Instructor: Ellen Moll
Email: ellenmoll6@gmail.com
Office location: 2130 Tawes
Office hrs: Mon. 1:00-3:00
CMLT 270: Global Literature and Social Change
Course Policies and Syllabus, Spring 2011
Description: This course is intended as an opportunity to study and discuss several works of literature,
film, and other media in a global context. To do so, we will use a variety of approaches to work toward
in-depth cultural and textual analysis. The course will emphasize contemporary works, and will also
consider how texts use a variety of tactics for understanding, making visible, and at times influencing
social change, including political, socioeconomic, technoscientific, and artistic shifts. Students will
consider how these texts relate to nation, history, gender roles, race and ethnicity, the role of the author in
society, various artistic genres, and relevant literary and cultural traditions. Students will also be expected
to demonstrate and improve academic skills such as discussing literature, giving oral presentations,
closely analyzing texts, and writing about literature.
Students will read extensively, participate in class discussion, complete a significant writing
project, research, take a final essay exam, and complete a range of other assignments, including
presentations, group assignments, homework, and quizzes. Students are expected to grapple with
interesting and challenging questions and debates.
Learning Outcomes: This course satisfies university General Education requirements in Humanities and
in Understanding Plural Societies.
Humanities Learning Outcomes. At the completion of this course students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate familiarity and facility with fundamental terminology and concepts in the field of global
literature.
2) Demonstrate understanding of the methods used by scholars in the field of global literature.
3) Demonstrate critical thinking in the evaluation of sources and arguments in scholarly works, and in the
evaluation of approaches and techniques in the literary arts.
4) Describe how language use is related to ways of thinking, cultural heritage, and cultural values.
5) Conduct research on a topic in global literature using a variety of sources and technologies.
Understanding Plural Societies Learning Outcomes. At the completion of this course, students will be
able to:
1) Explicate the processes that create or fail to create just, productive, egalitarian, and collaborative
societies.
2) Analyze forms and traditions of thought or expression in relation to cultural, historical, political, and
social contexts.
3) Use a comparative and intersectional framework to analyze multicultural, multilingual, and
transnational encounters through the exploration of the politics of Global Literature.
4) Use information technologies to access research and communicate effectively about plural societies.
Required Texts:
Erro-Peralta, ed., Beyond the Border. ISBN 0813017858
Kincaid. A Small Place. ISBN 0374527075
Spiegelman, MAUS I and MAUS II. ISBN 0394747232 and 0679729771
Handouts, online readings, films.
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as follows:
20% Paper 1
30% Paper 2
20% Final Exam
10% Class Participation
20% Quizzes, Group Projects, Presentations, and Other Assignments
1
Participation and Attendance: Students are expected to participate in class discussions and activities.
Missed work may be made up only if the absence is excused, and the student is responsible for all missed
discussion and information. Failure to do assigned readings or bring appropriate course materials can also
lower the participation grade, as can any behavior that contributes negatively to the classroom
environment. Clearly, students must be present to participate in any way; absences (and lateness) will
therefore heavily impact the participation grade. No phone use or laptop use is permitted in class.
Papers and Assignments: Reading and viewing assignments (listed in the syllabus by author and/or
title) should be completed in entirety by the due date. Students are responsible for all explanations of and
changes in assignments announced in class, regardless of whether an absence is excused.
A paper (or other assignment) is considered to be turned in if it is typed, in 12-point font, double
spaced, with standard margins, and if it is handed in when it is collected during class (usually at the
beginning of class). Students should keep an extra printed copy of all assignments just in case. A paper
grade drops one full grade if it is turned in after it has been collected. For each additional class that the
paper is not turned in, the grade drops one additional full grade. Papers/assignments that are late due to
unexcused absences are still considered late papers. Group projects and the final exam may not be late.
Academic Integrity: As stated by the Student Honor Council, "The University of Maryland, College
Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor
Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate
students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very
important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism.
For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit
www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html.”
Emergency Closures: In case of University-wide closure due to emergency, weather, or other
circumstances, students should check the course website on Blackboard for updates. In the case of
extended closures, the course will follow the syllabus unless announced otherwise, with discussion and
assignments submitted on Blackboard and/or email (unless University policy dictates otherwise).
Special Circumstances: If you have a registered disability that requires accommodation, please see me
immediately. If you have a disability and have not yet registered with Disability Support Services in the
Shoemaker Building, you should do so promptly.
Office hours: My office hours are listed above. Please see me if you have any concerns about your work
for this course or would like to continue discussion of the texts. If you cannot meet during this time,
please schedule a different time to meet me at the office.
Syllabus:
Note: This syllabus is subject to change and the student is responsible for all changes that the instructor
announces in class, including but not limited to additional presentations, group projects, homework
assignments, pop quizzes, readings, and changes in due dates. Readings should be completed by the class
period in which they are discussed. BTB stands for Beyond the Border.
January
24
Introduction, Course Policies
Identity and Social Change
26
28
--
Due: Read Fagundes Telles, “The Hunt,” in BTB
Due: Poniatowska, “Slide In, My Dark One, Between the Cross-tie and the Whistle,” in BTB
2
31
Feb. 2
4
-7
9
11
-14
Due: Definitions of literary terms and genres, from the Bedford-Martin Dictionary
Due: MAUS I (all)
Due: MAUS II (all)
Film: Faat Kine. Dir. Sembene Ousmane. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center.
Film: Faat Kine. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center.
Film: Faat Kine. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
.
Due: Online readings on postcolonialism: “Colonialism.” Stanford Dictionary of Philosophy.
Deepika Bahri. “Introduction to Postcolonial Studies.”
Paul Brians. “‘Postcolonial Literature’: Problems with the term.”
John Lye, "Some Issues in Postcolonial Theory."
16
Due: Jude Akudinobi. “Durable Dreams: Dissent, Critique, and Creativity in Faat Kiné and
Moolaadé”
18
Due: In-class presentations on global writers and readers
-21
Due: “Aspects of Devi.” From the Smithsonian Institution Website.
23
Due: PAPER 1. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center. (Film: Fire, dir. Deepa Mehta).
25
Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center (Film: Fire, dir. Deepa Mehta).
-28
Due: Online Readings – “What's wrong with my film? Why are people making such a big fuss?”
(Interview with Deepa Mehta)
Global Contexts for Reading and Writing
Mar. 2 Due: A Small Place (all)
4
Due: Online readings on “the exotic”: Horace Miner, “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.”
Malibu Rum commercials on youtube.
Travel advertisements.
-7
Due: Definition of testimonio (handout).
9
Due: Online research on reader location and literary transmission
11
Due: Lago, “Homelife” in BTB, Homework on reader location and literary transmission
-14
Due: Murakami, “The Second Bakery Attack” in Online Readings
16
Due: Vallbona, “The Secret World of Grandmamma Anacleta,” and Valenzuela, “Up Among the
Eagles” in BTB
18
Due: TBA
-21-25
Spring Break – no class.
-28
Due: Poems:
Gladys Cardiff, “Combing.”
Oodgeroo, “The Past.”
Pamela Mordecai, “Wednesday Chronicle.”
Nina Cassian, “Ordeal.”
Olive Senior, “The Birth of Islands.”
Dunya Mikhail, “The War Works Hard.”
Nurunnessa Choudhury, “Blue Specks.”
3
30
Due: Online readings: Antjie Krog, “Defence of Poetry”
April 1 Due: GROUP PROJECT SIGNUPS. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center.
-4
Film: Persepolis. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
6
Film: Persepolis. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
8
Due: Online research: find and read reviews of Persepolis from three different countries
-11
Due: Poetry Presentations
13
Due: Poetry Presentations
15
Due: Paper 2.
Literature, Media, and Cultures of Information
18
Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center (Film: Who’s Counting?: Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies,
and Global Economics)
20
Due: Online readings: Bobis, “The Long Siesta as Language Primer.”
22
Due: Carter, “The Werewolf.”
-25
Due: Group projects
27
Due: Group Projects
29
Due: Group Projects
-May 2 Film: City of God. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
4
Film: City of God. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
6
Film: City of God. Meet in Hornbake Nonprint Media Center
-9
Due: Exam Review
Final Exam: Scheduled by the university. See testudo.umd.edu
4