AJ28041 Multiculturalism in Canada

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2014
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 3 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Vanja Polić (lecturer), Mgr. Martina Horáková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
AJ09999 Qualifying Examination || AJ01002 Practical English II
What is multiculturalism? What does it mean to be Canadian? What is a hyphenated identity? In order to answer these questions, this intensive course will acquaint students with the concept of multiculturalism as official Canadian policy and as lived experience(s). The concept’s history, positive and negative criticism as well as its everyday functionality will be analysed primarily through a selection of literary texts by famous Canadian authors such as: Susanna Moodie, Margaret Atwood, Neil Bissoondath, Rohinton Mistry, SKY Lee, Joy Kogawa, Austin Clarke, Dionne Brand. The cultural mosaic of Canada will be further exemplified by First Nations authors Thomas King and Eden Robinson. The theoretical and critical background to the reading of primary texts will be provided by key Canadian scholars such as Linda Hutcheon, Stephen Slemon, Diana Brydon, Smaro Kamboureli, Terry Goldie, Daniel David Moses and others.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/10, only registered: 0/10, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/10
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 11 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the Canadian policies of multiculturalism and the ways in which these policies are representerd in Canadian culture and literature. Students will also practice the skills of interpreting a literary text as well as provide a discourse analysis.
Syllabus
  • 1. Contemporary Canadian history (Will Ferguson, Canadian History for Dummies)
  • 2. Susanna Moodie & Margaret Atwood
  • 3. Multiculturalism and identity – Neil Bissoondath, Molson commercial
  • 4. Rohinton Mistry “Swimming Lessons” and “Squatter”
  • 5. Chinese Canadians, introduction and Sky Lee Disappearing Moon Cafe
  • 6. Japanese Canadians, introduction and Kogawa Obasan selections
  • 7. Blacks in Canada, Austin Clarke (one short story)
  • 8. Multiculturalism of the next generation: Dionne Brand, What We All Long For
  • 9. First Nations – general introduction and Eden Robinson (one short story or a selection from her novel Monkey Beach)
  • 10. Thomas King (selection of short stories) and conclusion of the course
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Atwood, Margaret. Journals of Susanna Moodie
  • BRAND, Dionne. What we all long for : a novel. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2005, 318 s. ISBN 067697693X. info
  • Making a difference : Canadian multicultural literature. Edited by Smaro Kamboureli. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996, xvi, 547. ISBN 0195410785. info
  • An anthology of Canadian native literature in English. Edited by Terry Goldie - Daniel David Moses. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1992, xxii, 393. ISBN 0195408195. info
  • LEE, Sky. Disappearing Moon Cafe. Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1990, 237 s. ISBN 0-88894-721-6. info
  • Other solitudes : Canadian multicultural fictions. Edited by Marion Richmond - Linda Hutcheon. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1990, vii, 374. ISBN 0195407563. info
  • MOODIE, Susanna. Roughing it in the bush, or, Life in Canada. Complete ed. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1989, ix, 543 s. ISBN 0-7710-9975-4. info
Teaching methods
mini-lectures, group and class discussions, short presentations
Assessment methods
compulsory attendance; active class participation; final essay submitted during the exam period;
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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