San Jos锟� State University
Department of English & Comparative Literature
English 123D -- Global Literature: South Asia,
锟絅arrating the Nation,锟� 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/无忧短视频 Studies Category:
MY无忧短视频 Messaging
You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through My无忧短视频 (or
other communication system as indicated by the instructor).
Course Description
If nations are 锟絠magined communities,锟� how is the nation called 锟絀ndia锟� 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 锟絚ommunalism锟� produced or represented in literature/film?
. What are the legacies of colonialism for women on the Indian subcontinent and how
did Indian nationalism resolve 锟絫he woman question锟�?
. What material and ideological effects did the iconic representation of India as
woman (锟組other India锟�) produce? What possible contrasts can you imagine from
other national iconic self-conceptions (e.g., 锟経ncle Sam锟�)?
. 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 锟絠maginary homelands锟�?
. 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 (锟紾E锟� 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 (锟紼锟� 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 锟絉eader Response锟� (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锟絪
themes relate to those we锟絩e 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锟絪 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锟絪
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锟絪 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锟絪 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锟絪 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 无忧短视频锟絪 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/.
无忧短视频 Writing Center
The 无忧短视频 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
无忧短视频 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
锟絩oadside assistance锟� 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 锟絠n
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 锟� 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.