Course Catalogue

This course offers a compelling exploration of the impact of colonialism on cultural production, identities, and memories within the Caribbean space and diaspora. We navigate the nuanced negotiations between assimilation and dissociation from former dominant cultures, drawing inspiration from influential Caribbean scholars like Aim Csaire, Frantz Fanon, douard Glissant, and others. We will focus on key concepts such as Ngritude, Antillanit, Crolit, alienation, and cultural hybridization. Notably, we bridge linguistic divides by examining the works of both francophone intellectuals, including Jean Bernab and Patrick Chamoiseau, and equally significant anglophone thinkers like Kamau Brathwaite, Paul Gilroy, and Stuart Hall that help us analyze Caribbean cultures through a critical lens. The seminar unfolds through a diverse array of cultural productions, including literary texts, movies, and art, providing concrete examples to elucidate theoretical frameworks. By the end of the semester, students will have a broad overview of Caribbean intellectual thought. The class is directed at bachelor students from all disciplines and will be held in English. English translations of the texts will be provided. In order to complete the course, students are asked regular attendance (max. two absences), to prepare a short presentation, and to write a term paper of 1215 pages. This class requires a considerable amount of reading and a solid knowledge of English.