The several courses I am running simultaneously across the University begin to 'snowball' at this point making 'part-time' teaching very much a 7-day-week. It is only this (Sunday) morning that I could get back to considerations of 'Exploring The subject' (though of course, by definition, it is never far from my mind).
Though last week's session again turned into a bit of a lecture it nevertheless seemed to work in producing interest in commitment in our theme and in learning in general.
If nothing else the tutor's role can be to ensure greater interest and energy in exploring the archive (research) and forming responses (writing, discussion, practices etc.) -whatever the content of a particular seminar or lecture might be.
'Snowballing' is an effect of any enthusiastic pursuit and it's true that the amount of content set out for this seminar quickly dobkes and re-doubles itself as one text and one conversation throws up further content and references. For this coming Tuesday's session I handed out reflections on Lacan and Hitchcok and also readings of Frantz Fanon and Olaudah Equiano.
I also highly recomended viewing of 'Hidden (Cache') by Michal Haneke (showing this morning at the Renoir cinema followd by a discussion) and 'The Battle of Algiers ') both related to 'Hidden' and to my set texts in very interesting ways.
The underlying theme of the seminar for this wek appears to be the 'racial' or 'racialised' Subject, colonialism and postocolonialism and their affect on the subject and the idea of the Subject. I have had time to re-view the wonderful text of Equiano, an 18th Century slave who became progressively liberated and educated to the point where he was able to mix with the high levels of english society and write and publish this eloquent memoir.
In re-reading the text I quickly realised that it is equally useful to us in considering how reflection, memoir, writing, language, narative, as well as liberty, human rights, 'wonder', science, magic, religion, technology and knowledge all play their part in our history of the Subject.
I wil go on to prepare a response to the Fanon text and Blog about this again before Tuesday's session. However, I can predict that there is already enough material in the Equiano text to create a generous and rewarding discussion and help answer some of our essay questions.
Incidentally, for those who wondered WHEN they should look at the BLog, I believe that by becoming a 'Follower' of the blog you can receive automatic announcements that a new post has been posted.
For now, please see the films suggested if possible (this, as well as the readings, can be conducted very productively in groups) and I hope you enjoy readng the tragic, painful but immensely read-able dynamic narrative of Equiano, and prepare some responses (I seem to have overlooked the allocation of this text to a particular reading group this week).
As I say, I wil Blog again about the Fanon text (which is far more 'knotty', difficult and less ingratiating but nevertheless an important sourrce for these debates).
We should also insist that this week we set aside a good part of the session to hear more from you about your practices, and essays and any other good or bad things you have to share about the seminar.
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