Spring 2026 History UN3517 section 001

The Historical Imagination in Caribbean

Hist Imagination Caribbea

Call Number 11818
Day & Time
Location
M 2:10pm-4:00pm
To be announced
Points 4
Grading Mode Standard
Approvals Required None
Instructor Natasha J Lightfoot
Type SEMINAR
Method of Instruction In-Person
Course Description

Caribbean literature offers complicated and vivid portrayals of the Caribbean’s past, and grapples with difficult histories lived by its people that compromised colonial archives can only partially capture. Literary works far exceed the limited narratives of Caribbean history by imagining entire worlds that official documents could never contain, rich selves, cultures and communities built by many generations of Caribbean people. This course is aimed at bringing forth a broader understanding of Caribbean history by examining a body of creative works by feminist and womanist writers that continuously remain attuned to the complexities of the past, which are either underrepresented or absent in the record. Chosen literary texts will also be paired with historical works that will illuminate and contextualize the multiple themes with which these Caribbean authors frequently engage, including slavery, and colonialism, racism and colorism, migration and immigration, gender and sexuality, poverty and globalization. From these pairings, students will explore both the divergences and alignments in how writers and historians approach the work of retelling the past, and will acquire reading and writing skills that will foster thoughtful critical analysis of the ever-changing contours of the Caribbean’s history.

Web Site Vergil
Department History
Enrollment 0 students (13 max) as of 3:06PM Thursday, October 9, 2025
Subject History
Number UN3517
Section 001
Division Interfaculty
Note ADD TO WAITLIST FOR INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL TO JOIN ROSTER
Section key 20261HIST3517W001