San Jos� State University Department of English & Comparative Literature English 123D -- Global Literature: South Asia, �Narrating the Nation,� Fall 2011 Revathi Krishnaswamy Instructor: FO 125 Office Location: (408) 924-1384 Telephone: Revathi.krishnaswamy@sjsu.edu Email: Office Hrs: M 1.30-3.30; W: 1.30-3.30 by appointment Office Hours: MW 9.00-10.15 Class Days/Time: BC SH 229 Classroom: V GE/SJSU Studies Category: MYSJSU Messaging You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through MySJSU (or other communication system as indicated by the instructor). Course Description If nations are �imagined communities,� how is the nation called �India� imagined? With this fundamental question in mind, we will examine the relationship between nation and narration through an in-depth study of selected literature and film from the Indian subcontinent. Our examination will be placed within the larger historical context of decolonization in the sense not only of formal independence from European rule, but also of contemporary struggles against persistent forms of imperialism and internal colonization. We will focus on three key moments that highlight the process of nation formation on the Indian subcontinent: (1) the nationalist struggle against British colonial rule, (2) the partition of the subcontinent by the British at the time of independence, and (3) the independent modern liberal nation-state. By analyzing key texts of literature (in English/in English translation) as well as film, we will attempt to understand how nationalism mobilizes religion, gender, caste and class in an attempt to produce a hegemonic image of a people. Class discussions will address a wide range of questions including the following: . What is the impact of British colonialism in South Asia? . What are the cultural and political consequences of the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan (and subsequently Bangla Desh)? . How does religion structure colonialism and nationalism on the Indian subcontinent? How is �communalism� produced or represented in literature/film? . What are the legacies of colonialism for women on the Indian subcontinent and how did Indian nationalism resolve �the woman question�? . What material and ideological effects did the iconic representation of India as woman (�Mother India�) produce? What possible contrasts can you imagine from other national iconic self-conceptions (e.g., �Uncle Sam�)? . In what ways do notions of caste underwrite dominant images of India? . How is dominant nationalism resisted or contested by various subaltern groups within India? . How does diaspora inflect the notion of nation? How do diasporic writers relate to their �imaginary homelands�? . What is the impact of globalization on India today? What does the rise of India as a global power mean for America and the rest of the world? GE Area V Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives (�GE� in syllabus) GE 1: Students shall be able to compare systematically the ideas, values, images, cultural artifacts, economic structures, technological developments, or attitudes of people from more than one culture outside the U.S. GE 2: Students shall be able to identify the historical context of ideas and cultural traditions outside the U.S. and how they have influenced American culture. GE 3: Students shall be able to explain how a culture outside the U.S. has changed in response to internal and external pressures. English Department Student Learning Objectives (�E� in syllabus) Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Read closely in a variety of forms, styles, structures, and modes, and articulate the value of close reading in the study of Literature 2. Show familiarity with major literary works, genres, periods, and critical approaches to Literature 3. Write clearly, effectively, and creatively, and adjust writing style appropriately to the content, the context, and the nature of the subject 4. Develop and carry out research projects, and locate, evaluate, organize, and incorporate information effectively 5. Articulate the relations among culture, history, and texts. Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: . approach global issues through the study of culture and literature. . develop a comparative global approach to the reading, interpretation, and evaluation of literary texts . have greater insight into various social, political, and cultural issues of global importance through the study of recent/contemporary literature. . learn from not just about different cultures/literatures . better understand the cultures and literatures of the Indian subcontinent . analyze the narrative techniques, rhetorical strategies, and ideological assumptions in different literary and cinematic texts and formulate their own position in relation to them. . develop skills as a critical reader and writer by becoming more aware of audience, tone, diction, and style. Required Texts/Readings Course Reader : includes critical essays and short stories (available at Maple Press, 481 E. San Carlos; between 10th & 11th next to Subway; ph: 297-1000) Novels: The Home and the World, by Rabindranath Tagore Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai Films: Gandhi, Dir. Richard Attenborough (Hollywood treatment of the birth of India and Pakistan as independent nations) Terrorist Dir. Santosh Sivan (Tamil with English subtitles; female Tamil-Tiger Assassin) Classroom Protocol Attendance & Participation: Regular attendance and active participation in class discussions are extremely important. Please arrive on time and stay for the entire class. You are responsible for all materials assigned, presented and discussed. You are encouraged to take notes in class, but you should have studied the materials before class begins. Poor attendance/participation will have negative effects on your final grade. Since most classes will be based on group discussions, presentations and workshops it is crucial for you to keep up with the readings and take an active as well as thoughtful role in all classroom activities. Your questions, comments, insights, and interpretations are valuable no matter how outlandish they may seem. So do speak up! Conferencing: I encourage you to visit me in my office whenever you need to discuss something, whether it is an assignment or any other difficulty you may be having with the structure and format of the class. I am completely open to criticism and suggestions because the only way I can fix things is if I know what is wrong. Submitting work: All work must be turned in on paper during the class period on the date indicated in the schedule; please do not email assignments to me unless I ask you to do so. All readings are listed against dates they will be discussed in class; so when you come to class you should have already read the materials and be prepared to discuss them Dropping and Adding Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/webdbgen/ narr/soc-fall/rec-324.html . Information about late drop is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes. Assignments and Grading Policy Note: All assignments are due on the dates indicated in the schedule. Unless you get prior permission from me, you will lose one letter grade for every late day. No assignments will be accepted beyond one week from the due date. Reader Response: (250 x 12 = 2800 words) For every major reading assigned, you will turn in a one page �Reader Response� (RR) in which you will (a) briefly summarize the main arguments/themes in the critical/literary text; 4-5 sentences (b) provide your own critical comments/views; 3-4 sentences (c) raise one or two questions for discussion; 2-3 sentences. Your RR should be divided into three distinct sections: summary, critical comments, and questions. Follow the same format in all RRs. Each RR should be no more than one typed page, standard font, standard margins (250 words). You will do 12 RRs in all. You will submit your RR on the day the reading is discussed in class. When a text is scheduled for discussion over multiple days, you have a choice of when to submit your RR. Grading Criteria: As long as you do all 12 RRs and turn them in on the due date, you will get the full points for this assignment. (GE slo 1, 2; E slo 1, 2) Film Review: (750 words) You will write two short reviews of the films we view. Your review should be addressed to a sophisticated intellectual audience (readers of The New York Times or The New Yorker, for example) but one that is probably unfamiliar with the details of Indian history/culture. Grading Criteria: Critical and insightful analysis of one or more of the following: plot, theme, characterization, imagery, symbol, and cinematography. (GE slo 2, 3; E slo 2, 5) Midterm Exam: (take home) You will be asked to do close reading and critical analyses of character, theme, symbol or narrative technique in a novel/set of short stories. Grading Criteria: Ability to pay attention to details in a literary text; ability to present a valid interpretation and to support your argument with textual evidence. (GE slo 1, E slo 1, 3) Research Paper: (1500 words) You will write a research paper on a significant theme that cuts across two or more texts we study (at least one of these must be a novel). You will submit your topic & annotated bibliography for approval on the date indicated in the schedule. In the final draft, you will be expected to incorporate and cite at least five secondary sources in MLA format. Grading Criteria: Ability to analyze literary texts with clarity and insight; ability to research a variety of sources; ability to integrate researched material into original thought/writing; ability to format essay using accurate MLA style. (GE slo 2, 3, E slo 4, 5) Presentation: At the final meeting, you may be asked to present a brief oral synopsis of your research paper; as part of this presentation you will prepare a one-page bullet pointed summary of the main ideas in your research paper and share this with the class. Grading: Reader Response (10 x 12) 120 Film Reviews (75 x 2) 150 Midterm exam (take home) 250 Research paper 380 (80 annotated bibliography) Participation & Presentation 100 Total 1000 points Extra Credit: [will help if you miss a couple of RRs or are teetering between two grades; view any two of these films outside of class; give me a one-page single-spaced write-up of how the films�s themes relate to those we�re discussing in class] Slumdog Millionaire, Dir. Danny Boyle (poor boy strikes rich in game show) Fire, Dir. Deepa Mehta (patriarchal domination subverted) Earth, Dir. Deepa Mehta (India/Pakistan Partition, as remembered by young girl in later years) Water, Dir. Deepa Mehta (historic mistreatment of widows in India) Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Dir. Aparna Sen (intersection of religious sectarian violence and romance) Roja, Dir. Mani Ratnam (south Indian wife rescues husband from Kashmiri terrorists) Bombay, Dir Mani Ratnam (inter-religious romance set against Hindu-Muslim conflict) Indian, Dir. Kamalahasan (story of patriotic patriarch and his fight for India) Hey Ram, Dir. Kamalahasan (story of Hindu fundamentalist�s attempt to assassinate Gandhi) The Guru Dir. Daisy von Scherler Mayer (comedy; the [sexual] orientalization of immigrants; plays on stereotypes) My Son the Fanatic, Dir. Udayan Prasad based on a book by Hanif Kureishi (second generation UK Pakistanis; generational conflict; religious fundamentalism modeling masculinity) The Namesake, Dir. Mira Nair (novel by Jumpa Lahiri, about Indian immigrants in the U.S.) Mystic Masseur, In 1950s Trinidad, a frustrated writer supports himself as a masseur--and soon becomes a revered mystic and politico. My Beautiful Laundrette, interesting take on class and sexuality in Britain�s immigrant South Asian community, with Daniel Day Lewis. Salaam Bombay, Dir. Mira Nair. The story of Krishna, Manju, Chillum and the other children on the streets of Bombay. Sometimes they can get a temporary job selling tea, but mostly they have to beg for money and keep out of the way of the police. Very moving. Moonsoon Wedding. Dir Mira Nair. Lifestyles of the rich and westernized class. Lagaan. A metaphor for partition of India and Pakistan, resolved through a soccer match against the British. anything by director Satyajit Ray (the most famous Indian filmmaker). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyajit_Ray University Policies Academic integrity Students should know that the University�s Academic Integrity Policy is availabe at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University�s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html. Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person�s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU�s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors. Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability. Student Technology Resources Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther King Library. A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors. Learning Assistance Resource Center The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/. SJSU Writing Center The SJSU Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall. It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Our writing specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. The Writing Center website is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/about/staff//. Peer Mentor Center The Peer Mentor Center is located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall in the Academic Success Center. The Peer Mentor Center is staffed with Peer Mentors who excel in helping students manage university life, tackling problems that range from academic challenges to interpersonal struggles. On the road to graduation, Peer Mentors are navigators, offering �roadside assistance� to peers who feel a bit lost or simply need help mapping out the locations of campus resources. Peer Mentor services are free and available on a drop �in basis, no reservation required. The Peer Mentor Center website is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/muse/peermentor/ . English 123D/ Global Lit -- Asia, Fall 2009, Course Schedule Tentative Schedule (any change will be announced in advance in class or through mysjsu) Week Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines 1 2 8/24 W 8/29 M 8/31 W Introduction to course Interpreting Others: The Indian subcontinent: salient aspects of geography, history, culture (first five pages of CR) Challenging Colonialism: Nationalisms and Pan- Nationalisms (Loomba, CR) 3 9/05 M 9/07 W Labor Day � No Class Feminism, Nationalism and Postcolonialism (Loomba, CR); RR1 4 9/12 M 9/14 W Challenging Colonialism: Literature and the Nation (Loomba, CP); RR2 Lecture on Gandhi 5 9/19 M 9/21 W Gandhi (film; language: English) Gandhi (film) 6 9/26 M 9/28 W Gandhi (film) Tagore: Home and the World; (language: Bengali) RR3; Gandhi Film Review Due 7 10/03 M 10/05 W Tagore: Home and the World; RR3 The Nationalist Resolution of the Woman Question (Chatterjee, CR); RR4 8 10/10 M 10/12 W Partition Stories: Toba Tek Singh (Sadat Hasan Manto, CR; language: Urdu); A Leaf in the Storm (Antharjanam, CR; language: Malayalam); RR5 Discuss research paper topics 9 10/17 M 10/19 W Work on bibliography for research paper Sidhwa: Cracking India; RR6 10 10/24 M 10/26 W Sidhwa: Cracking India; RR6; Take-home Midterm Given Lawley Road (R.K. Narayan, CR); RR7 11 10/31 M 11/02 W Rushdie: intro to the author/works; Take-home Midterm Due Rushdie:The Free Radio (CR) Rushdie: Chekov and Zulu (CR); RR8 12 11/07 M 11/09 W Terrorist (film; language: Tamil) Terrorist (film) 13 11/14 M 11/16 W Mahashweta Devi, Shishu (CR; language: Bengali); RR9; Terrorist Film Review Due Babu Rao Bagul, Mother (CR; language: Marathi); RR10 Week Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines 14 11/21 M 11/23 W Research paper topics/biblios due; Conference on Research Paper Desai: Inheritance of Los; RR11 15 11/28 M 11/30 W Desai: Inheritance of Loss; RR11 Arundhati Roy: Democracy (CR); RR12 16 12/05 M 12/07 W Arundhati Roy: Come September (CR); RR12 Overview Final Exam 12/13 Tu 8.00-9.30 Research paper Due Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives 1. Students shall be able to compare systematically the ideas, values, images, cultural artifacts, economic structures, technological developments, or attitudes of people from more than one culture outside the U.S. through the media of film and literature. 2. Students shall be able to identify the historical context of ideas and cultural traditions outside the U.S. and how they have influenced American culture. 3. Students shall be able to explain how a culture outside the U.S. has changed in response to internal and external pressures. 4. Students shall hone their reading, writing, researching, and critical thinking skills through the practice of intellectually challenging analyses. Course objectives 1-3 will be accomplished through the readings, class discussions, material presented in lecture, and student research, while the various written assignments will allow us to accomplish objective 4 and to assess our level of accomplishment in objectives 1-3.