Contemporary African and Caribbean Drama

An historical and critical study of the classics of contemporary African and Caribbean literary drama written in or translated into English. Thematic issues include the African encounter with Europe, postcolonial disillusionment and the betrayal of ideals, and such stylistic matters as the relationship(s) between traditional drama and other performance forms, and modern drama written in European languages. We will consider theories and critical approaches to understanding the cross-continental drama traditions and their contexts, examine the long histories of cultural, performance, and theatrical relationships between Africa and the Caribbean and how these relationships have been shaped by race and economics, past and present. We will explore and interrogate conventional claims and presuppositions (made by us and others), and stimulate analytical thinking about identity.