AFR 303 - Major Thinkers in Africana Studies: Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott

Poetics of Relation: Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott

Poetics of Relation will focus on the  plays, essays, and poetry authored by two recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Wole Soyinka (Nigeria) and Derek Walcott (St. Lucia). The myriad ways in which these writers have contributed to an understanding of their various communities will be at the heart of our explorations. Previous iterations of this seminar have focused on writings by Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Derek Walcott, Vidia Naipaul, Wole Soyinka, August Wilson, and James Baldwin.

In addition to close, analytical readings,  the viewing of some of the authors’ work, substantive class discussions, oral presentations and  weekly one-two page MOUs, seminar participants will write a major critical essay or produce a project which will be added to the existing Poetics of Relations digital site.

Satisfies the Diversity Requirement for the English major.
Satisfies a requirement in Africana Studies and Global Literary Theory.
Satisfies Gender and Sexuality Studies Literary and Cultural Representations track major requirement.
Satisfies English major requirement.
Satisfies Justice, eqiality and community requirement. 
Satisfies Historical Thought requirement.