Discussing Decolonisation

Join us in the YSJU Creative Centre Auditorium (see campus map) for a guest lecture by Dr Anna Bernard (KCL) on decolonising literature in theory and collective practice.

This talk reflects on my experience of writing the undergraduate textbook Decolonizing Literature (2023) and participating in collective work on decolonizing the curriculum at my institution. I was thrilled to have the chance to write such a book, but also very, very daunted. What did I mean by decolonization, and who was I to try to define it? I discuss my decision to focus on the literature and theory of anticolonial worldmaking, which challenges its readers to put the political work of literature front and centre. I also share some of the book’s suggestions for approaching such texts in the classroom. I conclude by discussing how students and staff at KCL have sought to work together to decolonize our curriculum across departments and faculties.

More information:

This event is hosted by the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Team at York St John University (YSJU) as part of a six-part mini-series, titled ‘Discussing Decolonisation’, taking place over the course of 2023-24. You can read more about our intentions for the series and community expectations here.

Information about upcoming events in the series will be shared both internally at YSJU and externally across the sector, with booking required for each individual event via Eventbrite. Please note that the next two events will take place at the YSJU campus, in York.