7th November 2012

Lecture Topic:
The topic of the lecture was Storytelling and Trasnational Times. It also included topics like Literature in Cyber space, Narratives of Globalisation and Diasporic Literature.

Lecture Content:
This lecture came very much in continuation with the previous one as it also involved the use of modern technology. The lecture began by introducing the students to the idea of transnational literature and the cross flow and free flow of ideas. The works of various diasporic writers like Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth and Mulk Raj Anand were discussed. The capitalistic society that prevails in modern times, the food chains like Mc Donalds and globalization were stated as the base on which the idea stands. Post colonial literature and its various facets were also talked about. The literary award like the Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize were also mentioned to point towards the fact that such honours do not take into consideration the nationalities but rather the quality of the work. Comments on the ongoing postcolonial situation by writers like Bill Ascroft, J M Coetzee, Nayantara Sehgal and Gayatri Spivak were mentioned and dictated in the class. A blogger named Graham Huggan and his view were talked about. The students were lectured on the idea that in present times there is no center or periphery and that the center keeps shifting. The frontier consciousness and the binaries like Frontiers and red Indians, Reservation and General category, East VS West etc were discussed in detail to analyse how far do they hold true in the present times. The professor narrated the history of America how it was formed, people from various nationalities who came together and the literature of America. American literature was talked about in detail and the professor referred to the Heath Anthology and how it has contributions from people of diverse nationalities. Various metaphors which have long been applied to America like The salad bowl, Patchwork Quilt, and the current Melting pot were also mentioned. The concept of transnational literature was linked with Goethes idea of world literature, Anai Loombas conception of Transnational Networks and Thomas Friedmans ideas in The World is Flat. Various examples to show hybridity in literature were cited .

Further, it was also discussed whether the genre of Films is national or international and various globally reputed film makers like Deepa Mehta, Danny Boyle, Meera Nair and Gurinder Chaddha were mentioned . The professor ended the lecture on the note that in present times there are no roots but many shoots and the roads have been relaced by cross-roads.

Discussion Points:
Capitalistic society American elections (2012) and the debate between Mitt Romney and Barak Obama English language as a result of colonization Racial Groups in USA Films directed by Deepa Mehta

Texts Mentioned:
1. The Elephant, The Tiger and the Cell Phone : Shashi Tharoor 2. Slumdog Millionaire 3. The White Tiger 4. Shalimar the clown 5. The World is Flat 6. The Bluest Eye 7. Can the Subaltern speak? 8. Joseph Anton : Vikas Swarup : Arvind Adiga : Salman Rushdie : Thomas Friedman : Toni Morrison : Gayatri C. Spivak : Salman Rushdie

My Perspective on the Lecture:

It was one of the longest lectures but it was equally interesting. The idea of things getting glocal , which I as an individual living in the 20th century come across was a subject matter much relevant to be discussed in the class. The professor put across the idea very effectively and in relation to the literature of the times. I really liked the way each and every concept was followed by

examples. Such a practice makes the students grasp the subject matter in a better way. The history of America was quite a new thing for me and listening to Maam personal experiences was delightful. Post colonial literature has been a part of our syllabi for long but looking at it in a critical manner with the viewpoint of a transnational literature was something very intriguing. The lecture was enjoyable and added to my knowledge.