History 367/English 386:

Narrating the Nation: Historical and Literary Approaches to

Nationalism (Fall 2007)
[Electronic syllabus: http://www.oberlin.edu/faculty/svolk/367f07syllabus.htm]

Anuradha Needham (English) x 58571 [Rice 128.

Office hours: Tues & Thurs, 1:00-3:00 & by appointment

Steven Volk (History) x58522 [Rice 309.

Office hours: Mon 11-Noon; Wed 10-11; Thurs 1:30-2:30, and by
appointment

Class meets: Tu/Th 9:35-10:50 in King 339

Narrating the Nation is an interdisciplinary, intensive seminar which offers an

analysis of the narratives through which nationalisms -- both official and alternative -
- acquire (or are denied) credibility and authority. This discussion-centered class will
examine the nationalisms of Latin America, with particular reference to Chile, and
South Asia, with particular reference to India and Pakistan. Narrative theor(ies) as
deployed in and by the disciplines of History and English literary studies provide the
overarching critical methodologies for interdisciplinary analysis. Our concern in this
course is both thematic and methodological -- particularly as concerns
epistemological challenges of History and literary criticism and the manner in which
each can be made to push the other to greater insights. The course is offered for
four hours of credit (two in History; two in English). You will be expected to keep up
with a large amount of reading, and to attend class regularly. Attendance will be
taken and unexcused absences noted. As students in a seminar, you will be expected
to engage actively in class discussions. You should speak to one of the instructors if
you find that there is some constraint to your active participation and engagement
with the materials and the class members.

Frida Kahlo, "Self-Portrait on the Borderline" (1932); Manuel and Maria Reyero Collection, New York

COURSE FORMAT: Some of the classes will be led by the instructors, and some by
the students in groups of 5 or 6. Except for a few introductory sections (at the
beginning, and at the start of each section), the course will run as a discussion class.
All students will be assigned to small study/presentation groups at the beginning of
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 2

the each section (i.e., the beginning of the course, and right after Fall Break). These
groups will serve as study groups and will also be assigned specific weeks in which to
serve as discussion leader. Each group will lead class discussion twice, once in the
first half of the semester, once in the second. Each student in the group will be
expected to turn in a short reflection paper (1-2 pages) at the start of the week in
which they are leading the discussion.

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: As noted above, you will be required to keep up

with the reading and to attend class regularly. There are six writing assignments in
the semester, three in each half: (a) two substantial papers (12-15 pages), due on
October 30 and December 13, in which you engage with one or more of the major
themes discussed during each half of the semester, (b) 2 shorter essays (2-3 pages)
following the general presentation of the theoretical arguments, in which you will
briefly describe and/or analyze the central argument or arguments in one or more of
the introductory readings, due on September 14 and November 6, and (c) two 1-2
page reflection papers due during the weeks (one each half of the semester)
that your group is leading the discussion; these 1-2 papers should center on
whatever point of discussion from the reading you wish to bring to the table;
furthermore, these papers must be submitted on the day your group leads the
discussion. With regard to the other papers, you can request an extension; however,
papers turned in late without the permission of one of the instructors will be
penalized with your grade decreased one step (e.g., from a B+ to a B) for each day
it is late. You are welcome, although not required, to show either or both of us rough
drafts of your paper, but you must do so a few days in advance of the due date of
the paper. Your final grade will be determined by the following formula:

• Larger papers: 25% each

• Shorter essays: 15% each
• Reflection/discussion papers: 5% each
• Class Participation: 10%

HONOR CODE: In this course, as in all others, you are expected to adhere to the
spirit and letter of the Honor Code and to sign the Honor Code on all work that you
turn in. ("I affirm that I have adhered to the Honor Code in this assignment.") Please
refer to the American Historical Association's statement on plagiarism for further
information. [All of this material is linked on the electronic syllabus.]

A note on readings: Readings will be available in one of three forms: (1) As a book
which is recommended for purchase. A copy of all these books will be on reserve at
the library, and you can also get extra copies through Ohio LINK, if you choose not
to purchase them. The books are available at the bookstore, and can also be
purchased in cheaper used editions through Amazon.com or other on-line
booksellers; (2) in Electronic Reserves (ERes). You can get to ERes by clicking on the
link on the electronic syllabus. The password for the course is “hist367” (all lower
case) -- all ERes readings will be found under the HIST367 listing; and (3) in
Blackboard (“Course Documents”). If you can't find what you're looking for, make
sure you are looking in the right place, and then ask us if you still can't find it.

Books Recommended for Purchase

Alberto Blest Gana, Martín Rivas, Jaime Concha, intro., Tess O'Dwyer, trans. (NY:
Oxford), 2004.
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 3

Florencia Mallon, Courage Tastes of Blood: The Mapuche Community of Nicolás Ailío
and the Chilean State, 1906-2001 (Durham: Duke), 2005.

Isabel Allende, The House of the Spirits (NY: Bantam), 1986.

Roberto Bolaño, By Night in Chile, trans. Chris Andrews (New York: New Directions),
2003.

Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children (New York: Vintage), 2006.

Salman Rushdie, Shame (New York: Vintage), 2006.

Sara Suleri, Meatless Days (Chicago: University of Chicago Press), 1991.

Amitav Ghosh, The Shadow Lines (South Asia Books), 1998.

Syllabus

Sept. 4: Introduction

Introduction to course -- discussion of focus, intellectual orientation,

Sept 4 goals, and expectations regarding attendance, participation, and
assignments

Sep. 6,11: Questions of Methodology and Epistemology: Historians, Cultural

Critics, and the Production and Organization of Knowledge (Discussions led
by Anu and Steve)

Readings:
J.M. Coetzee, "The Novel Today," Upstream 6:1
Sept. 6 ERes
(Summer 1988) (1988).
Alun Munslow, "Introduction," The New History (London:
Sept. 6 ERes
Pearson Longman, 2003), pp. 1-23.
David William Cohen, "The Production of History," in The
Sept. 6 Combing of History (Chicago: University of Chicago ERes
Press, 1994), pp. 1-23.
David W. Price, "Making the Truth: History, Fiction, and
Philosophy," in History Made, History Imagined.
Sept. 6 Contemporary Literature, Poiesis, and the Past (Urbana ERes
and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1999), pp. 19-
47.
Ranajit Guha, "The Small Voice of History," Subaltern
Sept. 11 Studies: Writings on South Asian History and Society IX ERes
(1996), pp. 1-12.
Gyanendra Pandey, "The Prose of Otherness," Subaltern Blackboard:
Sept. 11 Studies: Writings on South Asian History and Society Course
VIII (1994): 188-221. Documents
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 4

FIRST SHORT ESSAY DUE ON SEPTEMBER 14 [NOTE: THERE IS NO CLASS ON

SEPTEMBER 13; TURN IN PAPERS TO ANU NEEDHAM'S OFFICE BY 4:30 ON
FRIDAY, SEPT. 14; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO TURN YOUR PAPER IN BY SEPT
14 BECAUSE OF THE OBSERVANCE OF ROSH HASHANAH , YOU WILL BE
GRANTED AN EXTENSION UNTIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18]

Sept 18, 20: The Self Made (Patriarchal) Nation: Gender and Chile in the
19th Century (Steve will lead discussion)

Reading:
Alberto Blest Gana, Martín Rivas, Jaime Concha, intro.,
Tess O'Dwyer, trans. (NY: Oxford), 2004. [Spanish
Sept 18 Book
version: Martín Rivas (Buenos Aires : Editorial Andina),
1969.]. Read approximately half the book.

Sept 20 Martín Rivas - finish book.

Sept 25, 27: Tales of Progress, Tales of Exclusion: Writing the Nation's
History from the Subaltern Perspective (Steve will lead discussion)

Reading:
Florencia Mallon, Courage Tastes of Blood: The Mapuche
Sept. 25 Community of Nicolás Ailío and the Chilean State, 1906- Book
2001 (Durham: Duke, 2005), 1-135.
Sept. 27 Finish discussion of Mallon

“Mapuche, Niña araucana,” (postcard from collection of Alberto Trivero, Mondovi, Italy, 1902)
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 5

Oct. 2, 4: Progressive Teleology: Salvador Allende and the Popular Unity

Government (Group 1 will lead discussion)

Reading:
Régis Debray, "Introduction," in The Chilean Revolution.
Oct. 2 ERes
Conversations with Allende (NY: Vintage1971), pp. 13-57.
Salvador Allende, "The Purpose of Our Victory. Inaugural
address in the National Stadium, Santiago, 5 November
Oct. 2 1970," in Chile's Road to Socialism, ed. Joan E. Garcés, ERes
trans. J. Darling (Harmondsworth, Baltimore: Penguin,
1973), pp. 52-68.
Pablo Neruda, "Canto General," in Canto General, trans.
Jack Schmitt (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of
Oct. 2 ERes
California Press, 1991), 213-235.
[Spanish version: Canto general (Madrid : Cátedra), 1990]
Francisco Domínguez, "Violence, the Left, and the Creation
of Un Nuevo Chile," in Will Fowler and Peter Lambert, eds.,
Oct. 2 Political Violence and the Construction of National Identity ERes
in Latin America (NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), pp. 149-
166.

Film: (Showing time to be arranged) (Group 2 will lead discussion)

Patricio Guzmán, dir., "The Battle of Chile - Part I" (1975-76)

Oct. 4 Film
[Documentary]

Oct. 9, 11: Isabel Allende and the Matriarchal Nation (Group 3 will lead
discussion)

Reading:
Isabel Allende, The House of the Spirits (NY: Bantam),
1986. [Spanish version: La casa de los espíritus (New
Oct. 9 Book
York: Rayo : HarperLibros) 2001] [Read approximately
half for first class; finish for second)
Oct. 11 The House of the Spirits, finish.

Oct. 16, 18: The Nation as Disaster: History Confronts Literature after the
Coup (Group 4 will lead discussion)

Reading:
Roberto Bolaño, By Night in Chile, trans. Chris Andrews
(New York: New Directions), 2003. [Spanish version:
Oct. 16 Book
Nocturno de Chile (Barcelona : Editorial Anagrama),
2000.]
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 6

Martin Mullins, "The Effects of State Violence on National

Identity: The Fate of Chilean Historical Narratives Post
Oct. 18 1973," in Will Fowler and Peter Lambert, eds, Political ERes
Violence and the Construction of National Identity in Latin
America (NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), pp. 167-185.

Film: (Showing to be arranged) (Group 5 will lead discussion)

Patricio Guzmán, dir., "Obstinate Memory" (1997)

Oct. 4 Film
[Documentary]

Soldiers burning books after 1973 coup (David Burnett - Contact)

Oct. 23, 25: Fall Break

FIRST MAJOR ESSAY DUE OCTOBER 30: Turn in papers in class.

Oct. 30, Nov 1: Histor(ies) of India (Discussion led by Anu)

Reading:
Oct. 30 M.K. Gandhi, Indian Home Rule (Hind Swaraj). ERes
Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India (Delhi: Oxford
Nov. 1 ERes
University Press, 1946), Pages to be assigned.
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 7

Jawaharlal Nehru (l) and Mahatma Gandhi (July 6, 1946)

SECOND SHORT ESSAY DUE ON NOVEMBER 6 - IN CLASS

Nov. 6, 8, 13: (Re-)writing (histories of) India (Anu will lead discussion)

Reading:
Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children (NY: Vintage),
Nov 6, 8 Book
2006.
Salman Rushdie, "'Errata': or Unreliable Narration in
Midnight's Children," and "The Riddle of Midnight,
Nov. 8 India, August 1987," in Imaginary Homelands: ERes
Essays and Criticism, 1981-1991 (London: Granta,
1991), pp. 22-33.
Anuradha Dingwaney Needham, "Re-playing the
Recommended
Indian Subcontinent: Salman Rushdie's Methods of
as background ERes
Critique," Using the Master's Tools (NY: St. Martin's
(not required)
Press, 2000), Ch. 2.
Recommended Fredric Jameson, "Third World Literature in the Age Blackboard:
as background of Multinational Capitalism," Social Text 15 (Fall Course
(not required) 1986): 65-88. Documents
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 8

India before Partition

Nov. 15, 20: Re-Membering Partition (Anu will lead discussion)

Reading:
From Alok Bhalla, ed. and trans., Stories about the
Partition of India (Harper Collins-India, 1999): S.H. Blackboard:
Nov. 15 Vatsayan, "Getting Even"; Shaikh Ayyaz, "Neighbours"; Course
Ismat Chughtai, "The Shepherd" and "Roots"; Mohan Documents
Rakesh, "The Claim."

From Mushirul Hasan, ed, India Partitioned: The Other

Face of Freedom (Dehli: Lotus Collection, 1995): "The Blackboard:
Nov. 15 Book of Divine Knowledge," and the following poems: Course
Amrita Pritam, "I Say Unto Waris Shah," and Faiz Documents
Ahmad Faiz, "The Morning of Freedom: August 1947."

From Alok Bhalla, ed. and trans., Stories about the

Partition of India (Harper Collins-India, 1999): The Blackboard:
Nov. 20 following stories and poems by Saadat Hasan Manto: Course
"Cold Meat," "Compassion and Sorry," "Open It," "Toba Documents
Tek Singh."
Saadat Hasan Manto, "The Return," and "The Dutiful Blackboard:
Nov. 20 Daughter," in Kingdom's End and Other Stories (New Course
Delhi: Penguin Books, 1989. Documents
Saadat Hasan Manto, "Jinnah Sahib," from Mottled Blackboard:
Nov. 20 Dawn: Fifty Sketches and Stories of Partition (New Course
Delhi: Penguin Books, 1997). Documents
 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 9

Film (Showing to be arranged) (Group 1 will lead discussion)

M.S. Sathyu, "Garam Hawa" (1973) [Story: Kaifi Azmi,

Nov. 20 Film
based on an unpublished short story by Ismat Chugtai)]

Nov. 27, 29: The Nation from the Position of Migrants and Women (Group 2
will lead discussion)

Reading:
Salman Rushdie, Shame (New York: Vintage), 2006.
Nov. 27 Book
Begin.
Nov. 29 Shame, finish.

Salman Rushdie, Sara Suleri, Amitav Ghosh, (left to right)

 Narrating the Nation (Fall 2007) - 10

Dec. 4, 6: Gendered Narratives of Nation (Group 3 will lead discussion)

Reading:
Sara Suleri, Meatless Days (Chicago: University of
Dec. 4 Book
Chicago Press), 1991. Begin.
Dec. 6 Meatless Days, finish.

Dec. 11, 13: A Critique of (Indian) Nationalism (Group 4 will lead

discussion)

Reading:
Amitav Ghosh, The Shadow Lines (South Asia Books),
Dec. 11 Book
1998. Begin.
Dec. 13 The Shadow Lines, finish.

SECOND MAJOR ESSAY DUE: WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13. Turn in

papers to Steve's office (Rice 309). NOTE: No papers will be
accepted after December 19 (either with or without an
extension) unless you have been approved for an Incomplete in
the course.