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| Unit name |
New Lusophone Worlds |
| Unit code |
HISP30038 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Cosme |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit focuses mainly on Lusophone African Literature. It will relate the literary texts to the social, political and cultural development of the former colonial territories of Portugal, which became independent after 1975. There will be opportunities to study the contemporary histories of Angola and Mozambique, the nature and evolution of the political regimes that took power in 1975, the background to and courses of the civil wars of the 1980s and 90s, the role of the Cold War in postcolonial Lusophone Africa, and the gradual emergence of free-market and multi-party regimes. Some coverage will also be given to the smaller Lusophone African countries (Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé e Principe), as well as to the experiences of other Lusophone countries and regions (e.g. East Timor).
Aims:
- To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to final year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
- To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
- To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level I.
- To equip students with the skills to undertake postgraduate study in a relevant field.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful students will:
- be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
- will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
- be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;
- be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;
- be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.
Teaching Information
Two seminar hours per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours).
Assessment Information
One of the following:
a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)
b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)
c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent)
d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each)
e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%).
Reading and References
Key Reading
- Malyn Newitt, Portugal in Africa
- P. Chabal, D. Brookshaw et al, The Postcolonial Literature of Lusophone Africa
- Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Decolonising the Mind
- Mia Couto, Pensatempos
Literary Texts
A selection from the following
- Pepetela, Mayombe
- Manuel Rui, Quem Me Dera ser Onda
- Mia Couto, Vozes Anoitecidas
- Ungulani Ba Ka Khosa, Ualalapi
- Paulina Chiziane, Niketche
- Pepetela, A Parábola do Cágado Velho
- José Eduardo Agualusa, Estação das Chuvas
- Mia Couto, O Ultimo Voo do Flamingo
- Germano Almeida, O Testamento do Senhor Nepumoceno da Silva Araújo
- Luís Cardoso, Crónica de uma Travessia
