Writing Africa Now
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
This course surveys post-2000 literary and cultural production from sub-Saharan Africa. Topics will include debates over genre and fiction’s relevance to African experience, legacies of canonical writing about independence, urban Africa as violent or “tragic” landscape, and problems of scale and geographical context. Readings by authors such as Adichie, Wainaina, Duiker, and Vladislavic, and students will be introduced to the main print and online arteries of African intellectual discussion. This class is for non-majors and does not count towards the English major or minor.
Fall 2014
Professor: Jeanne-Marie Jackson
This course was highlighted by fascinating readings, a relaxed but focused atmosphere and a passionate and knowledgeable professor. Students gave the smal class size and focused discussions high praise and left the course with a better understanding of writing and contemporary African literature. The worst aspect of the course was the novel “One Day I will write about This Place,” which many people found overly difficult. While many students thought the class was perfect as it was, some thought cutting out one book would improve the course. Students interested in this course should know that it is very helpful to have an open mind going into the readings. This class and professor are highly recommended.