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First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-21)

Topic

African Politics Through Film and Fiction

Instructors

Zekeria Denna
620 Library Place, Room 204

Meeting Info

Scott Hall 201 Ripton Room: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This First-Year seminar examines contemporary African politics through creative works by African writers and filmmakers. We explore how writers and filmmakers narrate, aestheticize, and dramatizes political life and relations on the continent. The quarter begins with key historical junctures such as the colonial domination and independence before focusing on key themes in post-colonial African politics, including but not limited to political regimes, resistance, violence, conflict, religion and politics, political economy, inequality, the struggle for democracy and human rights, Africa in the world, etc. We connect ideas and themes from the artistic material from across the region to the relevant political science scholarship to interpret and think comparatively about politics in Africa.

The seminar requires students to read, and watch assigned material in preparation for class discussions. Students work will be assessed through in-class participation, short-writing assignments and a final paper.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the class, students will be able to:

  • Analyze representations and develop arguments about the representation of political life and power relations in Africa;

  • Develop their ability to articulate an original argument and their arguments with evidence;

  • Effectively develop their writing skills;

  • Articulate original arguments and opinions in a group setting and, in turn, reply thoughtfully and respectfully to the arguments and questions of others;

  • Conduct original background research and present their findings clearly and concisely to their classmates;

  • Develop the ability to read film and literature critically, extracting ‘evidence‘ from artistic sources and deploying that ‘evidence‘ to support an original thesis.

Teaching Method

Seminar Discussion

Evaluation Method

Several Short-written assignments
Participation Discussion
Leadership
Final Writing assignment

Class Materials (Required)

Abdulrazak Gurnah, Afterlives.

Ngugi wa Thiong‘o, Petals of Blood.

NoViolet Bulawayo, Glory.

Sony Labou, Tansi Life and a Half.

Scholastique Mukasonga, Our Lady of The Nile.

Nurduddin Farah, Gifts.

Class Notes

Films (no need to purchase):

Xala (dir. Ousmane Sembene)

Kinyarwanda (dir. Dir. Alrick Brown)

Bamako (dir. Abderrahmane Sissako)

Atlantique (dir. Mati Diop)

Class Attributes

WCAS Writing Seminar

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.
Add Consent: Department Consent Required