This course is meant to serve as a general introduction to the study of colonial and postcolonial literatures. We will concentrate on close readings of novels and short stories, but students will also be required to do some background reading for each class. We will study the works of Conrad, Kipling, Maugham, Rhys, Achebe, Rushdie, Pramoedya, Kincaid, Coetzee, among others, and discuss films by Ray and Sembene. Requirements include short written assignments, two oral presentations, two 8-11 page essays.