is under ENGL or COMP
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
COMP 347 Division II AFR 377 Division II ENGL 348 Division II
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
COMP 347 Division II AFR 377 Division II ENGL 348 Division II
Attributes:
AFR Interdepartmental Electives
INST African Studies Electives
INST African Studies Electives
Class Grid
Updated 2:06 am
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COMP 347 - SEM Politics of Representation
COMP 347 SEM Politics of RepresentationDivision II Writing SkillsNot offered
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