SOCI402:CurrentIssues:SocialTheory
PostcolonialityandBeyond
___________________________________________________________________
Spring2016,CURRISSUES:SOCIALTHEORY-22889-SOCI402-A01
Instructor:Dr.PeymanVahabzadeh
CornettA375,(250)721-6353,[email protected]
OfficeHours:MondayandThursday8:30-9:30
MondayandThrusday,10:00-11:20 ClearhueA308
CourseDescription:
Thiscourseoffersanin-depthengagementwiththeissuesofcolonialismand
postcoloniality,bothasahistoricphenomenonandepistemologicalissue.Wewillhavea
glanceintotheoriginalcolonialconditionsinthe“NewWorld,”tosetthestageforour
explorationsintothevariousresponsestocolonization:anti-colonialwarofliberation,
orientalism,postcolonialism,subalternity,endofpostcoloniality,andtheFirstNations
responsestosettlercolonialism.Wewillfocusontheepistemologicalgroundsof
colonialismandresponsestoit,buthereepistemologyinvolvesactionandresistance.The
workswestudyareprimarilytheoreticalinnature,buttheydwellinhistorical,
geographical,andculturalconditionsofthemultiplicityexperiencesofcolonizationand
subalternity.
CourseOutcomes/Objectives:
Thecoursewillprovidethestudentwithsomekeyreadingsinthepostcolonialtheoretical
literature,theoriesofsubalternityandorientialism,aswellasAfricanandIndigenous
theory.Bytheendofthiscoursethestudentsshouldhaveasolidfootingin“non-western”
theoreticalcontributionswiththecommondenominatorofcertainexperienceof
colonialism.WewillfindhowtheWest,astheself-acclaimedepistemologicalcentreof
universe,hasbeenpermeatedbymultiplicityofvoicesandepistemologicalsubversions.
Thestudentswillbegradedbasedonthefollowingcriteria:
Participation(attendanceismandatory) 15%
In-ClassOpenBookMiniExam1,February1,2016
15%
In-ClassOpenBookMiniExam2,March7,2016 15%
In-ClassOpenBookMiniExam3,March31,2016 15%
TermPaper,12-15pages,April4,2016
40%
NOTE:theabovedatesarenon-negotiable!
CoursePre/Co-requisites:
Allof210,309,declaredMajororHonoursinSociology.
1
RequiredResources:
BartolomedelasCasas,AShortAccountoftheDestructionoftheIndies(London/NewYork:
PenguinBooks,2004).ISBN:978-0-14-044562-6
FrantzFanon,TheWretchedoftheEarth(NewYork:GrovePress,2004).ISBN:978-0-80214132-3
GlenSeanCoulthard,RedSkin,WhiteMasks(Minneapolis:MinnesotaUniversityPress,2014).
ISBN:978-0-8166-7965-2
AnumberofbookchaptersandjournalpapersaredepositedonLibraryReserveunder
coursenumberorinstructor’sname.Itisthestudent’sresponsibilitytoretrievethese
materials.SomearticlesareavailablethroughonlineReserve,othersaredepositedatthe
ReserveSectionintheLibrary.
NOTE:ThiscoursedoesnothaveaMoodle,CourseSpace,orsuch.Youcantalktome
instead.
LegalBlurb:
ExaminationandAssignmentPolicy
Asperuniversitypolicy,absenceisonlypermittedincasesofillness,accident,familyaffliction,or
religiousobligations.Missinganexamforotherreasonswillresultinan“F.”Studentsare
responsibleforprovidingofficialdocumentationtojustifytheirabsence,e.g.adoctor’snote.In
casesofjustifiedabsences,thestudenthastherighttorequestamake-upexam.Pleasenotethat
examswillnotberescheduledtoaccommodatestudents’personalcircumstances,including
travellingplans.Therearenoexceptionstothispolicy.
Grading
InaccordancewithSenateRegulations,gradingonthecurveisnotpermitted.Thegradesstudents
receiveinthiscoursereflecttheirperformanceinrelationtospecifiedacademicexpectations.
Studentsshouldretainacopyofallsubmittedassignments(incaseofloss)andshouldretainall
theirmarkedassignmentsincasetheywishtoapplyforaReviewofAssignedStandings.Students
havetherighttoviewtheirmarkedexaminationswiththeirinstructor,providingtheyapplytodo
sowithinamonthofreceivingtheirfinalgrades.AllexamsremainthepropertyoftheUniversityof
Victoria.
Attendance
Asperuniversitypolicy,attendancetoallclassesismandatory.Studentswhoareunavoidably
absentbecauseofillness,accidentorfamilyafflictionshouldreporttotheinstructorassoonas
possible.Absencesthatcannotbejustifiedinaccordancewithuniversitypolicieswillbesubjectto
penaltyatthediscretionoftheinstructor.Ifyouareabsentforreasonsotherthanthosespecified
underuniversitypolicies,thenitisnottheresponsibilityoftheinstructorortheTAtohelpyou
catchupwithmissedlecturematerial.
AcademicIntegrity
TheDepartmentofSociologyfullyandrigorouslyenforcestheSenatePolicyonAcademicintegrity.
Itisofutmostimportancethatstudentswhodotheirworkhonestlybeprotectedfromthosewho
donot.Becausethispolicyisinplacetoensurethatstudentscarryoutandbenefitfromthe
learningactivitiesassignedineachcourse,itisexpectedthatstudentswillcooperateinits
implementation.StudentscaughtcheatinginthecoursewillbeexpelledandreportedtotheChair
oftheDepartmentofSociologyandtheDeanofSocialSciencesfordisciplinaryaction.
2
PlagiarismandCheating
Studentsmustnotethestatementon“Plagiarism”intheUVicCalendar,andallregulationsunder
the“PolicyonAcademicIntegrity.”Quotesandcitationsmustbeusedforanymateriallongerthan
5wordsinsuccessionthatisnotthestudent’soriginalwork.
Harassment
TheDepartmentofSociologysupportstheUniversity’spoliciesonharassment,andiscommittedto
ensuringthatallstudents,staff,andfacultyareabletoexercisefullytheirrightstoparticipatein
activitiesattheUniversitywithoutfearofharassment.
Accommodations
TheUniversityofVictoriaaccommodatesstudentswithdisabilitieswhohaveregisteredwiththe
DisabilityResourceCentre.TheUniversityaccommodatesstudentswhosereligiousobligations
conflictwithattendance,submittingassignments,orcompletingscheduledtestsandexaminations.
Pleaseletyourinstructorknowinadvance,preferablyinthefirstweekofclass,ifyouwillrequire
anyaccommodationonthesegrounds.Asperuniversitypolicy,studentswhoplantobeabsentfor
varsityathletics,familyobligations,orothersimilarcommitments,cannotassumetheywillbe
accommodated,andshoulddiscusstheircommitmentswiththeinstructorbeforethedropdate.
ClassroomEtiquette
Distractionscaneasilyhinderthedifficultprocessofconveyingknowledge.Pleaseobserve
standardclassroometiquette.Enteringtheclassroomaftertheinstructor'spresentationhasstarted
canbedistractingbothtotheinstructoraswellastootherstudents.Whileoccasionallatenessmay
beunavoidable,yourdedicationtobeingontimeisgreatlyappreciated.Theuseofelectronic
communicationdevicesisalsoadistractiontoboththeinstructorandclassmates.Thisincludes
textingandsurfingtheinternet.Pleaseturnoffyourelectroniccommunicationdevicesbefore
enteringtheclassroomandrefrainfromusingthemduringclass.Ifthereisajustifiablereasonfor
usingyourdeviceduringclass(e.g.,expectinganurgentcallrelatedtohealthorillness),please
notifytheinstructoraheadoftime,keepthedeviceonvibrate,andexittheroomifyoumustreceive
amessage.
CommitmenttoInclusivenessandDiversity
TheUniversityofVictoriaiscommittedtopromoting,providingandprotectingapositiveandsafe
learningandworkingenvironmentforallitsmembers.TheDepartmentofSociologyiscommitted
toinclusivenessandtoawelcoming,friendlylearningandworkingenvironment.Wecondemn
sexism,ageism,racism,ethnocentrism,homophobiaandinappropriatebehaviourtowardpeople
withadisability.
CourseExperienceSurvey(CES)
Ivalueyourfeedbackaboutthiscourse.Towardstheterm’send,asinallothercoursesatUVic,you
willhavetheopportunitytocompleteananonymoussurveyregardingyourlearningexperience
(CES).Thesurveyisvitaltoprovidingfeedbacktomeregardingthecourseandmyteaching,as
wellastohelpthedepartmentimprovetheoverallprogramforstudentsinthefuture.Thesurvey
isaccessedviaMyPageandcanbedoneonyourlaptop,tablet,ormobiledevice.Iwillremindyou
andprovideyouwithmoredetailedinformationnearthetimebutpleasekeepthinkingaboutthis
importantactivityduringthecourse.
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Sociology402:IssuesinSociologicalTheory
PostcolonialityandBeyond
Spring2016
READINGLIST
Week1(January4,7):
Introduction
Week2(January11,14):
BartolomedelasCasas,AShortAccountoftheDestructionoftheIndies(London/NewYork:
PenguinBooks,2004).ISBN:978-0-14-044562-6
Week3(January18,21):
FrantzFanon,TheWretchedoftheEarth(NewYork:GrovePress,2004).ISBN:978-0-80214132-3
Week4(January25,29):
FrantzFanon,TheWretchedoftheEarth(NewYork:GrovePress,2004).ISBN:978-0-80214132-3
Week5(February1,4):
FrantzFanon,“TheFactofBlackness”(pp.109-140),inBlackSkin,WhiteMasks(NewYork:
GrovePress,1967).ISBN:0-8021-5084-5
EmmanuelChukwudiEze,“TheColorofReason:TheIdeaof‘Race’inKant’sAnthropology”
(pp.103-131)inE.C.Eze,PostcolonialAfricanPhilosophy:ACriticalReader
(Cambridge:Blackwell,1997).ISBN:0-631-20339-7
Week6(February15,18):
EnriqueDussel,“EurocentrismandModernity.”Boundary2/20:3(1993):pp.65-76.ISSN:
0190-3659
HamidDabashi,“CanNon-EuropeansThink?”Aljazeera,availableat:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/2013114142638797542.ht
ml
PeymanVahabzadeh,“OblivionofOrigins:OfHegemonicUniversalsandHybrid
Civilizations”(pp.43-53)inW.A.KnightandM.Mahdavi,TowardtheDignityof
Difference?Neither“EndofHistory”nor“ClashofCivilizations”(Surrey,UK:Ashgate,
2012).ISBN:978-0826468505
Week7(February22,25):
EdwardSaid,“Preface”(pp.xv-xxx)and“Introduction”(pp.1-28)inOrientalism(NewYork:
VintageBooks,1994).ISBN:0-394-74067-X
Week8(February29,March3):
EdwardSaid,“CultureandImperialism”(pp.)inCultureandImperialism(NewYork:
VintageBooks,1994).ISBN:978-0679750543
PeymanVahabzadeh,“OntheMeritsofOrientalism”(pp.94-106)inS.Hier,D.P.Lett,&S.
Bolaria,RacismandJustice:CriticalDialogueonthePoliticsofIdentity,Inequality,and
Change(Halifax:FernwoodPress,2009).ISBN:978-1552663011
4
Week9(March7,10):
GayatriC.Spivak,“CantheSubalternSpeak?”(pp.66-111)inC.Nelson&L.Grossberg
(eds.),MarxismandtheInterpretationofCultures(Basingstock:Macmillan
Education,1988).ISBN:978-0252014017
RanajitGuha,“Chandra’sDeath”(pp.135-165) inR.Guha(ed.),SubalternStudiesV:
WritingsonSouthAsianHistoryandSociety(Delhi:OxfordUniversityPress,1987).
ISBN:978-0195635355
PeymanVahabzadeh,“TheConditionsofSubalternity:ReflectionsonSubjectivity,
ExperienceandHegemony.”SocialistStudies/Étudessocialistes3:2(Fall2007),pp.
93-113.ISSN:1717-2616
Week10(March14,17):
WalterMingolo,“Yes,WeCan”(pp.vii-xlii),inHamidDabashi,CanNon-EuropeansThink?
(London:ZedBooks,2015).ISBN:978-1-78360-419-7
WalterMingolo,“EpistemicDisobedience,IndependentThoughtandDecolonialFreedom.”
Theory,CultureandSociety26:7-8(2009),pp.159-181.ISSN:0263-2764
Week11(March21,24):
LeRoyLittleBear,“TraditionalKnowledgeandHumanities:APerspectivebyaBlackfoot.”
JournalofChinesePhilosophy39:4(December2012),pp.518–527.ISSN:1540-6253
GlenSeanCoulthard,RedSkin,WhiteMasks(Minneapolis:MinnesotaUniversityPress,
2014).ISBN:978-0-8166-7965-2
Week12(March28,31):
GlenSeanCoulthard,RedSkin,WhiteMasks(Minneapolis:MinnesotaUniversityPress,
2014).ISBN:978-0-8166-7965-2
Week13(April4):
SummaryandConclusions
5
BibliographicalInformationforCourseReadings
BartolomedelasCasas,AShortAccountoftheDestructionoftheIndies(London/NewYork:
PenguinBooks,2004).ISBN:978-0-14-044562-6
FrantzFanon,TheWretchedoftheEarth(NewYork:GrovePress,2004).ISBN:978-0-80214132-3
FrantzFanon,“TheFactofBlackness”(pp.109-140),inBlackSkin,WhiteMasks(NewYork:
GrovePress,1967).ISBN:0-8021-5084-5
EmmanuelChukwudiEze,“TheColorofReason:TheIdeaof‘Race’inKant’sAnthropology”
(pp.103-131)inE.C.Eze,PostcolonialAfricanPhilosophy:ACriticalReader
(Cambridge:Blackwell,1997).ISBN:0-631-20339-7
EnriqueDussel,“EurocentrismandModernity.”Boundary2/20:3(1993):65-76.
PeymanVahabzadeh,“OblivionofOrigins:OfHegemonicUniversalsandHybrid
Civilizations”(pp.43-53)inW.A.KnightandM.Mahdavi,TowardtheDignityof
Difference?Neither“EndofHistory”nor“ClashofCivilizations”(Surrey,UK:Ashgate,
2012).ISBN:978-0826468505
HamidDabashi,“CanNon-EuropeansThink?”Aljazeera,availableat:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/2013114142638797542.ht
ml
EdwardSaid,“Preface”(pp.xv-xxx)and“Introduction”(pp.1-28)inOrientalism(NewYork:
VintageBooks,1994).ISBN:0-394-74067-X
EdwardSaid,“CultureandImperialism”(pp.)inCultureandImperialism(NewYork:
VintageBooks,1994).ISBN:978-0679750543
PeymanVahabzadeh,“OntheMeritsofOrientalism”(pp.94-106)inS.Hier,D.P.Lett,&S.
Bolaria,RacismandJustice:CriticalDialogueonthePoliticsofIdentity,Inequality,and
Change(Halifax:FernwoodPress,2009).ISBN:978-1552663011
GayatriC.Spivak,“CantheSubalternSpeak?”(pp.66-111)inC.Nelson&L.Grossberg
(eds.),MarxismandtheInterpretationofCultures(Basingstock:Macmillan
Education,1988).ISBN:978-0252014017
RanajitGuha,“Chandra’sDeath”(pp.135-165) inR.Guha(ed.),SubalternStudiesV:
WritingsonSouthAsianHistoryandSociety(Delhi:OxfordUniversityPress,1987).
PeymanVahabzadeh,“TheConditionsofSubalternity:ReflectionsonSubjectivity,
ExperienceandHegemony.”SocialistStudies/Étudessocialistes3:2(Fall2007),pp.
93-113.ISSN:1717-2616
WalterMingolo,“Yes,WeCan”(pp.vii-xlii),inHamidDabashi,CanNon-EuropeansThink?
(London:ZedBooks,2015).ISBN:978-1-78360-419-7
WalterMingolo,“EpistemicDisobedience,IndependentThoughtandDecolonialFreedom.”
Theory,CultureandSocietyVol.26:7-8(2009),pp.159-181.ISSN:0263-2764
LeRoyLittleBear,“TraditionalKnowledgeandHumanities:APerspectivebyaBlackfoot.”
JournalofChinesePhilosophy39:4(December2012),pp.518–527.ISSN:1540-6253
GlenSeanCoulthard,RedSkin,WhiteMasks(Minneapolis:MinnesotaUniversityPress,
2014).ISBN:978-0-8166-7965-2
6