English 424 G: Seminar in 17th Century Lit

Reorienting the Renaissance Spring 2002

Mondays. 3-4.50.

Ania Loomba

Office: 306 English Bldg.  Phone 333-3575 

Email: loomba@uiuc.edu

Colonialism was in its infancy during Shakespeare's time, but his culture had already begun to be profoundly reshaped by contact with the different lands and peoples which to be colonised by Europeans.  This seminar will explore how early modern English contact with the 'East' 're-orients' our perspective on inter-cultural relations, 'race' and colonialism in the period, and also allows us to re-think certain tenets of post-colonial theory.  We'll examine the place of trade, religion, skin color, and sexuality to investigate changing vocabularies about social difference in the Renaissance that emerge from this Eastern contact, reading plays by Shakespeare as well as other dramatists of the period alongside travelogues as well as critical and theoretical texts.  Detailed reading lists and course packet will be available before the winter break.

Typically, each week's readings will usually include one play, some extracts from historical as well as materials.  Course requirements: regular and vigorous course participation, one short seminar presentation, and one end of semester research paper (20-30 double spaced pages).