AAR08A LITERATURES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

This course aims to examine selected literary works from Southeast Asian countries, from the point of view of their literary techniques and themes, as well as within the contexts of their literary traditions and geopolitical, social and cultural negotiations. In order to develop a collaborative and comparative frame of interpretation and understanding, common themes that will be explored across the literatures from various countries include colonization and independence, nationalism, the continuing influence of traditional and ethnic cultures, and the evolution of literary style and genre. Careful attention will be paid to considering the meanings and possible impact of each of these works within their own society as well as to elucidating how each work can be seen to manifest culturally specific values, ideologies and philosophies. In order to achieve this, selected theoretical, cultural and multimedia texts will be introduced alongside the core literary texts.