This unit examines the significance of gender and cultural identity in contemporary writing by migrant and post-colonial women writers. To introduce students to the varied, but not necessarily well-known, work of contemporary women who write in English, but who are not based exclusively in Britain and the United States. To examine the literary representation of identity through the complex intersection of gender with cultural background. To introduce and explore the categories of post-colonial and migrant writing, and to examine some of the theoretical issues related to these discourses.
All teaching takes place in seminar groups.
Students will be expected to read the set texts in preparation for seminars, as well as reading copies of selected critical and theoretical material. It is expected that students will undertake reading of a wide of secondary material and not rely on seminar material. Unbecoming Daughters of the Empire Desai, A A Fire on the Mountain , King Penguin Kincaid, J Lucy , Chatto Students are advised to look at some of the theoretical background to this area in preparation for the course, and the following texts are helpful. Additional theoretical material will be provided throughout the semester to assist in focusing seminar discussions.