The MA in Postcolonial and World Literatures is designed to develop a strong and theoretical understanding of the texts of colonialism and postcolonialism and to explore the modalities of the local and the global. Modules variously explore the global novel, postcoloniality and queer identities, nineteenth century fiction and empire, and also modernism and world crisis. Students will be encouraged to engage with the diverse forms of postcolonial critique as well as current theoretical developments in the field, including gender and queer studies. The programme builds on the considerable research interest of faculty in the area of postcolonialism.

Modules may include:

First Semester

• EN661 Literary and Cultural Theory (10 credits)
• EN653 Postcolonial Texts and Queer Theory (10 credits)
• EN654 Fiction, Masculinity and Empire (10 credits)
• EN656 Reconstructing Slavery (10 credits)

Second Semester

• EN651 Global Shakespeare (10 credits)
• EN652 Global Novel and Global Writer (10 credits)
• EN655 Modernisms and World Crisis (10 credits)
• EN662 Queer Beings:  Writing Gender, Writing Sexuality (10 credits)

• EN691 Dissertation and Research Skills Seminars (30 credits)

Modular Structure:

Students can either elect to focus on a specific area – Irish or Postcolonial – or to combine modules from these subject areas.

• Students take 4 modules  (selected from EN651- 6)
• Students must take Theory module (EN661)
• Dissertation and Research Skills Seminar (EN691)

Spotlight on EN652: Global Novel and Global Writer 

This course sets out to consider and interrogate the terms of what have been called ‘global novels’ by ‘global novelists’. What is a ‘global novel’? Who is a ‘global novelist’? Do we use this latter term to indicate an author whose work goes beyond the boundaries of their ‘home’ place? To indicate a writer whose work is concerned with global processes of war and migration, and with globalization generally? To indicate the fact that such authors are writing for a global – and not a narrowly local – audience, and, because of international publishing, have access to a broad audience that also participates in the ‘global’? We will seek to interrogate how ‘global’ writing participates in processes of globalization, as well as whether we are now in a post-global age. The course will be broken down into sections considering the representation and idea of global civil war, contemporary terrorist discourse, and the representation of extremism.

Primary Texts may include: Alaa Al Aswany, The Yacoubian Building; Nadeem Aslam, The Wasted Vigil; Dave Eggers, What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng; Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin; Michael Ondaatje, Anil’s Ghost; Zadie Smith, White Teeth.

Thesis supervision:

As part of the Masters, students must complete a dissertation (c. 14, 000 words). Working with their advisors, students are encouraged to plan the research and writing of their research project. Seminars on best practice in postgraduate research and writing will be offered.

Postgraduate Diploma in Postcolonial and World Literature (60 credits):

This programme enables students to take the 6 taught modules, one of which must be

EN661, and is awarded to candidates who do not elect to complete a dissertation.

MA Teaching Team:

Faculty teaching on the MA programmes include: Dr Conrad Brunstrom; Professor Joe Cleary; Dr Ide Corley; Dr Denis Condon; Professor Luke Gibbons; Dr Oona Frawley; Dr Colin Graham; Dr Conor McCarthy; Professor Chris Morash; Dr Emer Nolan; Dr Stephen O’Neill; Dr Chris Stokes; Dr Moynagh Sullivan. The School of English boasts an impressive array of award-winning and internationally recognized publications, and expertise in fields including Irish literature; gender and queer studies; visual culture; Shakespeare; African and postcolonial literatures; and film and theatre. See http://english.nuim.ie/staff.shtml for further details.

General Information: At a Glance

Admissions:

Applicants are expected to have obtained at least a Second Class Honours grade (II.1) mark in English, or equivalent (GPA of 3.0 or higher).

Duration of MA Programmes:

1 year Full-Time

Closing Date for Applications:

31 July 2012

Programme Commences:

September 2012

Application Procedures and Guidelines:

http://graduatestudies.nuim.ie/

For more information please see www.english.nuim.ie or contact Dr Stephen O’Neill, Postgraduate co-ordinator, MA programmes.