English 391 - Seminar: Contemporary South Asian Writers in English

This course explores the rich diversity of late 20th and 21st century literatures written in English and published internationally by award-winning writers of South Asian descent from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These transnational writers include established celebrities (Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sara Suleri, Mohsin Hamid) and newer stars (Shyam Selvadurai, Tahmima Anam, Daniyal Mueenuddin, Kamila Shamsie). Among many questions, the class considers how writers craft new idioms and forms to address multiple audiences in global English, and how they explore emergent concerns of postcolonial societies and of diasporic, migrant or transnational peoples in a rapidly globalizing but by no means equalizing world. Supplementary readings on postcolonial theory and criticism. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required.

[CE] JR/SR only