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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 399"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in Media Studies: Postcolonial Literature and Cinema"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Clelia Clini
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
These are upper level courses which focus on special areas and issues within the field of Media Studies that give students in-depth exposure to particular theories within the field.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course will provide students with an introduction to postcolonial studies. The first part of the course will offer an overview of the most important topics in postcolonial studies, then we will proceed by addressing each and every one of such issues by analysing the theoretical debates surrounding them and we will discuss how such issues are expressed in literary and filmic texts. Topics include colonial discourse analysis; the issue of language; physical and mental colonisation and oppositional discourses; the concepts of 'nation' and nationalism in relation to culture and media; questions of gender in relation to empire and nation; diaspora, cosmopolitanism and identity; the problems of decolonization and the post-colonial state. Emphasis will be placed on colonial and postcolonial texts in the Anglophone and Francophone world.

NB: Considering that the course focuses both on literature and cinema it is MANDATORY for students to read all the assigned readings before each session.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students are expected to:

• Be able to describe key concepts in postcolonial studies
• Be able to critically discuss the main theoretical approaches in the field and how they relate to one another
• Apply theories of postcolonial studies to literary and filmic texts
• Develop an understanding of the role of gender in literary and filmic discourses on nation,nationalism and postcoloniality
• Be able to critically discuss similarity and differences in the literary and filmic works of authors who discuss different experience of post/colonialism
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Postcolonial Studies ReaderBill Ashcroft; Gareth Griffiths; Helen TiffinRoutledge0415345650 Please note that SEVERAL additional readings will be added   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The Empire Writes BackAshcroft, Bill; Griffiths, Gareth; Tiffin, HelenRoutledge0415280206  
Black Skins White MasksFanon FrantzGrove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press 9780802143006  
Fantasia: an Algerian Cavalcade Djebar AssiaPearson Education Limited9780435086213  
A Small PlaceKincaid, JamaicaFarrar, Straus and Giroux9780374527075  
Wide Sargasso SeaRhys, JeanPenguin9780140274219  
Midnight's childrenRushdie, SalmanVintage0099578514  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
participation  10%
attendance 5%
Midterm Exam 25%
In-class quizzes 20%
Final Exam  25%
Final Paper 15%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Please note that frequent absences automatically lower your participation grade. You are allowed three unexcused absences.

More than three unexcused absences (those not justified by a medical certificate or a note from the administration) will result in your final grade for the course to be dropped by one letter grade.

Anything above five unexcused absences will result in failure. Lateness: Students more than 10 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 10

minutes) is marked as such, and 3 late arrivals are counted as one absence.

Leaving the class for more than 10 minutes will be counted as one absence.


You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity.
Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused.
Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

NB: This is a preliminary schedule: some topics might be changed


• The use of laptop computers and other electronic devices during class is NOT permitted.


Week 1 Course Overview and introduction.

Week 2 Foundations. 

Week 3 Colonial Discourse Analysis and Language 

 Quiz

Week 4 Using The Master’s Tools 

Week 5 Physical And Mental Colonisation and Opposition
 Quiz

Week 6
Colonialism and Resistance
Screening: Lagaan (Ashutosh Gowariker, 2001)

Week 7 Review and Midterm Exam

Week 8 Nation and Nationalism 
Screening: La Battaglia d’Algeri, 1966

Week 9 Gender and the Nation in Francophone Postcolonial Studies 

Week 10 Gender and Nation II - The Anglophone World 
Quiz

Week 11 Diaspora, Cosmopolitanism and Identity 

Week 12 Race and the Postcolonial Nation  
Screening: My Son the Fanatic (Prasad Udayan, 1997)

Quiz

Week 13 Race and the Postcolonial Nation II 

Screening: Caché (Michael Haneke, 2005)

Week 14 Decolonization and The Postcolonial State.
Review