World Literatures in English世界英文文学.ppt

World Literatures in English世界英文文學 南亞 加勒比海地區 非洲 移民 Fall, 2009 Kate Liu 種族性別議題 Outline Let’s start with three pictures. . . What are “World Literatures in English”? Main Concerns: (de-)colonization; migration; identity Difficulties and Relevance References What do you think about these three images? ?(中正紀念堂〉，《台北謠言》 阮義忠先生攝 慈湖 Three significant images in the history Taiwan’s colonization or decolonization? 聯合報記者 曾吉松／攝影 /NEWS/NATIONAL/NATS3/4162779.shtml Yes and no. Yes, because they do mark three important changes in the usages of a sign of political (colonial?) authority. No, because de-colonization is impossible—or an ongoing process and Taiwan’s democratization is not yet well-developed. Are you “colonized”? How is studying English literature connected with colonization? English literature and Colonial Education Colonial Education/Civilization = done thru’ missionary, medicine and literature, etc. The purpose of colonial education: Macaulay: We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect. (source) In India: first the Bible, and then English literature, done thru the East India Company. English literature and Colonial Education India -- “Studying English literature was seen as a way of civilising the native population. By 1835, this tactic was made law by the English Education Act, which officially required Indians to study in English and to study English literature. ” (Eaglestone 11) Taiwan -- In Taiwan: translation of American Modernist literature in the 60’s. (reference:美援文化傳播下的現代主義文學) Colonization (or neo-colonialism) is inevitable, but we can be self-aware and selective in receiving its influences. One way to do it is to broaden our perspective and avoid US/Japan/Korea fever (understand more cultures than just the dominant ones) What are World Lite