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The metropolis London has been a recurring setting in numerous forms of literature and the so-called spatial turn in cultural studies has produced theories that reflect how imaginations of space and place affect identity formation. In this seminar, we look specifically at postcolonial London and the ways in which the British capital has been depicted in English literature by migrants and children of migrants, from the so-called Windrush generation after World War II all the way to more contemporary poetic responses to the Grenfell Tower fire. How do migrants from the former colonies experience the city? How do the second and third generation, who know no other home than London, describe the metropolis? In how far does the city of London become a protagonist in these texts and possibly the backdrop for new identity formations? What does this imply in terms of the gendered mobility for the novels’ characters? Reading texts such as Sam Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners, Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia, Monica Ali’s Brick Lane and Zadie Smith’s NW, we will focus on the multiple geographies of postcolonial London and its various boroughs. We will contrast centre versus suburb and also address how the writing of London as a ‘multicultural city’ has changed in the aftermath of 9/11 and 7/7. The close readings of the novels will be complemented by theoretical material focusing on the spatial turn and postcolonial theory.
In addition to these more well-established London fictions, Master of English Literatures students who attend the additional “Lektürekurs” (biweekly following the seminar), will also discuss more recent explorations of the city, including poetry and filmic representations of London.
It is strongly recommended to read at least some of the novels before the new semester starts. Additional materials will be provided on Moodle. In case of continued digital teaching, synchronous Zoom meetings will need to be attended during the class time slot.
Recommended Reading:
Sam Selvon, The Lonely Londoners
Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia
Monica Ali, Brick Lane
Zadie Smith, NW |
