D4 - Literary Conceptions of the Congo (Corti) (Tuesday)

In the early years of the twentieth century, the European imagination was haunted by exotic images of Africa, but in the latter part of the century, Caribbean and Congolese authors produced works tending to challenge and subvert the Eurocentric perspectives of the colonial era.  Topics will include the colonial context, post-colonial consequences, racial stereotypes, missionary zeal, indigenous African culture and religion, economic exploitation, political oppression, mythical and magical perspectives.

GROUP LEADER:  Dr. Lillian Corti obtained a doctorate in Comparative Literature from the City University of New York.  She taught at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, at Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, and at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.  Her translation of the Congolese novel, Le Feu des Origins by Emmanuel Douglas was published by Lawrence Hill Books in 2001.

BOOKS (required): Instructor will provide reading material