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In this course, we will explore literary works that speak to diasporic experiences in the United States and Canada. The term "diaspora" expresses a range of global movements: migration, immigration, exile, refugitude, and many more. These often traumatic stories expose many of the contradictions surrounding nationalism and heteronormativity, as well as the home and the family. We will investigate diasporic intersections with gender, race, queerness and class, but more importantly, look at how the concept of diaspora specifies a variety of temporal experiences, challenging normative notions of the past, present and future. We will look at how diasporic literature discusses memory and trauma, and analyze what role the hope for a better life in the future may play by paying close attention to their aesthetics.
Among others, we will read literary texts by Viet Thanh Nguyen, Sigrid Nunez, Achy Obejas, Shyam Selvadurai, and Jamaica Kincaid. Additionally, we will explore other cultural forms, such as poetry and visual media. |
