Postcolonial Theory and Africanist Discourse

Explores central questions in current Anglo-American postcolonial theory, and examines how related questions emerge with specific inflections in writings by Africanist philosophers, historians, and creative writers. Issues include: varied connotations of the very idea of "Africa"; ideology and subjectivity; constructivism and essentialism; nationalism and globalization; aesthetics and politics. Texts by Amilcar Cabral, Frantz Fanon, Stuart Hall, Paulin Hountondji, Fredric Jameson, Ernesto Laclau, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Wole Soyinka, Gayatri Spivak, Yvonne Vera. Enrollment limited to 15 graduate students. Undergraduate seniors may be admitted with instructor's permission.