Reading Globalization
Comparative Literature R1A: 4
MWF 11-12, Room 175 Dwinelle
Instructor:
Kfir Cohen
Email: kfir_cohen@berkeley.edu
Office hours: W/F 12-1pm
In this course we will explore the relation between globalization, colonization, and literary and
cinematic representation. We will ask how literary works come to imagine colonial encounters and
the expansion of capitalism. We will explore several key aspects of globalization – colonization,
consumerism, ethnicity, and images of totality - through novels, films, travel narratives, and critical
essays. Through these texts, we will try to understand not only how works of literature and
expository texts think of globalization but also what are the limits of such attempts at giving a figure
to systems and totalities.
Assignments will include: short analytical responses and other writing assignments; occasional
responses to other students’ work; 2 short papers engaging texts studied in class and one longer
paper. All papers will require a first draft and a revision
Books (required)
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid
The Committee, Sun’allah Ibrahim
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène
Course Reader
Film
Syriana, Stephen Geghan
Recommended Texts
Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, Joseph Williams
Requirements and Assignments
 Prompt attendance and thoughtful participation in class and on bSpace (15%)
 One introductory analytical response (about 2 pages) (10%)
 One 4 page analytical paper, including first draft and revision (20%)
 Midterm: 4 page analytical paper, including first draft and revision (20%)
 Final Paper: 8 page analytical paper, including first draft and revision (35%)
Late submissions: will be accepted within reason. Early notice is recommended.
Attendance and Participation
Prompt attendance is required: latenesses and absences will affect your grade. As this class
relies heavily on discussion, your active participation will be very important. A site on bSpace
has been established for the course where you will be able to post short responses, reviews,
notes, and questions you might have. See: https://bspace.berkeley.edu
Midterm Papers
These papers should involve a careful analysis of course readings. It may be a comparative
study of two texts or a close reading of a single text with reference a theoretical secondary
source.
Final Paper
This longer paper should involve a comparative study of course materials. You are encouraged
to be as inventive as you can in developing your topic and approach, and you are expected to
submit a proposal for feedback in advance.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious matter and can result in automatic failure for the work in question or
the entire course as well as a warning notice on your internal university record. Repeated acts
of plagiarism can lead to a University hearing resulting in possible expulsion. Here is the
University’s official policy on plagiarism:
All written work submitted for a course, except for acknowledged quotations, must be expressed in the
student's own words. It must also be constructed upon a plan of the student's own devising. Work
copied without acknowledgment from a book, from another student's paper, from the Internet, or from
any other source is plagiarized. Plagiarism can range from wholesale copying of passages from
another's work to using the views, opinions, and insights of another without acknowledgment, to
paraphrasing another person's original phrases without acknowledgment. For more information, consult
the Office of Student Conduct at the following address: http://students.berkeley.edu/osl/sja.asp
WEEK 1
Friday, August 26th
Introduction
WEEK 2
Monday, August 29th
“On the Cannibals.” Michel de Montaigne
Wednesday, August 31st
“On the Cannibals.” Michel de Montaigne
Persian Letters. Montesquieu. Selections
Friday, September 2nd
Persian Letters. Montesquieu. Selections
WEEK 3
Monday: September 5th
Holiday
Wednesday, September 7th Turn in diagnostic paper (2 pages)
“The Great Globalization Debate, An Introduction.” David Held
Friday, September 9th
“Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism.” Lenin
WEEK 4
Monday, September 12th
“Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism.” Lenin
Wednesday, September 14th Return Diagnostic Papers
“The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System.”
Immanuel Wallerstein
Friday, September 16th
Diagnostic paper workshop: students’ writing patters
WEEK 5
Monday, September 19th
Diagnostic paper workshop: students’ writing patterns
Wednesday, September 21st,
Heart of Darkness. Joseph Conrad
Friday, September 23rd
Heart of Darkness. Joseph Conrad
WEEK 6
Monday, September 26th: First Draft of Paper due in Class (4p.)
Heart of Darkness. Joseph Conrad
Wednesday, September 28th
A Small Place. Jamaica Kincaid
Friday, September 30th
A Small Place. Jamaica Kincaid
WEEK 7
Monday, October 3rd: Returns First Draft
A Small Place. Jamaica Kincaid
Life and Debt. Stephanie Black. Short Clip.
Wednesday, October 5th
Writing Workshop: Argument: expository, argumentative
Friday, October 7th
Writing Workshop: Argument: types of argumentation
WEEK 8
Monday, October 10th: Final Draft Due in Class (4.p)
The Committee. Sun’allah Ibrahim
Wednesday, October 12th
The Committee. Sun’allah Ibrahim
Friday, October 14th
The Committee. Sun’allah Ibrahim.
“New Branded World” Naomi Klein
WEEK 9
Monday, October 17th
The Committee. Sun’allah Ibrahim
Wednesday, October 19th
The Committee. Sun’allah Ibrahim
Friday, October 21st
Screening: Syriana [DVD], Stephen Gaghan
WEEK 10
Monday, October 24th
Screening Syriana (cont’)
Wednesday, October 26th
Screening Syriana (cont’)
Friday, October 28th
Syriana (cont’)
WEEK 11
Monday, October 31st First Draft 2nd Paper due in Class (4.p)
Syriana (cont’)
Wednesday, November 2nd
Syriana (cont’)
Friday, November 4th
“Globalization as a Philosophical Issue,” Fredric Jameson
WEEK 12
Monday, November 7th Returns Papers
“Globalization as a Philosophical Issue,” Fredric Jameson
Wednesday, November 9th
Writing Workshop: Structure: Opening, Transitions, Conclusion
Friday, November 11th
Holiday
WEEK 13
Monday, November 14th Second Draft due in Class (4.p)
Writing Workshop: Structure
Wednesday, November 16th
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène
Friday, November 18th
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène
WEEK 14
Monday, November 21st
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène
“The Local and the Global: Globalization and Ethnicity.” Stuart Hall
Wednesday, November 23rd
Kiffe Kiffe Tomorrow, Faïza Guène
Friday, November 25th
Holiday
WEEK 15
Monday, November 28th First Draft of final paper due in class (8.p)
Writing Workshop: Style: types of sentences, vocabulary registers,
tone
Wednesday, November 30th
Writing Workshop: Style
Friday, December 2nd Return Papers
Final Considerations.
WEEK 16
Reading/Review/Recitation December 5th-9th
WEEK 17
Revised final papers due by 5pm on Monday, December 12th