Welcome to S.A. Modernism 2016
This course runs over a period of twelve weeks, and consists of three broad sections. In the first section, we use the figure of Olive Schreiner to develop a sense of the interaction between the metropolitan concerns of the late nineteenth century, and the ideas and developments taking place at the Cape. We will look at some of Schreiner's own writings, as well as Ann Harries' novel, Manly Pursuits, to explore the discourses shaping both writing and society at the time. In particular, we will consider the influences of Darwin's science on social scientific thinking of the day, and the bearing this has on notions of Empire and social "progress".
The second section of the course takes Wulf Sach's "psychoanalytic biography", Black Hamlet, as its central text. Here we will look at Sach's efforts to use the new "radical" science of psychoanalysis to work against dominant "scientific" views of race in South Africa in the 1930s. A number of critics have pointed to the weaknesses of Sach's project, which are in themselves useful and interesting. Gavin Hood's film, A Reasonable Man, adapts a series of related themes and issues to the context of late apartheid South Africa.
The final section of the course considers the interaction between social and biological sciences in texts by two other significant South African writers of the early twentieth century, Laurens van der Post, and Eugene Marais; both of which are non-fictional. Finally, we will consider J.M. Coetzee's novel, Dusklands, for the parallels it draws between the language in which the Khoi-San people are represented in a 17th century "explorer" narrative, and depictions of the "mind" of the Vietnamese in America during the Vietnam war. Again we will consider the ways in which representations of human societies lay claim to "scientific" language.
The focus throughout the course is on the pre-existing discourses at work in representing an argument, a society, or a social situation, and how these discourses limit or shape what the writer is able to say. Your final essays will investigate this in detail in the texts of your choice.
Please be aware of this very limited selection of South African writers of the early twentieth century. There are many other important literary figures, about whom you may wish to blog - for example, Sol Plaatjie, Herman Charles Bosman, Louis Leipoldt, H.E. Dhlomo, Roy Campbell, William Plomer, Uys Krige, Louis Leipoldt, Pauline Smith, to name only a few.
Blogging will make up 30% of your final mark.
Class presentations will comprise 20% of the mark.
A long, academic essay to be submitted in the final week of term counts for 50% of the mark.
How the blog works:
Your contributions to the blog should fall into one of the following 3 categories:
1) Article summary ( 3 posts / 15)
2) Book "review", (3 posts/ 15)
3) Gossip column. (3 posts/15)
4) Comments on your partner's posts (/5)
(Total: /50)
Please use a "Label" to flag to which one of these categories your post belongs.
Blog Posts:
Each week, by Wednesday 11 am, at least 2 people will make a post - 1 will be an "article summary" and one will be a "book review". If anyone wishes to make a "gossip column" post for the same deadline, this will be credited to them. However, we will have a roster, established in class, for the main two posts.
Comments on Blog Posts:
By Friday, 11 am, everyone in the group will have made at least two comments on the Wednesday posts. These can also be comments on other people's comments. You can choose to comment multiple times on one topic, or to make two separate comments on each of the two posts. HOWEVER: both of these comments must be up by 11 am on Friday. Further commentary will be credited, as long as the initial two comments are made on time.
A detailed description of what goes into each posting will be handed out in class.
Apart from the formal requirements, please make the blog your own as far as possible. Feel free to upload links, images, book reviews or relevant movie clips that you think may be of interest to the group. I will make room for extra credit for anyone who puts a lot of effort into the Gossip column; this is the most free-format of all the categories, and could be very interesting.
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