Spring 2016

Panama Silver, Asian Gold:  Reimagining Diasporas, Archives, and the Humanities

Listed in: Black Studies, as BLST-452  |  English, as ENGL-474

Faculty

C. Rhonda Cobham-Sander (Section 01)
Alexis Teyie (Section 01)

Description

(Offered as ENGL 474 and BLST 452 [CLA].)  This digital humanities seminar examines how the concurrent migrations of Chinese and Indian indentured laborers to the Caribbean and Afro-Caribbean workers to and from the Panama Canal, at the turn of the twentieth century, contributed to the emergence of Modern Caribbean Literature.  Students will explore the digital, print, and audio-visual archives related to these migrations, now stored in the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC), to enrich their reading of Caribbean literature.  Librarians at Amherst, as well as scholars, librarians, and students at three other American and Caribbean universities, will partner with us in the course.  We will hold some class discussions online and collaborate via social media on some of the course assignments.  Authors whose works we will read include Victor Chang, Staceyann Chin, Maryse Condé, H.G. de Lisser, Ramabai Espinet, Ismith Khan, Claude McKay, V.S. Naipaul and Eric Walrond.

A previous course in English, History, or Black Studies is recommended.  Open to juniors and seniors.  Limited to 12 students.  Spring semester.  Professor Cobham-Sander.

If Overenrolled: Preference given to Black Studies majors who have taken BLST 300 and English majors who need a 400-level seminar.

Keywords

Attention to Speaking, Attention to Writing, Community Based Learning, Transnational or World Cultures Taught in English

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2013, Spring 2016