In the Embers of Empire: Reading Postcolonial Texts Today (Q3072)

15 credits, Level 5

Autumn teaching

This module will introduce you to postcolonial studies. We will attend to the legacies of colonialism, and focus upon the ways colonial forces have affected writing and other forms of culture (for example film).

By the end of the module, we will be familiar with most of the key theoretical, methodological, historical and ideological issues raised in postcolonial writing. We will make ourselves aware of the importance of postcolonial discourse as a way of thinking about cultural production, circulation and reception, and be able to apply this understanding to the interpretation of texts discussed on the module.

We will summarise some of the key critical concepts involved in the field, from ‘hybridity’ to ‘liminality’ and ‘spectrality.’

Some of the topics and issues we will explore include:

travel
difference
language
diaspora
violence
resistance
gender
sexuality
memory
haunting
intertextuality
canonicity
orality
nationalism
belonging
indigeneity
‘race’
ecocriticism
the touristic
‘native’
globality
solidarity.

Writers may include Jean Rhys, Shani Mootoo, Abdulrazak Gurnah, J.M. Coetzee, Assia Djebar, Mourid Barghouti and NoViolet Bulawayo.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: